Train up a Child....

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it.” This simple Biblical principle applies to every person that has influence on a child’s life. The parents, other family members, the educational system and the church have the responsibility to teach each child the correct way to live and give them the knowledge needed to become successful adults. They need both knowledge and character to achieve any good goal they may make.

Too often children are torn between different teachings. At home they get one example of how to live and gain the knowledge (whether correct or not) that the parents have. At school they may be taught different social behaviors and receive knowledge contradictory to what they have been given elsewhere. The children end up having to decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong, many times coming to the wrong conclusions. The ideas of absolute truth get lost in the conflicting feelings; because of this, children begin to form their own truth suitable to what they want to believe and how they want to live.

“Suffer the children unto me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Jesus shows us the importance of children; to not cast them off as insignificant. Each child needs to know that they are significant and why. They need to know that they have an eternal future and can inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Today’s children can have a good eternal future but they are also the future of our country. It is a teacher’s duty to form the child’s mind to help them determine purpose and significance. Without purpose all the knowledge in the world wouldn’t make any child successful. When children understand why they are important, then there will be a good foundation to build all other character traits, social skills and knowledge on. Through this process teachers can produce highly productive and good citizens.

Servant or Self-server

Today i was listening to 1090 am. Dr. David Jeremiah’s radio show, Turning Point, was on. He spoke on so many things that really hit home; one point in particular. His message started just after Jesus had learned of John the Baptist death; he was tired, sad and wanted to rest. He and his disciples headed to the Sea of Galilee. Word had gotten around quickly that this was their destination. When they arrived there, there was over five thousand people gathered to see Jesus. Jesus looked around and was deeply moved, he saw hurting people in need of hope and a leader; they were sheep following their shepherd. Jesus could have left them there and gone about his rest and grieving, but he did not. Jesus saw the needs of others and put them ahead of his own. On that day he worked a miracle and fed everyone using just a few fish and loaves of bread. How many Christians today will put their own problems and struggles aside and help someone else in need. Too many times we yield to modern Philosophy and focus on ourselves; we get caught up in the mindset of "what will you do for me?" when we should be doing for others. Jesus came to serve not be served; we should do the same for others no matter how bad we think our situation is. Serving, with the right motive, has a healing effect on a soul; you may find things are not so bad after all.
Full Service: Moving From Self-Serve Christianity to Total Servanthood