Psalm 56:3-4
King James Version
3 What time I am afraid,
I will trust in thee.
4 In God I will praise his word,
in God I have put my trust;
I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
These things I reflect upon myself.
These things the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD made me think of this morning.
Of how important all of us could be better stewards of children.
Of how marriage, and having children, is a great responsibility for couples.
Of how a solid foundation in GOD, must bear up that family, or future family.
Of how there must be a generation that finally realizes the IMPORTANCE of GOD, in EVERYTHING.
But as it is, the world has schooled us differently.
They've made us grow up, get an education, get a job, prepare to get married, with no solid foundation in CHRIST.
Of course, there are others who grew up knowing CHRIST right away.
Thanks to elders aware of JESUS, and churches who led the faithful, according to Scripture.
But the majority of us had not known things that really mattered.
We were given the "obligatory" taste, but not the FOUNTAIN of LIVING WATERS, which is GOD, and the BREAD of LIFE, which is JESUS.
Such as having our hearts right with GOD first, before offering our hearts to anyone.
And of being taught that our bodies are the TEMPLE of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Had we known, had they known, we would have lived, as GOD would have wanted us to live.
Succeeding generations would not have committed the same mistakes.
Before dating, before marriage, before becoming a parent, the question to ask is, "Do we really know GOD?"
Do we know His commandments?
Do we know what pleases Him?
Do we know what are abominations to Him?
Do we know the consequences of our ignorance, or carelessness?
Do we know His will?
Who could tell us?
How could we know?
Who can we trust?
I only know now, because GOD made me born again.
He led me to His SON, to be taught.
Then, the SON gave me His HOLY SPIRIT to do the actual teaching.
It's only been 26 months that I've finally had TRUE education.
The kind that saves my soul.
The kind that's worth sharing with you.
The kind that pleases the LORD.
Before these last 26 months, the world educated me.
The world educated most of us.
A few got it right with the LORD.
But I'm grateful I'm finally getting it right.
That's why the Holy Spirit planted the idea this morning, of how vital it is our hearts be right with the LORD first.
ABOVE anything else.
Before we even think of dating, marriage, having kids.
Having CHRIST as the CENTER of our lives, ensures this:
Deuteronomy 11:19-21
King James Version
19 And ye shall teach them your children,
speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house,
and when thou walkest by the way,
when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up.
20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house,
and upon thy gates:
21 That your days may be multiplied,
and the days of your children,
in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them,
as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Those verses were there all the time, and no one told us.
The churches gave us the verses they thought we should know.
But the HOLY SPIRIT thought differently.
He led me to those verses nearly seven months ago.
And it has stuck, since.
We can be worthy parents, if our hearts are right with GOD.
We can guide kids, as SPIRIT guides us.
We can equip them to handle the ways of the world.
We can arm, and bless them, with the WORD of GOD.
We can give them the assurance, that GOD's will, and word, stand.
We can give them the confidence, that can only come from knowing the WORD of GOD.
Isaiah 40:8
King James Version
8 The grass withereth,
the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God
shall stand for ever.
The BIBLE will give our kids the education they need, to survive in a world ruled by a different god.
We can be like JESUS, who declared:
John 14:30
King James Version
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you:
for the prince of this world cometh,
and hath nothing in me.
Ever wondered how much the world would be safe, and fair for everyone, if our hearts are ruled by GOD?
And that in marriage, and raising a family, our hearts are attuned to the LORD alone?
We can safeguard our kids from the world's traps, and temptations, if we live by the Bible.
Sure, our kids will have to make their own decisions someday.
But, at least, we've equipped them for the "battle".
For it is a constant battle living here on earth.
1 Peter 5:8
King James Version
8 Be sober,
be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion,
walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:
And that everyone faces the same ambush from the deceiver.
1 Peter 5:9
King James Version
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren
that are in the world.
Only by knowing GOD's LAWS, through the Bible, can we be properly equipped for life.
All other education cannot match the WORD of GOD.
It is every believer's weapon, to fight ALL untruth.
Ephesians 6:17
King James Version
17 And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God:
Our kids would definitely stand a chance.
But it's not too late.
Every day we're alive, is a chance to seek GOD, believe in JESUS, be taught by the HOLY SPIRIT, read the BIBLE, and live by the WORD of GOD.
And consider parenting a great responsibility in taking down old strongholds.
Our kids must not suffer again.
Related material:
The Simplicity of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST
FORTIFICATION against fornication
