Train Up A Child

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“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

 

When our son was young, we had this verse displayed in his room. The picture that went with it was a train. Although that was a play on words, there is something to be said about how an actual train works that is insightful in our walk with Christ.

A train does not deviate from predetermined tracks, unless there is a bad accident. The train is not like a car that can choose its’ own route. In order to go anywhere it must have the two rails to guide it.

In the same way our spiritual direction has been pre-determined by the Lord. If we are to go anywhere, spiritually speaking, it must be in line with the Word of God and the Spirit of God. We must have both. The Pharisees had the Word of God, but their hearts were hard. They were not led by God’s Spirit. The Corinthians were led by the Spirit, but the apostle Paul had many words of instruction for them because they were not grounded in the Word of God and it was causing big problems in their church.

Unless we are fed by the Word and led by the Spirit, we will not go anywhere spiritually speaking. These must be instilled in our children as well as in our children of the faith whatever age they may be. With these solidly in place, the destination to know and love and follow Jesus will be reached.

Father, teach us as parents and as parents in the faith to teach our children well. We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 


Devoted to keeping Jesus Christ the main thing.

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