“Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
—Proverbs 22:6
This is a command, and that command is critical. We are to be a part of the lives of our children and to grow them up, not just to bring them into the world, but bring them up in the world.
One of the big responsibilities in training up our children is to prepare them for life and then to protect them in the midst of life. Nothing matters more in this generation of parenting than that they would find their refuge in Christ, salvation in Christ and security in Christ.
There is no room for passive parents in this generation, parents who don’t want to confront the issues, parents who don’t want to deal with it, parents who aren’t involved, parents who don’t discipline, parents who want to be their kid’s best friend rather than their parent.
The word here implies the discipline, direction, and determination of preparation of a soldier for battle. The fact is we are fighting the good fight of faith. We are involved in a spiritual battle. Spiritual warfare is around us, and the culture is in a conflict with the ways of God and the Word of God.
You must be diligent in the responsibility that God has given us. Training up, it doesn’t mean you have to be a drill sergeant shouting orders, but it means that you must be involved in the relationship, in the rules and in the rewards.
BE INTENTIONAL PARENTS
