It's In The Training

2 Kings 12:2 MSG "Taught and trained by Jehoiada the priest, Joash did what pleased God for as long as he lived."

 

I absolutely love my son. Sometimes I just look at him and smile because at three years old he is a world of excitement, adventure, and curiosity. Not a care in the world, but the future of hope for his generation.

Children are spectacular! The possibilities are endless as to what they can become or do in and with their lives! They just need the training!

We live in a time of "Good Intentions" a do-what-I-say and not-what-I-do lifestyle. Any good parent will want the best for their kids and will punish, scold, even discipline when its not given. But are we giving our best? Don't preach at me how to live a Christian life... show me! The road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions.

I was a Youth Pastor for 10 years and even now as a Senior Pastor I continually see parents view church as "recreational", something the family can do together, or something for the kids to go to. Recreational, religious, or whatever you want to call it, if it is not viewed with value then there will be no value.  I've seen parents discipline their children as to restricting them from going to church for weeks or months even. Yet they cry when their sons are rebelling on drugs or their daughters are sleeping around. "What happened?" is usually the response "I raised them right" yet you didn't train them!

You didn't train them to get to the House of God and take serious the things of God.  Showing them that it's ok to come late or not even go if you're too tired or have other plans. Giving them a choice if they didn't want to go, then ok we'll stay home, all the while Satan is influencing them and manipulating them into wicked, vile behaviors.

Joash after his family got murdered was raised by his uncle and aunt in the House of God.  He was trained to worship God and when he became king at 7 years old, he wasn't just being a boy (boys will be boys) or immature.  Because of his love for the things of God he was trained in he restored the Temple of God and destroyed the Temple of Baal.

Are your children wise enough to get rid of evil things or just hide it and act like its not there? What do they see in your life? Don't view church or the things of God as recreational, a privilege, or religion.  View it as serious, necessary, and vital to the training of our future generation of men and women.

Your kid may just be the next ruler! But how will they lead?

Its in the Training!