06 05 07 The Way They (We) Should Go

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old,
he will not depart from it.”
(Proverbs 22:6)

I have heard many teachings on this verse, but one thing it does not mean is to raise up a child in the way they would go, but should go! As soon as possible, every child should be led to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.[1] A child, as many of you know, will quickly choose lying, cheating, and other ways in life!

God would not desire for any of us to be lost spiritually. His desire (and ours as well) is that everyone knows Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That being said, we as parents and even as disciplers, should be aware that those we are instructing should also be going along life in the manner of life for which he is intended, according to his physical and spiritual gifts, so he or she may have the most success, in God’s eyes!

While this passage does indeed refer to parents in the raising of our children I would like to believe we can use the same methods in training one another and in our discipleship processes. We find ourselves in circles with believers and non-believers alike, new-born babes in Christ and those who have known the Lord for years, even decades. The unsaved and newly saved need to learn how the Lord has wired them and learn “the way they should go” in Christ, much like an infant, toddler, and teen needs to know. As we grow in Christ, regardless of our physical age, our spiritual maturity comes in stages. As we mature, we need help at times to continue in the way and not depart from it! I don’t believe any of us are sinless, though we strive to sin less and less! I need help now and again!

We need to partner as parents to encourage one another in raising our children, as we and the children alike face peer pressure to relax our standards, give our kids a break, and enjoy life a little. Our kids need to know they aren’t the only one’s struggling, that we struggle too! So let’s commit to train one another up as we should go as we attempt to raise our own families. It is to God’s glory that we stay the course and not depart from it. A lost and dying world is in need of the Savior and we have a job to do!

[1] Henry, Matthew, Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible , 1997, Thomas Nelson, Inc, Nashville, TN