Day 12: Are you helping train the next generation?
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Look around you and it is clear the youth of today need the wisdom of yesterday. That is why every Christian adult should be pouring into the life of children. Spending time with youth, either our own or others is such an important investment in the future. If you watch the social justice people, you will notice they always have children with them, even in the most inappropriate venues. From Gay Pride Parades to Black Lives Matter events, they are training the next generation and most of this group can’t have their own children.
At first glance, raising up a child sounds like a wonderful promise to parents—exactly what every God-fearing parent would love to have as a promise from the Creator of the family.
Naturally, Christian parents possess an unquenchable hope that their children will remain with the faith they are raised in. Or, if their child departs for a while, the parents cling to the hope that the child will return. But it isn’t a guarantee from God to parents that their children will stay in church. Many people and Christian surveys can tell you how youth turn away from their faith as soon as they leave the house.
While this verse doesn’t guarantee parents that children reared faithfully will keep the faith as adults, we know there are numerous benefits to teaching your child the correct way of life. Also, most parents know young adults are often willing to accept advice from trusted adults before they will their parents, even if it is the same advice. That is why we do baby dedication. At baby dedication we pledge to come alongside the parents, to pray for the child and the parents and to provide wisdom and insight. This is all in the hopes that we train the child in the way he should go, so when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Action: Ask a family or young person how you can pray for them.