Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
There are many things we train for in life; we train for sports, which require much of us physically, we train for jobs, which can be a long haul on the physical an mental side, depending on the job, we train while we're in school, we train so that we can achieve the results in life we want (Or at least we should). All of this is required to be successful in whatever it is we seek (though it is true that even the most well trained may not succeed in every venture they take!). As we grow, and become better and more apt at what we train in, we will eventually, in turn, train others to follow in our footsteps or work along side us. It's natural, whether in sports or work, or any other thing. But Parents, at times we do not train the ones who follow after us. Our kids are more valuable than coworkers, because they will carry on whatever we teach them. They need to be trained.
All too often, I hear Christian parents say "Well, it's for them to decide" concerning matters of faith, and while this is true, we are still our kids parents, and it is our job to train them in Christ Jesus. Whatever they do with it is up to them, but WE need to raise them in the Authority and Kingship of Christ Jesus. It's not our job to merely provide good examples (We should; Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him, Proverbs 13:24), nor is it our job to place them under our thumb to force them in to belief (we can't; Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged, Colossians 3:21), but we do need to make sure that we are not merely going to church, but we are active and participating in our faith, and taking them with us as we do it. We need to not merely talk about it often (We should), but to exercise it throughout each part of our lives. None of us are perfect, but Faith for us requires training, why should it be any different with them?
Some may say "But it's too late for me! I've Failed." I am not to say whether this is true or not, but I do know that our God is a God who works impossible things. I went from prodigal to preacher, and I know much of it came from what I new to go back to, and the prayers and words my parents covered me in during my rebellion. We can't be idle. We must pray over our kids, whether they are believers, or not, whether they are active in their faith or not, and continue the training, whether they know it or not. Above all, we must never give up on our God, who waits at the window and runs to each prodigal as they come home, wrapping His arms around them, bringing them from death to life, making them sons and daughters, and covering their guilt and shame with HIs own righteousness. He's a God of impossible things, and He does them every day.
Deuteronomy 6:20-25
"“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’"
