Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Readers,
Can you imagine if one were to open the Bible and it were one page long with the only words written on the page were “Because I said so.” What kind of Father would that make God? Would these words demonstrate God’s love for His children? Do these words provide any instruction, encouragement, or be of any use at all in answering the recipient’s question or training them in their ignorance? The answer is a resounding NO. Yet this is the response many a parent gives to their unknowing, untrained children. Too many a parent do not see their need to take the time in raising their children properly. What a disservice, not only to their children, their family, to society, but mostly to our heavenly Father. God provides for us His training manual- The Holy Bible, thousands of pages of His divine word, for our good. God took the time to do this for His children. He did this out of love.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2. Timothy 3:15
Timothy’s Childhood Training—Timothy’s mother and grandmother were united in their efforts to train him for God. What was his lesson book? —the Bible. Paul, his father in the gospel, declares, “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures.” The faith of the mother and grandmother in the oracles of God was a constant illustration to Timothy of the blessing of doing God’s will. {7BC 918.7} When Timothy was little more than a boy, Paul took him with him as his companion in labor. Those who had taught Timothy in his childhood were rewarded by seeing the son of their care linked in close fellowship with the great apostle (Manuscript 117a, 1901). {7BC 918.8} Paul loved Timothy because Timothy loved God.
Too often parents shun the training that they are to provide their children because they are “too busy.” Children are unprepared for this world, but most importantly, they are unprepared for God’s Heavenly Kingdom. Their children are not being trained in the way they 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
Children show up to Sabbath school without their Bibles or their study materials, and not having completed their assignments which were given to them at their prior Bible study. Are the children at fault here? No, this responsibility rests with the parents. These children may be eager to study God’s word, yet their parents do not provide the support needed. The parents failed to go over the lessons with their children during the week. Some of the parent’s excuses are “there just wasn’t enough time.” Another convenient excuse used is that they lost the handout or could not find it. Parents did not show reverence to God for the study materials that were provided to them, “misplacing” them in the house or elsewhere. Therefore, the children are ill prepared come time for their Bible Lesson. These children are being neglected spiritually, and this neglect will lead to rebellion. No interest in Godly things but instead in the things of this world. Children falling prey to the evils and temptations of this world. Lured in by the likes of Disney, a known pedophile and 33rd degree Freemason. Hypnotized and brainwashed with subliminal messages from Hollywood. All for the love of money, the root of all evil. Mayer Rothschild said, “Let me issue and control a nation’s money and I care not who writes the laws.”
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10
Don’t think this can happen to your children? Think again next time you brush off your child because you are “too busy.” This not only goes for parents and their children, but also applies to anyone in a position that exerts any influence upon the children, including the youth and young adults. They are to bear this responsibility with the utmost reverence to God and His Bible principles. They are not to use or abuse the children for their own purposes or justify using any means they see fit to accomplish the end. If they use any means they wish in doing the work of God but lack the love of Jesus, their candlestick will be removed, and their work is to no avail.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6
The work rests upon us. We are to nurture the children, the youth, and the young adults in humility and meekness. When God sees us doing our part, then He will help us. We must sacrifice self- love and self-pride that God may use us in any position with which He requires. God has promised us that He will be a Father unto us, and we shall be His sons and daughters. Oh, what a privilege it is to claim this promise, and that we shall be made strong through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. He who helps us in our battles against Satan, that we may use His lesson book- The Bible, to send Satan and his legion fleeing from us. I pray that all will use the Holy Bible to train the children and train ourselves in the Holy scriptures, that when we are all old, that we will not depart from it. Our Father longs to bring all his children into the fold of His Royal Family. Though we may be at different stages in our walk with God, we are to continually nurture and train our children, as well as each other, in the way we should go.
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise [child] shall have joy of him.
Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. Proverbs 23:24,25
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