Luke 2:39-40 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. (40) And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.- We find the “Parental Commission”
- All adults have this maxim to live out
- not just Parents,but Grandparents, Aunt, Uncles, adopted aunts and uncles anyone who have a relationship with a child
- We have a Mimi – you saw her last week she is an adopted aunt. If Denise or I ever die, this is who will inherit our little bundle of joy. She was there when she was born, she care for her, spoils her, weeps for her, disciplines her, and is family as far as I am concerned.
- We are to help our Children grow and became strong in spirit, be filled with wisdom and the grace of God.
- This is our thesis -
- To help our Children grow and became strong in spirit, be filled with wisdom and the grace of God
- Why are we talking about this … simple … we tend to be focused on the non-eternal goals for our children
- Academics
- Sports
- Dating even
- These items do have a level of importance, but secondary if not tertiary to what Scripture has listed. They come in a distant second.
- If our children win every spelling bee, ball game, decathlon, competition, U.I.L. Event, and tournament what does it mean in eternity?
- There are no trophy cases in Heaven
- No rewards for ribbons and medallions
- We concentrate on the here and now and forsake the eternal and ever after. We teach our 2nd graders curveballs and skip the commandments. This has to stop and it must happen today.
Luke 2:41-2 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. (42) And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
- We are to raise our children in the ways of the faith just as Jesus’ parents did.
- Eph 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
- We must follow the tracing of Christ and show them the way.
- The Shema – Deut. 6:1-9 “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, (2) that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. (3) Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ (4) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! (5) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (6) “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (8) You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (9) You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
- If we are not living the faith, the how are they going to see it, and hear it and learn it?
- I repeat - If we are not living the faith, the how are they going to see it, and hear it and learn it?
Luke 2:43- 45 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; (44) but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. (45) So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
- Jesus did not have a perfect set of parents and he turned out just fine. So you do not have to be perfect
- But try to not lose your kids at the mall. I have lost a niece or two in my days.
- I try hard to keep an eye on Remington at the store or out in public.
- If I care some much about her temporary, physical outer body that will decay in the ground, how much more should I can about her eternal soul that Jesus lost his life and shed his blood for?
Luke 2:46-9 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. (47) And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. (48) So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, your father and I have sought You anxiously.” (49) And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
- Help our children be about the their Heavenly Father’s work
- 3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
- No greater joy than children walking in the truth
- We should delight when our children are walking in the Lord
- We should pleasure when the kids we are entrusted with live in the truth
- When they don’t we need to be miserable and on our knees and beg God, grovel if you will, and petition God for your Children
- Pray for the Kids
- Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
- As a church are we doing this?
- Are we hindering the children from coming to God?
Luke 2:50-2 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them (51) Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.(52) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
- Psa 127:3-4 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.(4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.
- What heritage do we have if our children are like bruised fruit? Our children become rotten with sin, they are spoiled with transgressions. Are they a reward to you or glorifying to God?
- Can we say are children fly true like a well made arrow.
- Are we handing these Children that God has entrusted us with, with the same accuracy of a warrior does an arrow. Or our we helping them to fly straight, to hit the target and become a bull’s eye with their lives
