June 14

1 Kings 12:20-13:34, Acts 9:26-43, Psalm 132:1-18, Proverbs 17:6

Pray: Pray for our children specifically today. Pray for safety during the summer and in travel. Pray for them to make good decisions even when no one is watching. Pray for them to claim God as their Lord and Savior. Pray for the women and men that they will grow up to be and pray for the men and women that they will marry… that they will be loved second only to God.

Read: The proverb today says that “grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children”. The first part has become almost cliche in our culture. There is very little that a grandparent loves more than their grandchildren. However, the latter half of Proverbs 17:6 is often overlooked. Parents are the pride of their children. As parents we are proud of our children, but I would also say that our children want to be proud of their parents. The reciprocal relationship of parent and child is often missed or it is replaced by a one-sided parent-centric relationship between the parent and child. 

Edify: As a parent, it is critical for us to have a solid relationship with our children… one that is based on trust and mutual respect. However, it is not the role of the parent to be their best friend. Our culture has skewed the parent-child relationship into one where they are best friends rather than parent and child. As a parent it is our responsibility to “bring them up in the way of the Lord”. It is our place to tell them no and to speak truth into their lives so that they don’t blow them up. The role of parent is difficult and it is often painful but it is also one of the most rewarding roles that one can play. Even if you don’t have children of your own, you influence those around you so don’t take your role lightly. Every person around a child helps to mold him or her into the adult that they will be.

Practice: Prayerfully consider serving in children's or student ministry.  If you would like to invest in the next generation of world changers by serving in one of these areas, contact the Christ Church office for more information.