Are the children you parent YOURS? Or do they belong to God?
In the past three Wednesday posts, my heart has been to encourage all of us parents to see the children that God has loaned to us, whether born naturally into our family, adopted and/or fostered, as belonging to God and not to us. What a special grace blessing from the hand of God to be a parent, to point precious lives to Christ, and to know that we have all we need by His grace to do so!! 2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
So far, my encouragement has been . . .
1. Parents, live and train with an eternal viewpoint.
2. Parents, prepare your children to leave home as God so planned.
3. Parents, fulfill your privilege with the grace of God not the fleshly grit of man.
So, how do you parent by the grace of God? Before you read any further, go back to Post #3 and remind yourself of what parenting by grit (the flesh) looks like.
Now, parenting by grace is . . .
1. Christ sets the agenda.
Who sets the parenting agenda in your home? You, your children, your parents, your grandparents, the expectations of others, the government, society, “the experts,” you being inconvenienced by your children, sports, homework, fear, your past, being a victim, or all the above? When it comes to parenting, everyone has their opinion or idea what it should look like and is shaped by many “voices.” Even children who have never parented think they know how you, mom and dad, should operate.
Listen to these words from Christ Himself: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:4-5). That includes parenting. Therefore, prayer and the intake of God’s Word is the greatest ally, the very best friend to a parent. As you spend time at the feet of Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30), He teaches you the way to parent. He listens to your burdens (Hebrews 4:14-16), He strengthens your weary body, mind and soul (Philippians 4:13), and He gives you His counsel (Colossians 2:3; John 15:11a, “These things I have spoken unto you….”)
As you learn to parent from Christ, Who dwells in you (John 14:20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27), then you are able to obey Ephesians 6:4, And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Biblical parenting (I didn’t say perfect parenting) is a good work that has been prepared by God because we are in Christ (Ephesians 2:10).
Consider:
- What’s the agenda in your home for parenting? Who sets that agenda?
- What is your goal for parenting? Your mission statement?
- Are you parenting to gain the hearts of your children because Christ has your heart?
- Go back to the first paragraph and honestly list all those “voices” that are currently setting your agenda in parenting. What does Christ say about each one?
Can you hear Jesus say to you, “Without Me, you can do nothing”? Do you hear Him follow up with, “You can do all things through Me” (Philippians 4:13)?
Grace is sufficient!
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