In our “instant gratification focused” world today, it’s no
surprise that children and youth are suffering! It doesn’t help that parents
seemed to have forgotten how to parent, leaving kids to learn how to grow up and
mature on their own. Even parents who profess to believe in Messiah Yeshua and
G-d’s Biblical principles seem to be failing at passing this down to their kids
as well. This month I would like to share what I have learned about what it
means to spiritually train up children and youth.
The first principle is that training up a child starts by
recognizing who the Boss is: G-d! Deuteronomy 6:4-9 makes clear to us as
parents that we must model committed faith if we hope to see it develop in our
children.
The second principle is that training up a child requires a lot of
work over time! Proverbs
22:6 is used by too many parents who seek to console themselves with the hope
that their child is eternally saved since they took them to services where they
said a prayer at 4 years of age, thereby sealing their eternity status, even
though they haven’t attended a place of worship since they were teens and are
living godlessly in their current lives. Parents & Grandparents, this
Hebrew text doesn’t refer to teaching little kids. Instead it speaks about intentionally
working to spiritually form adolescents: our teens and young adults!
The third principle is that training up a child demands a proper
relationship in the home! Ephesians 6:1-4 is clear: children are to obey and respect their
parents. At the same time parents better be disciplining and discipling their
children in love. Knowing your role, position and expectation in the home is
critical!
G-d’s calling for our lives is to make disciples, especially our
own kids. How are you doing with that?
Kirk Gliebe
Rabbi & Director
