Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
I’ve been meditating on this verse in preparation for our conference this weekend. I have always looked at this verse as kind of a disciplinary verse. Train them up to be kind, self controlled, dependable, in the Word, in Him. Those all are good things and I believe that is one facet of the verse. But I believe the Lord is also telling us to train them up, prepare them for what He has created them to for. Encourage and support them so they won’t struggle with the self doubt, shame and guilt like we did growing up. Instead they will be prepared to walk in the spiritual authority and confidence that God always intended them to walk in.
Then I was led to Ephesians 6:4: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
In Greek, the original language that this was written in, provoke and wrath are the same word! Fathers, don’t provoke (exasperate, anger) your children to wrath (exasperate, anger) …BUT instead nurture (nourish them up to maturity) and admonition (the whole training and education of children, which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals.)
Parents, the Lord chose you to raise your child/children. He hand selected you and created amazing people through you and He has given us His Word and Himself to help us with this incredible privilege, and responsibility.