The Children Are Watching Us

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."  Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)  

The wise King Solomon told the people that they should teach their children, and bring them up in the ways of God, then when they get old and mature, they will not turn away from it.  In so many words he said that a good Christian foundation begins at home.

As believers we are being watched.  We are being watched by God (Job 34:21), watched by people, both by believers and non-believers, and we are also being watched by the children.  Children hear what they are told, even when that act like they don't hear a word that is being said.  They also learn by what they see at home and where ever.  The Bible says that we should teach and train children in the ways of The Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and 11:19)  Our children should hear us talking about God, and they should see us reading The Word of God.  We are to be an example of good Christian behavior for them to learn from. (1 Timothy 4:12)  However, when our words and our behavior are inconsistent, children may learn the wrong things.  Our actions can speak louder than our words.  Woe be it unto us if we lead a child astray. (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2)  Let us pray that our actions will not lead anyone to fall into sin, especially a child.  Let us be a living example of Christ-like behavior which the children and others can learn from. (Philippians 1:27 and Romans 12 :1)

Make Sure That You Have A Firm Foundation

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."  Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

The Sermon on the Mount was a very powerful sermon, it contained many parables, principals, and lessons.  In these verses, Jesus makes it clear that he who hears and does what He says will have a solid foundation and will survive life's storms, and those who don't, won't.

It is not enough just to hear, or read, The Word of God, we must also put it into practice and live it.  Our living by His Word is what gives us a strong foundation, like the wise man.  Choosing not to live by His Word is to invite disaster into one's life, like the foolish man.  There will be storms and difficult times in all of our lives, but those of us who follow His way, He will guide and protect through the storms and bad times.  Those who choose not to live His way are on their own and headed for disaster.  The storms are coming and we each have to make the choice for ourselves, live with Him or without Him.