Daily Devotions
A Sober Warning to Parents
Reading for January 21: Exodus 17-20
Weekly reading for January 14-20: Matthew 15-19
Title: A Sober Warning to Parents
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
Matthew 18:5-6
To whom is this warning from Jesus directed? There are many who can cause a child to sin, but it occurred to me in reading this again that no one has more opportunity to influence a child to sin more than his or her parents.
How can a parent influence a child to sin?
1. By setting a bad example. We can tell our children not to lie, to use bad language, to be respectful, etc., but if we're not practicing what we preach our children will know it. And they pay much closer attention to what we do than to what we say.
2. By telling their children to do what is wrong. The family wants to take a trip to Disney World during the off season, so the child is told to lie about why he or she will not be at school (i.e. a death in the family). When we tell our children to sin, the Lord will hold us doubly responsible.
3. By neglecting their spiritual development. There are a million different things for kids to be involved in: music, sports, scouts, crafts, etc. Parents fear their children will be missing out on something if they don't sign their kids up for everything. (Even if the child shows little interest in the activity!) Well, the parents are right. They DO miss out! They miss out on so many opportunities to nurture and grow their children's faith.
We need to remember that our children are not ours. They are God's children. They are put into our care by him. This is an awesome responsibility that we should prayerfully take on with all sobriety and fear.
Father, thank you for the precious investment you have given us. Help us to raise these precious souls to be faithful disciples.
