Train up a child....

What comes to mind when you hear the word train?? No, no the big steal monsters that steam down the track...but training something or someone?? I think of hard work, dedication , a sense of purpose and a goal. Ask any athlete what life is like while he is in training.....it's not an easy thing, not many can handle the rigors of training to be the best at any given sport. But the Bible tells us to train our children.....Does that mean taking them to church once a week....maybe even twice a week ?? Does it mean being a good person and hoping they will follow your lead? (NOT that I am demeaning a good example!) The point I am trying to make is ...WE need to be proactive. This training the Bible speaks of is not only for some big game or career.....it is for their very souls!! The Bible says that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour.....well to my knowledge if a lion sees a young or sickly prey...that is who he attacks first!

Our children are being bombarded from every side!! T.V., Movies, magazines, music....you name it...Satan has his hands in it all.....and it always looks so good on the out side. You know Satan doesn't need to draw us in to the really "BAD" stuff (i.e. witchcraft, drugs, ect.) all he really needs to do is distract us from the path. We usually do the rest ourselves by becoming lazy, complacent, disobedient, self centered you name it...we do it. Satan doesn't stay away from the children because they are little and cute and helpless...that just gives him all the more reason to attack while they are young. The Barna group did a study and found that 32%of the people who are going to receive Jesus do so before the age of 12!! After 12 it drops drastically it 14% will during their teen years and it drops even more to 4% as an adult!!!

God has given us a huge responsibility !! As parents we need to be proactive! Most parents are more proactive about their child's education than they are about their spiritual lives!! Yes, school is important...but their spirits are forever!! This is a life and death matter!! 80% of the children raised "in church" ....walk away once they turn 18 !!! That's 8 out of 10 will walk away!! If that doesn't scare you...nothing will !!
We need to be taking every opportunity to teach our children.
That means ;
1.taking the time to pray with them
2. taking time to read the Bible and break it down for them
3. helping them to memorize scripture
4. showing them that church is a priority(not that you have to go to church to be a Christian, but I do believe in honoring God and giving Him the first day of the week, and fellowship never hurts!!) IF it's not important to you...it won't be to them either!!!
5.Being active in showing Christs love by doing community serve work, helping the elderly, ect.
Christ needs to be the center of your home, not just something you do on Sundays, not just something you talk about, but something you live!! If you are excited about it...they will be to !!