WHAT IS YOUR CROWN OF BOASTING? Pt 2

“Holding forth the word of life that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,
that I have NOT RUN IN VAIN, NEITHER LABORED IN VAIN”
(Philippians 2:16).

We continue our study about preparing our children for the coming of the Lord Jesus.

4. GOD’S WORD OF TRUTH

We must have a healthy fear of God’s Word. That means we revere it as the living, breathing, active Word of God. We read it as though God is personally speaking to us. We listen to Him through His Word. We obey Him. We tremble at His word. If we have this attitude to God’s Word, our children will imbibe the same attitude.

If we carelessly treat God’s Word, our children will be careless about it. Our children notice if we rarely pick up God’s Word. They see what importance we place on His Word by how much we read it and talk about it. Do we read it with them every morning and evening? They soon become aware that we either take it with a grain of salt or tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:2).

In preparing the new Christians to be his “crown of boasting” when Jesus comes, Paul lifted God’s Word to its high level. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 says: “When ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

When writing to these believers, Paul shared how he longed to see their faces again so he “might perfect that which is lacking in your faith” (3:10). How did he do this? By continuing to teach them more of God’s Word of truth. It is the Word that builds up our faith and fills up the areas we are lacking in our lives and our children’s lives.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GOD’S WORD TO FILL UP THE WEAKNESSES IN YOUR CHILDREN’S LIVES.

When you see an area of lack in your children’s lives, fill it up with God’s Word. Find the Scriptures that apply to that area of need. Read those Scriptures with your children. Write them up in big colorful letters in appropriate places in the home. Encourage your children to memorize these Scriptures. You will find that there is nothing else that is as effective of God’s Word to fill up the lacks.

5. PRAYER

The last point, but the most important of all. And the one we use the least. Do you and your husband pray together each day for your children? It takes much prayer and intercession to get them through life in victory and holiness—and for them to become your “glory” and “joy.” Never give up praying. Find a time that is suitable for your husband to pray with you each day. Paul prayed “NIGHT AND DAY EXCEEDINGLY” (3:10). We can at least find one time in the day.

He prayed that God would establish their hearts “unblamable in holiness before God” (3:13). We live in an evil and deceived world and it takes prayer to keep our children and grandchildren walking in holiness. He prayed: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:23).

He not only prayed, but travailed in prayer for the believers in Galatia (Galatians 4:19).

He prayed many blessings for the Ephesians believers and that they would be “filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

He did “not cease to pray” for the Colossians believers (Colossian 1:9-12).

He prayed for the Philippian believers who he also called “my joy and crown” (Philippians 1:4, 9-11 and 4:1).

We must continually lift our children up before the Lord for He is the only who can “keep you from falling, and to present your faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).

Are your children your boast in the Lord? Paul confessed in 1 Thessalonians 3:8 “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.” Is this how you feel too? You feel you can only really live if your children are standing fast, walking in holiness, and overcoming the temptations of this evil world.

May our children be our “glory” and “joy” at His coming. May we not live in vain.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell]

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, Thank You for showing me the tools I need to prepare my children for Your coming. Help me to use them faithfully. Help me to give them a LOVE for Your precious word. Help my husband and I to be faithful in praying for them each day. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I have no lesser a vision than to be a Holy Spirit-filled, Word-loving, and powerful-praying mother.