April 19

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.  My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.  If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”— my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.  How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!  These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!  Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.  Proverbs 1:8-19 (NIV)

 

"Early in life young people face enticements to sin.  Peer pressure will tempt them to join with the majority and enjoy sinful pleasures.  Young people can resist such temptations to turn from God and his way by developing a close relationship with God as their Lord, by a willingness to stand alone, if need be, in their commitment to God's righteous ways, and by knowing that the way of compromise and sinful pleasure leads to heartache, distress, calamity and destruction."  (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes)

 

Father God, the pressure to fit in and be accepted is far greater than the call to "Stand Out".  1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a "chosen people", "a people belonging to God" which were called out of darkness into Your wonderful light.  Help our children see that there is much more to gain being in the light than dwelling in the dark.  We pray right now that the enticements be revealed and the taste of sinful pleasure be bitter to our sons/daughters.  We know that it's not easy finding your way through adolescence and maturing into adulthood, but show them that they're not alone...no matter how it appears!  There are ministries, cures, healing, discipleship and so much more that You have placed in our children...we pray that they stay on the path and avoid the enticements.  In Jesus name, Amen!