May 6 - "My child would never..."

When I worked in the judicial system there were certain 'buzz' words that a judge would use to let you know things were serious.  Words like 'recidivism', which means repeated or habitual relapse , as into crime.  Often the word recidivism was used to demonstrate the likelihood of an offender to repeat a crime.  Unfortunately, by running to defend our children so much, we have set them up for recidivism with sin.

Being a PTO officer at both of my sons schools; I have encountered a few parents that are quick to come to the defense of their child, even without getting the whole story.  I understand that as a parent it is important for my child to feel that he/she can come to me with any issue their facing and have confidence that it will be handled to the best of my ability.  The challenge comes, when we decide to take the reigns of righteousness, disregard and look down on everyone else involved.  When we're combative with everyone else and we don't question our child's responsibility in a matter; we give them the perception that they do not have to be held accountable for what they've done.  There are always three sides to every story; yours, mine and the truth!

I thought about a part of scripture that says, "...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment," because we will often think more highly of our children than we ought.  I remember one day when I went to my 8yr old son's school to pick him up and his teacher told me that he used profanity in class.  She could hardly tell me what he said because she was laughing so much at the fact that he had used it correctly.  Normally I would have been  horrified, but he had used the same word the night before at home (I won't say where he got the word from) and I thought I surely had heard him wrong.  Now I could have come off in a righteous way and took the "not my child" approach, but instead; his teacher and I talked about it productively and enjoyed a laugh at his directness...still hoping it was just random.  *sigh*  We have to make sure that we parent our children in a way that encourages them to accept responsibility for their sin so that he/she does not fall into recidivism.

God, Your word says that if our brother sins seven times in a day, we should rebuke him and if he repents, we should forgive him seven times.  While we're thankful for forgiveness; we declare that our children will not habitual sinners taking grace for granted.  Not my child!  In Jesus name, Amen!!

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!