A Mature Faith - Dr James Dobson

A Mature Faith

We will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:15
Judy did everything she could to ensure the spiritual well-being of her son Kevin. She taught him the Word, took him to church, and prayed for him regularly. But when Kevin reached his teens, Judy despaired as she realized that he was turning away from God. Then, two months before his high school graduation, she learned he was hooked on drugs. Kevin soon moved to another state. It was a desperate period for Judy. She was forced to let go of her son at a time when every fiber of her being demanded that she step in and “fix” his faltering faith. Instead, she resolved to love and pray for her son from a distance.
Though you must do everything possible to encourage a living faith in the Lord during your children’s youth, it is important not to push your children too hard spiritually once they reach the latter years of adolescence. They must develop their own personal belief in God to achieve the mature faith described by the apostle Paul: “We will no longer be infants.… We will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:14–15).
Judy’s prayers for her son were answered after two years. Kevin entered a Christian drug rehab program and recommitted his life to the Lord. Our hope is that when you let go of your sons and daughters, your prayers for faithful children will be answered, too.
Before you say good night…

• Are you placing enough emphasis on spiritual matters at home? Are you pushing too hard?
• Are you willing to put the faith of your older children in God’s hands?

Father, thank You that You love my children even more than I do. Because of Your trustworthiness, I know You will be faithful to work in their lives. Help me to depend on You to establish my children in their faith. Amen.

A Prayer for Mothers - Dr Charles R. Swindoll

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you." —Isaiah 66:13

We do worship You, our Father, and in our worship we give You our thanks. We thank You, not only for our own mothers and grandmothers but for all women who have filled that role. We remember those who are now deceased, who helped shape our lives, who taught us faithfully, and who enduringly loved us. Thank You for the contribution of fine women all over this world who live lives dedicated to Your service, to their families, to their extended families. Thank You for each. You have written in Your Word that their "worth is far above jewels."

Thank You for the tenderness and compassion mothers contribute to a world that's cold and raw and careless and harsh. Thank You for their affirmation and words of affection in the midst of a society bent on high achievement, self-serving goals, and short-sighted pursuits. Thank You for their hours of investment in others. Thank You for their contribution to You in the work of the church down through the centuries. Thank You for using women through the ages to improve their homes, their families, and other's lives. Thank You for their vision, for their strength of character. Most of all, for their hearts, tender to You and affectionate toward those they love.

Dear Father, so many of these things represent Your wisdom which is, as You have written, more precious than silver—better than gold. In light of that, we rededicate ourselves to Your work, to Your service, and to those who need our love. We commit our future to You for however many months or years You may give us. May we faithfully and relentlessly serve the Master.

In the name of the Savior, we pray. Amen.

See also  Exodus 20:12 ; Proverbs 6:20 ; 20:20 ; 30:17 .

For Strong Families - Dr Charles R. Swindoll

"So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;  They will not be ashamed  When they speak with their enemies in the gate." Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,  —Psalm 127:4–5 Marriage. A husband and wife coming together as one. Family. Rearing children. These things are so much of what life is about, our Father. They give us hours of pleasure . . . and hours of frustration. There's probably nothing that most of us work harder at and sometimes feel more guilty about than those things. What a mystery! And yet, You have it all figured out. Somewhere between what You wrote and what we do, there's been a breakdown. We need help. We know it won't be easy or quick, but it'll come as we learn from You. Help us unlearn our many habits and patterns that are not in line with Your Word and will. Forgive us for having clung to them. We like things that make sense. We like things that have a clear ring to them. We like things that help us feel good. But often, Lord, the things You have to say about marriage and family are none of the above. That's tough for us to handle, especially when we feel like salmon swimming against the stream. We work with people who scoff at marriage. We live around people who are unfaithful in their marriages. We struggle in our own concepts of marriage. Help us, Lord. The family is so important to You. With confidence, we commit our families to You. In Jesus's name. Amen. See also  Exodus 20:12 ; Deuteronomy 6:6–7 ; Proverbs 1:8 ; Colossians 3:18–20 .

Spiritual Discipline - Dr Tony Evans

In His Presence: James 1:2-2



When a person’s carnality reaches the point of rejecting the Christian faith, many things can happen. Financial, emotional, social, and mental difficulties are just a few things that could catch up with them. If they live in persistent rebellion against God, God is going to discipline them. “We had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplines us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness” (Hebrews 12:9-10).



The purpose of God’s discipline is to bring us back to Him in reconciliation. He does not discipline in vengeance or because He is angry. Our parents disciplined us the best they could, but God disciplines perfectly every time. He knows everything. He knows what the carnal Christian has done, so God is never caught by surprise.



“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful” (v. 11). A person living in carnality is going to experience discipline that will hurt. What is the difference between a Christian in the will of God going through trials, and a person out of the will of God going through discipline? If we are in the will of God, we can “consider it all joy” (James 1:2). If we are out of God’s will, we will not have joy in the midst of our problems.



One Minute Please



“To those who have been trained by [discipline], afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

How To Stop Bullying - Gail Matthews

Gail Matthews has written a very topical book on how parents can deal with school bullying. 

This is the time of years when children return to school, and some will be fearing the prospect.

This book will provide you with the basics of what this social evil is and suggests how this might be dealt with positively and productively.

This book is more accessable than my own book, "Overcoming Bullying at School," which is available only in hard copy.

You owe it to your children to be as well briefed as possible about this potentially life-threatening anti-social behaviour.  Buy your copy here and be glad you took this important step to protect your children.

Parental Evangelism - C H Spurgeon

‘Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.’ Mark 10:14 Suggested Further Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4–7 We can say with the apostle John, ‘I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.’ We continue, therefore, to bring them to Christ by daily, constant, earnest prayer on their behalf. As soon as they become of years capable of understanding the things of God, we endeavour to bring them to Christ by teaching them the truth. Hence our Sabbath schools, hence the use of the Bible and family prayer, and catechizing at home. Any person who shall say, ‘Do not teach your children; they will be converted in God’s own time if it be his purpose; therefore leave them to run wild in the streets,’ will certainly both ‘sin against the child’ and the Lord Jesus. We might as well say, ‘If that piece of ground is to grow a harvest, it will do so if it be God’s good pleasure; therefore leave it, and let the weeds spring up and cover it; do not endeavour for a moment to kill the weeds, or to sow the good seed.’ Why, such reasoning as this would be not only cruel to our children, but grievously displeasing to Christ. Parents! I do hope you are all endeavouring to bring your children to Christ by teaching them the things of God. Let them not be strangers to the plan of salvation. Never let it be said that a child of yours reached years in which his conscience could act, and he could judge between good and evil, without knowing the doctrine of the atonement, without understanding the great substitutionary work of Christ. Set before your child life and death, hell and heaven, judgment and mercy, his own sin, and Christ’s most precious blood; and as you set these before him, labour with him, persuade him, as the apostle did his congregation, with tears and weeping, to turn unto the Lord. For meditation: Christian parents should bring their children up ‘in the nurture and admonition of the Lord’ (Ephesians 6:4). This may be harder in non-Christian marriages when only one of the partners becomes a Christian, but it is not hopeless (1 Corinthians 7:14); Timothy was proof (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Sermon no. 581 24 July (1864)

Parents' Greatest Love.

A very challenging question was out to parents at church today, and it was this: Ask your children what they thought it was that you loved most of all?  They were to think about your daily routine, see the things you gave most time to and showed greatest knowledge of and interest in.  If these are the things we love most of all, what would they say?

Was it a favourite football team?  Was it your work?  Was it your car or your home?

How many children would conclude after looking at the interests displayed by their parents that their parent loved Jesus most of all?  How many see their parents giving more time to the study of the Word than to watching the soaps?

God questions, eh?

No Rod, Parental Shame

The riots in GB cities recently have thrown up the usual responses from politicians and other do-gooders. A "Community pay-back" scheme with offenders wearing luminous vests has been suggested by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Glegg. Other forms of community service have been proposed, but these will come to nothing.
The Bible says the following: "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother shame." This ties in with what some angry citizens have been saying, that the problem is lack of parental control and responsibility. Parents must surely get back to basics if their children are to be a blessing to them. They must consider (1) that proper correction in the home is beneficial to the child, the parents, other siblings and to the whole community. Teaching them from a young age the different between right and wrong, good and evil, can only be proper because it educates the conscience of the child. When they transgress, they must be appropriately corrected. If the child heeds the parents' reproof without recourse to the rod, well and good; but if not, then the responsibility rests on the parent to secure and ensure proper behaviour from their child. This produces wisdom. The child that takes the warning will gain wisdom.

(2) Any child that is left to his own inclinations is a child that does not know the right way to live. Such a child will bring shame on his mother and father. He/she will disobey the parents and bring disgrace on their good name. They will cause them needless worry and anxiety, not to mention embarrassment. Left to himself, that child could well end up in prison because he has stolen, or worse, murdered someone. A child does not have the wisdom to stay away from bad company, but does possess the unwisdom that takes them into bad company.

Had the British parents administered the rod in due measure, perhaps their children and young people would not have been involved in those riots.