Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 4:1-4(KJV): "Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live."

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses contain some of the most important instructions, not only for children, but for our present generation. Many children in this generation have become disrespectful, not only to their father's instructions, but to all those who are in a position of authority. This rebellion of young people is creating much havoc in our society at large.  I do praise God for Christian young people who are making a difference in their circle of friends, but at the present, they are in the minority. We should all remember to pray for our young people.

All through the Bible children are admonished to obey and listen to their parents. In fact, one of the ten commandments is about this very issue. The Bible also instructs fathers to be the right kind of parent.

Ephesians 6:1-4: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

The Bible exhorts parents to raise their children in the ways of the Lord.   Our children are being exposed to so many outside influences that are not good for them through movies, T.V., music, videos, humanistic teachings, etc.  As parents, we must teach them the ways of the Lord.  Many parents think if they take their children to Sunday School this should be sufficient for their Christian training. Sunday School should only be a supplement to what they are taught at home.  When I was young, most of the people in the West Texas town I was raised in, all worked together to train children in the right way. The church, schools and the home all reinforced each other in teaching the children the correct moral values. Today it is sad to see such a deterioration in our society.  We must, as parents and grandparents, do our part to be good examples to our children and grand children. We must talk about the Lord and read the Bible in our homes if we desire our children to be good Christians.

"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)."

If we obey the Lord we shall be blessed in this life and so shall our children.  We are to pass the Bible's teachings down to our children, just as our fathers should pass them down to us. This is an inheritance that will bless our children more than any material or monetary inheritance that we could leave them.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Father, Thank you for the youth of this nation that know you and are attempting to follow you and your ways.  I know it is not easy for them in a society such as ours.   Give them grace and strength to live the Christian life. Give them the holy boldness to witness to their peers.   Lord, help me as a parent and grandmother to be the kind of example that will inspire my children and grandchildren to want to know You and follow you.  Give my offspring respectful hearts for their elders and all those in authority, even as You have instructed. I pray that I will also have a respectful attitude for those in authority. Lord, even when those in authority may be wrong, give me the grace to honor the office they represent. Let me be an honorable example to the youth of our day.  In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.