“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV
I have had the topic of today’s blog on my mind for the past several months and that come from growing up with the Bible. Over the past year I have felt Scripture take a stronger place in my life when it comes to ministry with a desire to equip others in God’s Word. Particularly so because I am finding and cultivating different ministry settings in which I have seen growth and fruit take place. I found myself reminiscing on my almost life long relationship with God’s Word in asking the question, “When did I feel the Scriptures take deep root in my life?” The answer would be when I was a little boy in homeschool.
Before starting my next year in public school being third grade, my parents made the decision to home school my sister and I after some different education and health circumstances arose. Both my sister and I would remain being homeschooled all the way through high school and stepping back into the social school system at Ivy Tech Community College. Starting homeschool at first was quite a difficult transition in being a little boy missing the friendships I had in the public-school setting, having fun running across the playground and other public-school related activities. I did not fully understand it at the time of course, but I would agree that my parents made a very wise and intentional choice in investing my sisters and I’s education. So much so that I would do it again in a heartbeat if given the decision as I can easily say my mom is my favorite all-time teacher.
My grades steadily improved and over the years I developed great self-study habits and problem-solving skills that helped me immensely throughout my college career. This was evident in propelling me forward in being recognized as among the top academic students throughout Indiana in being a part of the All-Indiana Academic Team through the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. An achievement which I greatly recognize in crediting my parents with in their decision to homeschool me. However, there is something that I consider even greater than this that came out of my parents’ decision to homeschool me.
There are two reasons why I share what I have written above. The first reason is that it was a significant part of my life as my parents, particularly my mother, gave up a lot to be a stay-at-home mom/teacher. This involved her making important educational decisions regarding curriculum and course work that would impact her children’s future. The second reason is being how we started every day with reading the Bible. My mother felt it was important that we started our day with this together which she tied into my sisters and I’s curriculum. Again, in the mind of a little boy at first, I did not understand why we had to start the day in reading aloud the New King James Version. A Bible that my parents gave me when I was 9 years old. Regardless, we did so at the family kitchen table every morning Monday through Friday like clockwork.
During this time, I remember one thing that stood out to me as a little boy that made an everlasting impression on me. Trying to convey this everlasting impression into words now as I write this, I find rather difficult, but it would be something as follows.
As a little boy, I had a realization that if my mother believes it is important that we are to start everyday in school with reading through the Bible, then this is something incredibly important that I need to keep with me for the rest of my life.
Having said that, there were still mornings where I was not interested in reading the Bible and would rather skip through reading the genealogies found in 1st Chronicles chapters 1-9 that as a little boy felt like lasted an eternity to read through. Being ever so tongue tied to read through names listed in these chapters like Shephatiah, Zerubbabel, or Malchijah. Then I also remember reading the story of David and Goliath in 1st Samuel 17 in how David, a young boy took down a giant with the help of God with nothing but a sling and a rock. This probably explains why I owned and played with several slingshots growing up trying to improve my skills with rocks from the driveway against pop cans. Then reading the story of Jonah in how he is swallowed by a great fish and remains in the belly of the fish for three days before being spat out on land. This left me thinking as a little boy that Jonah must have smelled awful following this.
Then I remember reading through the Gospels having my first true encounter with Jesus. A man who was so different than the patriarchs, prophets, and kings that I had read throughout the Old Testament. Quickly I realized that there was something different about Jesus and that He was a very important person. He was kind and cared for those around Him through the words He spoke and the miracles He performed. Yet Jesus seemed to be in trouble regularly with the religious leaders whom He spoke harshly of because somehow, He knew their true thoughts and motives as I thought that would be a cool power to have. Reading the stinging words of Matthew 23:3 NKJV, “Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works, for they say and do not do.” There was so much happening that I did not fully understand, but I knew Jesus was good man and yet treated so terribly in being betrayed by one of His disciples then killed on the cross. My heart full of emotions then reading some verses later that my hero has come back to life in feeling immense joy!
A little boy and his Bible realizing that this Jesus is someone I could live for because He lived and died for my mistakes, my sin and He is Risen so that I may have eternal life if I believe in Him. Again, I did not fully understand what all was happening, but I knew this is something I wanted to live for in being a follower of Jesus. The Bible became more meaningful to me at this point because not only could I read of my hero whenever I wanted to, but I could continue to take time in understanding the story of the Bible more in reading it. The result was a little boy realizing how important his Bible was and that this was something that would impact me for the rest of my life.
You may be wondering why did I choose this as a blog to write on and there are a few reasons for that. The first reason is I am grateful that my mother took this time aside with us every school day in reading the Bible. The second reason is I can see how those early Scriptural seeds planted in me then has impacted and shaped my life today. The third reason is I am wanting to direct this blog towards parents or for those who have parenthood in their future as this would include me when I eventually become a father.
When Mikaela and I have children, I plan to walk our kids through reading the Bible together starting at an early age every week. In terms of being a Christian father, spiritual investing in my children through Scripture is a rather high priority on my list. I believe and have expectations that God will show up and encounter my children in ways that I cannot imagine. Even though I am not a father yet, I believe having a high value on Scripture in my children’s life will serve them significantly. Especially as they grow in becoming teenagers, young adults, future parents, and grandparents. I would phrase this as a generational investment that I would love to see be poured out from generation to generation long after I am gone. This reminds me of the passage in Isaiah 40…
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 NLT
For my part, I believe there is a spiritual responsibility as a Christian father to raise my children to walk in the light of the Gospel. Meaning I want to see Jesus become the hero in my children’s lives. Even when there are times, they find themselves in darkness, the light of the Gospel will always reach and find them guiding them back onto the right path into the loving arms of Jesus. As much as I will want to be right there with my children when the storms of life come, I know that will not always be possible, but my Lord and Savior Jesus will always be present in times of need. As the psalmist wrote in Psalms 46…
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge.”
Psalms 46:1-3 NLT
For those of you who are parents or soon to be parents, I want to encourage you on the place you can have in your children’s lives in spiritually investing God’s Word into their lives starting at an early age.
To those who read this whose children have already grown up and moved away from home, you still can still spiritually pour into your children’s lives through God’s Word even though it may look different.
To those who read this and are adults or old in age who do not have your own children to Scripturally invest into, there are many spiritual sons and daughters of God in the church who need spiritual fathers and mothers. And even those who need spiritual grandfathers and grandmothers to come alongside them and invest the Scripture into their lives.
To those who are young and read this without a spiritual father or mother, pray and ask that God would show you to those around you who could serve as your spiritual father, mother, grandfather or grandmother.
The body of Christ, the church is meant to be family and in our unity in Christ we step into a larger family where we find belonging. I want to close this blog with a note on children and parents from my NLT Illustrated Study Bible (see Deeper with a Study Bible). Blessings
Children and Parents
Wise children bring great joy to their parents, while foolish children cause them much grief (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20). This observation motivates parents to guide their children into wisdom (Proverbs 17:21, 25) and encourages children to pay attention (Proverbs 19:26; 20:20).
When children need discipline, parents should not shirk from their responsibility, because the consequences are dangerous to the child (Proverbs 19:18; 22:6, 15; 23:13-14). Through the example of their own wise and godly behavior (Proverbs 11:21; 12:7; 13:22; 20:7), parents are to instruct their children in the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:4-9) and to inform them about his great deeds in history (Psalms 78:1-8). This knowledge will lead children to obedience and blessing. Children, for their part, must show godly parents the respect that is due to them (Proverbs 20:20; 30:11-14, 17).
Proverbs affirms the power and impact of a strong, cohesive family that loves and follows God. The book has strong warnings for those who would disrupt a family (Proverbs 6:19; 11:29), and it heaps great praise on those who build up the family (Proverbs 14:1). A family that lives in dependence on the Lord can truly flourish (Psalms 127-128).” – NLT Illustrated Study Bible
“Direct your children onto the right path, and even when they are older, they will not leave it.” Proverbs 22:6 NLT