2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 39:1-41:18 ESV, 2 Timothy 1:1-18 ESV, Psalm 90:1-91:16 ESV, Proverbs 26:1-2 ESV
Daily Verse: “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.” (2 Timothy 1:3 ESV)
PROGONOS (4269): “An ancestor, (grand-)parents: -forefather. Used as a noun in the plural, forefathers.”[1]
Forefathers.
Paul thanks his forefathers for raising him in the faith. Because of his upbringing, Paul knew the scriptures inside and out. When the apostle met Jesus, Paul’s background helped him accomplish his mission. Paul understood Jewish law and could debate anyone about the merits of faith in Jesus.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6 ESV)
God promises if we raise our children in the faith, they won’t depart from it in their old age. Children do stray; I strayed. But in my straying, I learned the truth about God’s promises. His word lasts when nothing else does.
Trust the process.
Raising children in the faith takes time and effort. Teaching them about Jesus young gives them a firm foundation to fall back on when things get tough. And the lessons they learn will help them flourish in life later. Faith keeps us going when all else fails.
Working in the kid’s ministry encourages me; their pure hearts soak up the lessons taught in Sunday school. Standing at the back of the class, I love watching their energetic answers to whatever question. Singing worship with them always encourages my heart.
As adults, we understand that bad things happen in life and will test our faith. But kids don’t know about crises of faith yet. Teaching them to rely on Jesus will help them when difficult times arise. And as they grow and mature, they will pass the lessons learned to the next generation.
Thank God for our forefathers who persevered in the faith, raising their children to believe and trust in Jesus. Life on earth ends all too quickly, but our faith never does. In God, we can always trust, and we have the opportunity to share that knowledge with the generations to come.
[1]Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 211) Thomas Nelson
