We have a daughter who is deciding with us whether she will
attend college and if so, which one. We
all want to raise children who make good decisions, especially where those
decisions matter the most. I’ve been
thoughtful about this: that the best way
for children to become young adults who make wise decisions, is for them in
young years to develop a heart for Christ.
If a child begins to walk with Christ at a young age, memorizing Scripture
from a heart-desire, being daily in the Word, walking with wise men and women in the long river of saints that have gone
before and left testimony in writing, his or her thinking is forged thus. Appetites are formed which are consistent
with wisdom and biblical thinking. Wise
decisions flow from a heart entirely given to Christ, joyfully walking in His
laws and His Spirit, serving others from a heart of love. For a young woman
or man who genuinely, with all her heart, believes “the law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the
Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether; more to be desired
are they than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned, and in keeping of them
there is great reward”, right decisions will flow naturally from love of these
things. When we see our youth genuinely treasuring the Word of God, actively and
energetically endeavoring to put it into practice through daily loving others
in stunningly beautiful ways, we know that good decisions will be but just one
more fruit of their maturing. If this is
not what we are seeing, let us stop the world, so to speak, and sow seeds of
Truth, grace, of the Christ-walk in their lives. We cannot export what we have not imported
into our own hearts, through grace and through “many dangers, toils and snares”.
(verses from Psalm 19)
St Andrews, Scotland
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