Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 36-39; John 17
Devotional Thought:
I can never read John 17 without thinking of God’s plan for parenting. God has given me a job to do as a parent. He has entrusted me with a tremendous blessing and responsibility. I am a steward of the children that belong to God and yet have been entrusted to me to parent, “…thine they were, and Thou gavest them me…” (vs. 6) Will I be able to say before my Heavenly Father, “I have finished the work that Thou gavest me to do?” (vs. 4) As I go through this high priestly prayer of Christ, I hope to capture some very key elements of parenting. First, I have the responsibility to point my children to Christ. I must desire for them to know God, “…that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” (vs. 3) Secondly, I have the responsibility to teach them the Bible. “For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest me…” (vs. 8) Jesus was careful to teach His disciples that He was from God. Oh how our world is under attack to believe that we are from chance rather than created by God. It is so important that we teach our children the creation story and that man is ultimately responsible to His Creator and will one day give an account. Thirdly, I have the responsibility to pray for my children. “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given me; for they are thine.” (vs. 9) The proving time for parents is not how your children act when you are around, but how do they act when you are not around. The day will come for all of us parents that we will most likely die before our children. Jesus said, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name…” (vs. 12) I am sure the heart of Jesus was broken over Judas whom He lost to the world, “…that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Jesus realized that God’s plan was not to be isolationist, but rather separationist. He was careful to pray that God would not take them out of the world, but rather to keep them from the evil. We must pray that our children would be spared from the influence and humanism of our society, but rather would shine as beacons of truth. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (vs. 16) Fourthly, I have the responsibility to teach my children to be a witness. I must pray that my children will be a testimony and light in a dark world. I must understand that my children will follow my example. “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (vs. 19) Jesus did not pray simply for those entrusted to Him, but for all those who would believe the gospel through the testimony of His disciples. (vs. 20) I apply this to praying for my children’s ministry, but also for my future in-laws and grandchildren. I pray for the salvation of my grandchildren “…that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee…” (vs. 21) Fifthly, I am responsible to love my children. “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (vs. 26) May we be motivated to parent biblically, responsibly, and consistently; so that our Heavenly Father may be glorified.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me as I parent the precious lives you have entrusted to me. Thank you for the precious gifts and great responsibility.
• Lord, help me to never be selfish in this life, but to wholly give myself to the great task of rearing my children to love you and to serve you with their whole hearts.
• Lord, thank you so much for the example of how you cared for your disciples. Please protect my precious children: Nathan, Taylor, Stephen, Andrew, and Jonathan, from the snares of the world in which they live.