The title today comes from Proverbs 22:6:
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
That’s easily said, but how do we do it? How do we organize our child’s life so that he will not depart from good teaching? What examples do we set? How do we live and love well enough that our message is instilled in her forever and ever? How can we hit a home run in raising our children to be good people?
Let’s look at five scriptures from the Bible that cover all the bases.
First Base:
Mark 12:30 must happen before anything else. Miss this one, and we’re already out and off the field.
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Second Base:
Mark 12:31 puts us firmly on second. We have a Christian obligation to teach our children to treat others with kindness and compassion.
“The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Third Base:
John 8:32 reminds us that without knowing the rules of the game, we have no hope of reaching home plate. We must teach our children from the Word of God.
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Home Plate:
Deuteronomy 6:18 narrows our vision and ups the intensity of our game. We want our children to live the lessons they’ve been taught. They will follow the example we’ve set for them, good or bad.
“And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers.”
The game isn’t over just because we reach home plate. There is another level of the game, a pennant to win:
Proverbs 4:5 tells us how our children and grandchildren can be winners, also.
“Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.”
Wisdom in the game of baseball comes from our coaches, from practice before the game, and from experience. In life, as parents, we are the coaches, we practice as a family, and we live out our lessons at play and in school.
It’s the same in our Christian life. Christ is our coach, church is our practice session, and experience is what we get every day. Our children will win, bases loaded, a triple header, when their children also live for the Lord.
When Christ is on the mound, we’ll win every time.
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Code: FGO.I.02.17a.vp.esv