Morning by Morning, March 1 - Rights and Responsibilities to “Train Up a Child” Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ... “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). The Word of God speaks of our responsibility under God to train up our children in the way they should go. And the Spirit of God empowers us to do so. No government replaces that responsibility or usurps that authority. From the earliest Declaration of the government being formed in our nation under the guidance of the Providence of God, as our forefathers stated, we have determined to be a nation entrusting limited authority to government only by the “consent of the governed.” As commonly understood, “A government’s legitimacy and moral right to use state power is justified and lawful only when consented to by the people or society over which that political power is exercised.” The delegated authority entrusted to our school districts, academies, institutions, churches, or any other body who partner with us to train up our children is no different. And when any governmental body, so entrusted, violates that principle of our consent, it becomes tyranny. And if we won’t use our voice to speak up with our God-given responsibility and authority, we can’t blame the tyrants. In my home State of Texas, that delegated authority is expressed like this: Education Code Title 2. Public Education Subtitle E. Students and Parents Chapter 26. Parental Rights and Responsibilities Sec. 26.001. Purpose. (a) Parents are partners with educators, administrators, and school district boards of trustees in their children's education. Parents shall be encouraged to actively participate in creating and implementing educational programs for their children. (b) The rights listed in this chapter are not exclusive. This chapter does not limit a parent's rights under other law. (c) Unless otherwise provided by law, a board of trustees, administrator, educator, or other person may not limit parental rights. (d) Each board of trustees shall provide for procedures to consider complaints that a parent's right has been denied. As a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, that authority is expressed like this: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). You expressed it like this: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). And this: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). Lord, let us not sit back and be silent in such a time as this, when a war is waged for the souls of our children in their hearts and minds at school. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what they are being taught. And give us courage to stand up and voices to speak out when what they are being taught is destructive to their true identity and contrary to Your Truth. And even more importantly, stir up within us -- whether natural mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, or spiritual mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers -- our God-given responsibility and authority to train up our children in what is good and right and true according to Your Word and as applied by Your Spirit. I’m reminded of the words of courage, spoken by men of courage in the spiritual battles of their day: "Let it not be said that I was silent when they needed me." ‑-William Wilberforce “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” --Dietrich Bonhoeffer “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth.... And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” --Joshua By the grace of God, may I not be silent nor fail to act, but serve the Lord. And by the grace of God, may I take my place in the community of our faith to train up our children in the way they should go, partnering, when possible, with delegated authority proving themselves worthy of our trust and consent, but at the same time, never neglecting our God-given authority and responsibility. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be stirred up by the Holy Spirit to stand up and speak out as the Lord leads you on behalf of your children and spiritual children, as you and your community of faith train them up in the way they should go according to God's Word and Spirit, in Jesus' name. God bless you! Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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