Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Children: To be partakers in the concerns of Christ
Ephesians 6: 1- 4V 1“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
— John F. Kennedy
One thing we can definitely say is that the future is dependent on the children. Children have to be taken care of, they should be brought up, instilling in them Christian values and helping them to have a strong foundation in Christ. If we lead a pious life rooted in Christ, our children will follow suit. But in today’s world, do we share the concerns of Christ? Are we loaded with our own worries and anxieties? Are we bothered about the church of Christ and its wellbeing? What does it take to share the concerns of Christ?
The epistle written by St. Paul to the church in Ephesus discusses practical applications which helps Christians to live a worthy life in this world. St. Paul starts off chapter 6 by giving instructions regarding parents and children, then moves on to the relationship between servants and masters. He also talks about the armor of God and ends the chapter with greetings to the Ephesians. This chapter details how to be strong in faith so that we will be enabled to attempt great things for our Lord. Something worth noticing is that he commences by addressing the children. He asks the children to obey their parents and asks them to honor them. There are two reasons he adds to justify his instructions. One, because it is right, and the second reason is that it is God’s commandment. He is giving the children a hint that helps them to decide what to do and what they have to abide by. They have to do what is right. They are called to obey God’s commandments and God is always faithful with His promises. If the children do what is right and obey God’s commandments, they will share the concerns of Christ.
Paul doesn’t ask the parents to wait till they are grown up before bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. In Proverbs 22: 6 we read, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” Children should always be shown which path they have to follow. If they have to be partakers in the concerns of Christ and take up the responsibility of leading the church, they have to see their parents and grown ups doing it with conviction, and with great devotion and firm faith in Christ. Children learn from example; they learn from what they see their parents doing. We must be alert and ensure that we are setting good examples for our children to follow.
The epistle written by St. Paul to the church in Ephesus discusses practical applications which helps Christians to live a worthy life in this world. St. Paul starts off chapter 6 by giving instructions regarding parents and children, then moves on to the relationship between servants and masters. He also talks about the armor of God and ends the chapter with greetings to the Ephesians. This chapter details how to be strong in faith so that we will be enabled to attempt great things for our Lord. Something worth noticing is that he commences by addressing the children. He asks the children to obey their parents and asks them to honor them. There are two reasons he adds to justify his instructions. One, because it is right, and the second reason is that it is God’s commandment. He is giving the children a hint that helps them to decide what to do and what they have to abide by. They have to do what is right. They are called to obey God’s commandments and God is always faithful with His promises. If the children do what is right and obey God’s commandments, they will share the concerns of Christ.
Paul doesn’t ask the parents to wait till they are grown up before bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. In Proverbs 22: 6 we read, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” Children should always be shown which path they have to follow. If they have to be partakers in the concerns of Christ and take up the responsibility of leading the church, they have to see their parents and grown ups doing it with conviction, and with great devotion and firm faith in Christ. Children learn from example; they learn from what they see their parents doing. We must be alert and ensure that we are setting good examples for our children to follow.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, enable us by your grace and mercy to always abide by your Word and be your children. Help us to do only the right deeds and to always glorify your name, Amen.
Thought for the Day
“If there is no child crying, your church is dying.”
Dr. Teena T. Elizabeth,W/O Rev. Bibi Mathew Chacko
Ascension Mar Thoma Church, Philadelphia