Did We Miss Something?
Whenever we have an event like the recent tragedy in Ferguson, MO. suddenly everyone wants to assess blame. Depending you your culture, race or creed, you pick the "scapegoat" and join in the frenzy of a public "trial". You may live 5,000 miles away, but you think you know better than those who were involved or were at least on-site. Blogs are written, Facebook and Twitter posts are made and hurtful words are thrown about willy-nilly with no thought as to who gets hurt. This is especially true when the "victim" is a child, teen-ager, or young 20-something. All of this makes me think that perhaps in the long run we have missed the real tragedy. That is the tragedy of ignoring scriptural warnings.
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Proverbs 3:11 "Do not despise the Lord's instruction, my son and do not loathe His discipline, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in."
Proverbs 6:12-15 "A worthless person, a wicked man goes around speaking dishonestly, winking his eyes signaling with his feet, and gesturing with his fingers (flashing gang symbols?). He always plots evil with perversity in his heart--he stirs up trouble. Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly--beyond recovery."
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates correction is stupid."
There are many more admonitions in the Proverbs that deal with the correct raising of children. All the the bad consequences can be attributed to ignoring these admonitions. People ignore the teachings of scripture at their own peril. When disaster comes upon them they cry, "Where was God when this happened? Why did this happen to my child, brother, sister, etc.?" Perhaps parents should dust off the Bible and begin to realize that God gave us instructions for parenting and gave sons and daughters instructions for responding to the discipline of their authorities.
Paul reminds us in Romans 13:3 "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have its approval."
Parents, remember your responsibility before God. If you ignore it, don't be surprised if you get that dreaded call in the night.
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Proverbs 3:11 "Do not despise the Lord's instruction, my son and do not loathe His discipline, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in."
Proverbs 6:12-15 "A worthless person, a wicked man goes around speaking dishonestly, winking his eyes signaling with his feet, and gesturing with his fingers (flashing gang symbols?). He always plots evil with perversity in his heart--he stirs up trouble. Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly--beyond recovery."
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates correction is stupid."
There are many more admonitions in the Proverbs that deal with the correct raising of children. All the the bad consequences can be attributed to ignoring these admonitions. People ignore the teachings of scripture at their own peril. When disaster comes upon them they cry, "Where was God when this happened? Why did this happen to my child, brother, sister, etc.?" Perhaps parents should dust off the Bible and begin to realize that God gave us instructions for parenting and gave sons and daughters instructions for responding to the discipline of their authorities.
Paul reminds us in Romans 13:3 "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have its approval."
Parents, remember your responsibility before God. If you ignore it, don't be surprised if you get that dreaded call in the night.
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