An example to follow…
It’s interesting that in the Jewish culture a boy becomes a man at 12 years of age and they celebrate his coming of age with what’s called a bar mitzvah. So at that age he is expected to be mature in his thinking, in his responsibilities and decision making.
I think of a young man called Jeremiah who at just a few years above that age was called by God to be His prophet in a dark time in the nation of Israel. Jeremiah tried at one time to excuse his age but God would not have a bar of it!
Then there is Jesus Himself, who at the age of 12 was about His Father’s business…!
Finally there is the young man called Daniel, in his teens, taken captive and transported to a foreign land and a foreign culture – Babylon!
But Daniel we are told purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…..Daniel 1:8.
Today in Australia, the average length of a marriage is 7.2 years! Compared to a recent celebrity whose marriage lasted just 72 days it may seem quite good. But in reality this alarming statistic is a by-product of a current society that struggles with commitment.
Australians seem to place so little responsibility on their children in the time in which we live. Our children’s court is over flowing with kids who have had an example in their homes of bailing out, not having to tough it through, or be responsible and be committed in their school, their sports, their relationships and their own decisions.
I love studying the period of history known as the Great Depression, which made the recent GFC look like a hiccup.
It was during this Great Depression that the character of our nation Australia was I think refined again, tested and produced some of the greatest leaders our nation has ever had.
Today the church needs an answer to Paul’s exhortation, 2 Tim 2: 1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
It’s time to raise our children to be responsible for their actions, accountable for their decisions and people of Godly character who stick to the task no matter what comes.
May God enable us to be faithful to Him and let us provide an example our children can follow no matter what we face, especially when things are tough!