One decade is passed and 'tis the start of a new decade....

It was only at Watchnight Service 2010 (New Years' Eve) that I realized that we had just completed a decade and we're about to begin on a new one.

My dear first born son just turned 11 yrs old. That means that I have spent the last decade learning to be a mother and growing as a person. I think the single most important lesson the Lord has been teaching me these 10 years is how to disciple someone.

Before I became a parent, discipling someone was mostly an opt in/ opt out situation. Well, if that person doesn't want to grow as a christian, what could I do? Life goes on.  But when it is your own child, a precious soul that God has entrusted you with, opting out of the job of discipling simply is too dangerous and costly: it would cost the soul of your own child to perish in hell... there are no other considerations. The job must be done. Faithfully.

What a blessed opportunity it is that a brand new person is given to a parent to mold for the Lord. What great potential that holds for the parent to lovingly teach this child everything about God. This child will be taught to recognize their own sinful condition from a very young age. It is only through the knowledge of sin and separation from God that the child will know that he needs a Saviour to wash and cleanse him from his sin and be made a child of God. 

So every disobedience is an opportunity to teach the child know his sinful flesh is impossible to fight and that he needs God's help to overcome it. We are all born into this wilful disobedience. It is not a time to give up and say, well, it's just a phase. He's like that. Let him be. No, a faithful discipler will persevere to teach and to instruct. Faithfully, teach the same lesson ten thousand times if necessary.

 Mark 10:14-16  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

 Indeed, the best time for anyone to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus is when they are little. Everyone past that age must return to the state of childlike teachability and humility before God in order to receive salvation. 

So, yes, there is a (short!) window of opportunity and the Christian parent must not squander it away nor be distracted from this task.

I am not a perfect parent nor is my son the perfect child. But looking at him now, I can't help but feel a sense of pride and joy at how well he has grown this last decade and how he is turning out- by the molding hand of God Himself! This is the work I have dedicated 10 years of my life to! And again, it is ALL praise and glory to God who leads us every step of the way, through the difficult times and through the happy times.

Soon, hubby and I will have to joy of presenting our firstborn son as a candidate of baptism. Our son knows he is saved and wants to obey the Lord in Baptism! What special joy for us, his parents! 

Psalms 126:5-6  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

It is exciting for us to see our faith becoming his faith too. No words can express what joy that is...

So, you may be at home with your little ones and some days, it may really seem like there might be better ways to spend your time and talents. Take heart, it will be worth it. Despise not the day of small things. This job of discipling is one of endurance, the fruits may be slow in coming. But praise God for His promises:

Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

 

Our eldest stands poised to enter into "teenhood". This is a term that the bible does not talk about. One is either a boy or a man. We do not know what that future will be like but we believe that we are at this point, standing on a good foundation to face the challenges ahead. There is mutual love and trust and respect, and upon these we will build the years ahead, together.

So... let's press on! :D

Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

*We do not believe that infant baptism is biblical/ scriptural, neither is baptism by the mode of sprinkling. We believe in full immersion baptism of a born again believer. One passage to study regarding this is the account of Philip and the Ethopian Eunuch in Acts 8.

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You may want to read these related posts:

Thoughts about Small Kids Training

Parenting Truly is Heart Work

 

 

Comments

[Jodie]

Congrats on your son's affirming of faith leading to his baptism. What great joy it is:) Praise God!

[Suwei]

Hi Jodie,
thank you for rejoicing with us. :D

Suwei