Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Giving children a vision for the glory of God

I'm in the middle of Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. And I just finished chapter 8, Giving children a vision for the glory of God. When I first read that title, I thought - "It seems a bit abstract, how can I do that? This sounds like it's not going to be a good chapter." Boy was I wrong. Here are a few juicy quotes:

Your job is to help your children see the dazzling excellence of God. Children will never have right thoughts about themselves until they have right thoughts about God...The deepest, most profound joys are found in knowing God. Children's deceitful hearts will tell them that life is found in other places.

Psalm 145 - "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty..They will tell of the power of your awesome works..They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." This sums up parenting. Commend the works of God.

Your children are trying to satisfy their appetites in lesser joys. You and I do it too. Have you found yourself tired, out of sorts, feeling on edge, standing at the open refrigerator door? What are you doing? You have already eaten. You are looking for comfort in some left-over fried chicken or a bowl of ice cream. Your children are casting about, looking for something to take the edge off their restlessness.

Your children are not likely to grow into adults who truly know God unless you provide them with a big God who is worthy of worship...If you want your children to have a reason to sing on Sunday, give them a glorious God. If you want your children to have a reason not to sin on Monday, give them a glorious God. If you want them to think of nobler things than the latest, mind-numbing video fantasy game, give them a glorious God. If you want them to dream grander dreams than illicit sex or more money or more stuff, give them a glorious God. If you want them to have a reason for confidence when life seems to spin out of control, give them a glorious God.

Where will the human hunger be satisfied? Rest in God alone. Isn't it amazing that Christ sacrificed himself for you and me? Lasting happiness is found in making much of God for eternity.

Tripp goes on and on. He also goes through several psalms and showed me the glories of God. I highly recommend this book already and I'm only half way through it!

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