Remain Faithful to God's Word

One of my favorite examples of discipleship in the Bible is Timothy. Timothy was a unique person in that his mom, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, were devout Jews, but his father was a Greek Gentile. Timothy's mom and grandma taught Timothy the Scriptures when he was a child (2nd Timothy 1:5). Along Paul's first missionary journey, Paul met Timothy and shared the gospel with Timothy and Timothy became a believer in Jesus Christ (Acts 14). Timothy joined Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3) and became Paul's son in the faith (1st Timothy 1:2) and co-worker for the gospel (1st Thessalonians 3:2).

Paul wrote two letters to Timothy (1st and 2nd Timothy). In these letters, Paul gave Timothy wisdom and advice on how to remain faithful to God and His Word amidst persecution and false teachers. In 2nd Timothy 3:10-17, we see Paul warning Timothy that persecution was inevitable as a follower of Christ and that deceivers and imposters would come into the Church. Paul also encouraged Timothy to stand firm in his faith and in God's Word, which he had known from childhood.

14 - But as for you, you must continue to remain faithful to what you have been taught/what you have learned and firmly believe to be true [God's Word], for you know that you can trust those who taught you/you have learned from.
15 - From childhood you have known the holy/sacred Scriptures [God's Word], which has given you the wisdom to receive salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 - All Scripture is God-breathed/inspired by God,
and is profitable for:
doctrine/instruction/teaching what is true/right,
reproof/rebuke/conviction of what is wrong,
correction of sin in our lives,
and training in righteousness/what is right
17 - so that the man/servant of God may be thoroughly equipped/prepared for every good work
and will be complete/perfect.

When I look at this passage of Scripture as well as cross-references, I see 10 things:
1) Eunice (Timothy's mom) and Lois (Timothy's grandma) had built a trustworthy relationship with Timothy.
Paul also built a trustworthy relationship with Timothy.
2) Eunice and Lois taught Timothy God's Word as a child.
3) That teaching made Timothy ready to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ when Paul shared it.
4) Paul encouraged Timothy to remain faithful to God's Word no matter what.
5) God's Word is breathed out/inspired by God. Men wrote what God instructed them to write (2nd Peter 1:21).
6) God's Word teaches us what is right.
7) God's Word exposes our sin/what is wrong.
8) God's Word corrects us of our sin.
9) God's Word trains us in righteousness/right living.
10) God's Word equips up for every good word God has called us to do.

How do we apply this in our lives and in the lives of our children?
1) Build and cultivate a relationship built on love and trust with your kids.
2) Teach them the Scriptures from childhood (it's never too late to start).
3) Pray for them to be ready to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ when it is shared with them.
4) Encourage them to remain faithful to God and His Word no matter what.

Heavenly Father,
I pray for each parent or guardian or person who is reading this devotional right now. Everyone has a level of influence with children and people in their lives. I pray that we would build relationships of love and trust with our kids and others. I pray that we would teach them the Scriptures. I pray that their hearts would be fertile soil ready to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ when it is shared with them. I pray that we would be encouraged and encourage others to remain faithful to You and Your Word no matter what. To You be all the glory!
Amen.

Redeeming Devices

One of the major modern parenting issues is technology and devices. There is an entire spectrum from "My kid will never have a device" to "My kid has unlimited devices".

This is not a post on if and/or when a child should or should not get a device. This is a post on how to redeem devices.

There is an amazing verse in the Bible that we actually have up in our school room as well as in the forefront of my mind.

Ephesians 5:15-16
So pay very careful attention, then, how you live. Don't live like unwise fools, but live like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity [Redeeming the time], because the days are evil.

I believe this verse shows us that we should make the most of every opportunity [redeem the time]. I believe this also includes devices.

One way that I have been redeeming devices with my 15-year-old son is by praying that God will give me a passage of Scripture to send to him each day. And God has been faithful every single day since I have started praying. I send him the Scripture with some insights and application and prayer and an "I love you" every day.

Here is what I sent him today:
2nd Timothy 3:14-17
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Stay faithful in and to God's Word, which you have known from childhood. Let it teach you, correct you, and guide you that you may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work that God has for you. Love you.

I pray that this is an encouragement and applicable thing for you. Let's go out and redeem the time. God bless!