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Building Men and Women of God (4)
''These commandments... Impress them on your children.'' Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Teach your children to handle temptation. Tell them to expect it and not be overwhelmed by how often they face it. '...Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed' (James 1:14 KJV). Your children need to know how to handle two powerful sources of temptation.
First, temptation in the area of sexual sin. Television and the internet make everything from normal to perverse as available as oxygen, enticing them to experiment with behaviours that destroy health, relationships and life. And they need more than a brief, embarrassed, 'birds and bees' talk. Instruct them early, regularly and clearly.
'My son... the lips of an adulteress drip honey... but in the end she is bitter as gall... her steps lead straight to the grave... Keep... far from her...
At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent' (Proverbs 5:1-11 NIV).
Solomon spelled it out for his children. Do likewise.
Second, temptation in the area of addictions. Again Solomon is right on the mark: '[A drinker who is]... always crying the blues... reeks of self pity... getting beat up... bleary and bloodshot? It's those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business' (Proverbs 23:29-30 TM).
The addict's life is not fun! 'In the end it bites like a snake... Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things' (vv. 32-33 NIV). Don't let the enemy deceive your children. Pray faithfully, speak His life-changing Word into their hearts, believe God and watch Him work!
written by Bob Gass
''These commandments... Impress them on your children.'' Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Teach your children to handle temptation. Tell them to expect it and not be overwhelmed by how often they face it. '...Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed' (James 1:14 KJV). Your children need to know how to handle two powerful sources of temptation.
First, temptation in the area of sexual sin. Television and the internet make everything from normal to perverse as available as oxygen, enticing them to experiment with behaviours that destroy health, relationships and life. And they need more than a brief, embarrassed, 'birds and bees' talk. Instruct them early, regularly and clearly.
'My son... the lips of an adulteress drip honey... but in the end she is bitter as gall... her steps lead straight to the grave... Keep... far from her...
At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent' (Proverbs 5:1-11 NIV).
Solomon spelled it out for his children. Do likewise.
Second, temptation in the area of addictions. Again Solomon is right on the mark: '[A drinker who is]... always crying the blues... reeks of self pity... getting beat up... bleary and bloodshot? It's those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business' (Proverbs 23:29-30 TM).
The addict's life is not fun! 'In the end it bites like a snake... Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things' (vv. 32-33 NIV). Don't let the enemy deceive your children. Pray faithfully, speak His life-changing Word into their hearts, believe God and watch Him work!
written by Bob Gass
