Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 22, 2017
To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool. Proverbs 17:21
Foolish children flail around trying to find themselves. Typically they are terrible at managing money, because they have no concept of conservative spending and consistent saving. Then they look to mom and dad to bail them out. They desire a stimulus package from their parents, without structure or accountability. Childish teenagers become masters of manipulation by subtly saying, “if you really loved me”, guilting to get their way.
This grieves the hearts of their parents. Their father and mother want to do the right thing, but become conflicted on defining “what’s right”. The dad may be firm and the mom more merciful, so it’s imperative they are unified in their approach in how they love their rebellious child. They cannot allow Satan to drive a wedge of doubt between them.
Jesus said, “… a household divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25).
Start with sincere and aggressive prayer for a loved one bound up in foolish behavior. Pray for the Lord to change you, and give you the grace and courage to offer an aggressive love based on the love of your Heavenly Father. You can love the unlovely as you ought, only after receiving His unconditional love. Remember the joy you had when they came into this world as God’s gift. So trust their Creator to bring them back to Christ. He can. Leave any guilt or shame you have in the hands of the Lord. Shame is Satan’s strategy to isolate and embarrass a sensitive heart.
Lastly, confide your sorrow and hurt in the Christian community. You may be surprised how many have suffered a similar fate. Alone you are unable to receive life-giving comfort and process the pain of an unjust situation in a healthy way. Move beyond the mistakes of the past and focus on faith in the present. Turn your child over to the Lord’s love and discipline. Pray that your foolish child will fatigue from folly, and return to faith in God.
“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:24).
Prayer
Christ, give me confidence to let my child go and give them to You, and I hope one day for a celebration.Application
What parent can I get to know who suffered through having a foolish child?Related Reading
2 Samuel 18:33; Proverbs 19:13-26; 2 Corinthians 2:3; 3 John 1:4Post/Tweet today
Shame is Satan’s strategy to isolate and embarrass a sensitive heart. #foolishchild #WisdomHuntersWorship Resource
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