Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

November 12, 2018

by Pastor Hawtree

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO HELP ME BE A GODLY FATHER (part 3)

Proverbs 4: 1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

1 Kings 3:11-12
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee

Dad’s, don’t be so concerned with providing all of the creature comforts or making sure that you child has all of the latest gadgets and games. Instead, place a priority on having a wise and understanding heart so that you can discern judgment. While your children might have the best and the greatest, there is no replacement for understanding in the matters of their daily lives! Notice, that Solomon says wisdom is the “principle thing” in verse seven. Wisdom only comes from God! Dad’s, don’t listen to the world. “Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view.” “Wisdom is the ability to apply biblical truths to all life situations. There must be a priority on having God’s wisdom.

Solomon speaks of the PRIORITY of wisdom, and then he speaks of the PRESERVATION of wisdom in verse six:

* 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee

Don’t look to wisdom for a little while, while it is convenient, while it is useful. Don’t “forsake her”. We must always look to the Lord for wisdom and direction. Wouldn’t you like to know that what you have invested in time, love, care, instruction, and finances into your children will last? Leading your home in God’s wisdom is a guarantee—it is guaranteed to last!

* Ecclesiastes 4:13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
* Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it