{"id":32307,"date":"2022-09-10T16:04:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/4-unexpected-parenting-lessons-from-the-book-of-job\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:04:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:04:27","slug":"4-unexpected-parenting-lessons-from-the-book-of-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/4-unexpected-parenting-lessons-from-the-book-of-job\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Unexpected Parenting Lessons From the Book of Job"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Juan Sanchez<\/em><\/p>\n

As I was reading Job in my daily Bible reading, I was struck by two verses from chapter one. The first is Job 1:1.<\/p>\n

Job was \u201ca man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil.\u201d On two other occasions, God uses the same language to describes Job (1:8; 2:3).<\/p>\n

Oh, how I long to be a man of complete integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil! I long for the Lord to describe me in this way!<\/p>\n

I then read Job 1:5, which caused me to long to be the kind of father who prays for his children:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Why did Job do this? Because, he thought, \u201cPerhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.\u201d We\u2019re told this was Job\u2019s regular practice.<\/p>\n

The Holy Spirit convicted me as I read these verses. I do pray for my children, but do I really plead with God for them? Do I truly intercede for them regularly?<\/p>\n

Here are four lessons the Lord taught me that morning from the first chapter of Job.<\/p>\n

1. Pray for your children.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Job consecrated his children. The word consecrate means \u201cto set apart to something.\u201d In our case, as in Job\u2019s, it means set apart to God.<\/p>\n

If your children are unbelieving, plead with God and intercede with Him for their salvation. You\u2019re asking God to set them apart for Himself. Plead with God to remove their heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh that beats for Him.<\/p>\n

Ever since our children were young, we had a bedtime routine. As a part of it, my wife and I would pray for them and with them at their bedside.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d often pray God would give them new hearts. I did this in their hearing so they\u2019d realize their need for salvation. If your children are believing, pray for them to grow in their faith.<\/p>\n

2. Pray for each of your children.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Job interceded for each of his children because each child is unique.<\/p>\n

Our children have different strengths and weaknesses, different struggles and temptations. So pray for each of them according to their own needs.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing wrong with praying general prayers for our children like for them to grow in Christlikeness. But, let\u2019s be specific.<\/p>\n

Make a prayer list where you note each child\u2019s unique prayer needs. And, in the name of Christ, ask God for specific requests, grounding each one in specific promises from Scripture.<\/p>\n

3. Pray for each of your children regularly.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Job rose early in the morning. He daily interceded and offered burnt offerings for each of his children.<\/p>\n

Now that Christ has come and offered Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice, there\u2019s no longer a need to offer animal sacrifices. Still, we\u2019re to offer spiritual sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:4-5).<\/p>\n

In at least one case, those spiritual sacrifices are the fruit of our lips, offerings of praise to God (Hebrews 13:15). So, at the very least, we should offer sacrifices of praise to God for our children.<\/p>\n

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How thankful are we for our children? Let\u2019s praise and thank God for them daily!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s also pray for them daily, interceding for them, setting them apart to God in prayer. Let\u2019s pray God-sized prayers for our children, not mere comfort prayers like, \u201cO Lord, keep them safe and prosper them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, let\u2019s be bold in consecrating them, saying, \u201cOh God, take our children and use them however you desire.\u201d May we be willing to offer our children to God\u2019s service!<\/p>\n

Ask God to cause your children to love and treasure Him above all things so that their lives will be living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2).<\/p>\n

4. Pray for each of your children regularly, because they\u2019re sinners in need of grace.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Too many parents idolize their children and are unable to see them for the sinners they really are. Our culture is so blinded in this way that when their children get in trouble, the parents often blame others: teachers, coaches, other children.<\/p>\n

Job understood human depravity and he understood his children\u2019s potential to sin. This is why Job continually interceded before God for his children.<\/p>\n

They were sinners, and Job wanted to intercede on their behalf so that they might avoid God\u2019s judgment.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s not underestimate our children\u2019s capacity to sin, especially in their hearts (a place we can\u2019t look into).<\/p>\n

Admittedly, this is a difficult tension for parents. We want to encourage our children continually but we also need to remember their hearts are deceptive.<\/p>\n

So, in the context of ongoing affirmation, let\u2019s continually disciple our children, pointing out their struggles and temptations, their sinful proclivities, and their actual sins.<\/p>\n

When they sin, we need to discipline them appropriately. Parental discipline is one of the means the Lord has given us to intercede for our children that they might avoid God\u2019s final judgment.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s better for our kids to come under our discipline now than for them to be allowed to raise themselves in their own way, only to eventually come under God\u2019s final judgment.<\/p>\n

Parenting Requires Prayer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Parenting is the hardest thing I\u2019ve ever had to do. Thankfully, Jesus came from heaven to earth, and He, the only true blameless and upright one who feared God and turned away from sin, interceded between God and sinners.<\/p>\n

Because of Jesus\u2019 righteous sacrifice, all who believe in Him now stand blameless before God. Let\u2019s pray for our children that they may see the truth and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ and give themselves to Him.<\/p>\n

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Juan Sanchez<\/h2>\n

@manorjuan<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Juan is husband to Jeanine, father to five\u00a0daughters, senior pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, and author of Seven Dangers Facing Your Church<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n