Parenting...Do You Exemplify Christ?

William Sergeant Kendall, Fairy Tale, 1900

This morning I opened my Daily Light Devotional book. It was originally printed in the 1800s by a man named Johnathan Bagster, who compiled the writings after the teachings of his father, Samuel. I love the way the scriptures are put together.

Today is the 9th of March...I thought it was the 8th, so I read the "wrong" entry, but God is not a God of happenstance! The 8th is rich for me today.

You have cast all my sins behind your back.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

“For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.—“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.—The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Isa. 38:17; Mic. 7:18, 19; Isa. 54:7, 8; Jer. 31:34; Ps. 32:1, 2; 1 John 1:7 (ESV)

As I read, my children were fresh on my thoughts. What a picture of Godly discipleship this is to me.  The picture is not spelled out for us in fluffy bunnies, lavashing our children with all the "luxuries" we can afford.  It is also not the the picture painted of the hard thumb keeping our children in militant restraint. It is parenting from Forgiveness, Grace and Compassion.

As a parent we are given these blessing, whom will "arise up, and call her blessed" (Proverbs 31:28) if we are following after God's design as a parent. "He does not retain his anger forever, because he dlights in steadfast love." Forgive (not keeping score!), move on, delight in the steadfast love of God and pour it onto your children.

We are the reflection of Christ to our children. We have the mighty priviledge of showing them, first hand, what Christ is like.  He is Just, having rules, or guidelines in which to live.  He is Loving, having a heart to forgive when we overstep.  He is Compassionate, reminding us through his Spirit and Word how to live.

Take time to pray today and ask God to help you see your children the way he sees them.  Ask Him if you are weighted to one side in discipline.  Are you too rule oriented, or maybe you have extended too much Grace and your children can no longer find the bounderies. Scripture tells us 2 Peter 1:3 that we have been given everything pertaining to life and Godliness...even how to raise children that will "rise up and call her blessed" Proverbs 31:28.