2. The Cost of Rearing Gracious Children Independently in a Secure World.
Text: Exodus 2:9-l0; l Kings l7:l2; Luke 7:ll-l2
The single parent has a price to pay. This is because anything worthy of note always carries a price, and anything that involves souls carries an eternal reward in heaven. When single parent pays the price, obviously they will be rewarded eternally in heaven (2 Samuel 24:24).
The single parent that will rear up godly children must herself have been genuinely converted with evident fruits of salvation. (Mattew 3:. This fruit of conversion must be evident before her children as this will go a longer way in bringing them to the LORD. (Mattew 7:l6-l8). Children learn fast be example. They look to us as the model for how to navigate life.
Below are some of the steps a godly single parent should take so as to bring her children up in the way of the LORD.
i. Start child training early, don't delay. It can cause damage and corruption (Proverbs 22:6).
ii. Create time for them and stay with them. "And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Deuteronomy 6:7; ll:l9).
iii. Be open in your discussion with them. 2 Corinthians 3:l2
iv. Be gentle yet firm.
v. Show them the way to go by being their example. l Peter 5:3
vi. Commend them when they are right. 2 Timothy 3:l5
vii. Challenge them to godly character by showing them godly Christian models past and contemporary.
viii. Pray for them without ceasing/declaring God's promises into their lives. "...Prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men" (l Timothy 2:l).
ix. Encourage yourself in the LORD when their action disappoints God and never give up.
x. Discipline them for their good when necessary. Discipline must commensurate with the offence committed. We do not discipline a child to the extent of inflicting a grievous injury on the child. However, we should employ Godly discipline which consist of leading, teaching, encouraging, setting boundaries and expectations, allowing our kids to experience consequences when they make wrong choices, and helping them to understand where they went wrong so they can choose better in the future. (Proverbs 29:l5; l3:24).
3. Constant Reassuring Grace for Single Parents to Raise Godly Children in an Insecure World.
Text: 2 Corinthians l2:8, 9; Isaiah 45:l; Psalm l44:l2
The confidence that single parents can rear up godly children in the present evil world is fully settled through the abundance of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. So they do not need to fear, because God is ready to partner with them in the business of child training. Therefore, daily GRACE is available to them as they carry out the task of rearing up a godly child in the present evil world. "And he said, unto me My grace is sufficient unto thee..." (2 Corinthians l2:9). Let us therefore come boldly into the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need (Hebrews 4:l6).
i. The grace like that of Hannah to supplicate for Samuel until he became a national prophet and a reformer.
ii. The grace like that of the mother of Moses to take care of and keep them from Pharaoh's evil plan.
iii. To be filled with the Holy Ghost like Elizabeth to raise John to herald the coming of the Messiah.
iv. The grace like that of Lois who reared up Timothy in the fear of God. 2 Timothy l:5
v. Ask God for the spirit of wisdom, courage, faith and boldness to correct them when necessary.
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