The Westminster Catechism has a shorter version, commonly called the Shorter Catechism, written primarily to train up a child.
Once, a US military officer was in a city in the Western world. Riots and violent gangs raged all over the city. Amid the chaos, the military officer passed a young man who appeared calm, controlled, and confident. His demeanor seemed so different from the environment around him that the officer turned and looked back at him after passing him. The officer noticed that the young man had also turned around.
The young man returned to the officer and asked, “What is the chief end of man?”
The officer said, “To know God and enjoy Him forever. I knew you were a short catechism boy.”
“And I knew you were likewise,” the young man replied.
Godly training brings about observable characteristics. Our children can shake hands and speak with respect to those much older than them. They can understand the wisdom that comes from experience, rather than considering older people old fashioned. We should teach them to use ma’am and sir when appropriate. We should teach them what the Bible says about serving so they will give an older person their seat on a bus or subway. Other essential lessons entail teaching them that the world does not revolve around them. That they can’t have everything they want when they want it without exception. That they should respect themselves as they respect others. That they should never be ashamed of their beliefs. That they are unique and should never be ashamed of what they have or don’t have.
Even with training, our children will never be perfect because parents are never perfect. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but we must strive to curb that through instruction, discipline, and God’s grace. If we take seriously the admonition to train up a child, they will be less likely to stray from their faith as they age.
Think of ways you can train your children or grandchildren in the way they should go.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and StockSnap.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Ken Barnes has had a twenty-five year career in educational pursuits. He has taught in various public and private schools in Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Virginia. He also worked for seventeen years with Youth With A Mission as a school leader, recruiter, and director. Ken holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places. He currently is a speaker, blogger, and freelance writer. Ken lives with his wife Sharon in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Visit Ken at https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/