“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NLT)

 

When I was young, I had a parakeet named Popcorn. He was a fantastic bird. I would stand a few feet away from his cage, open the little door, and call his name, and he would fly and land on my shoulder. I would walk around the house with him on my shoulder. One day on Balboa Island, I saw a guy walking around with a parrot on his shoulder. So, I went home, put Popcorn on my shoulder, and walked outside. Popcorn flew off, and I never saw him again.

It’s one thing to lose a parakeet, but it’s quite another to lose a child. When my son Jonathan was about five years old, he got in a hotel elevator before I could get to it. I almost had a heart attack as the doors closed between us. I waited for what seemed like hours for the next elevator. I started at the lobby and searched every floor until I found him.

Parenting is an awesome responsibility. And one of the greatest joys of Christian parents is seeing our kids walk with the Lord. The apostle John wrote, “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth” (3 John 1:4 NLT).

When kids are young, they’re receptive to our leading. They’re compliant and, for the most part, obedient. As they get older, especially when they enter their teenage years, they start to push back and think for themselves. Sometimes they start to question their faith. If that’s happened in your family, don’t panic.

Solomon wrote, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3 NLT). Children are a gift. We don’t own them. They belong to God. They are not ours to mold but to unfold. To nurture and to raise in the way of the Lord.

The apostle Paul offers some direction in Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” (NLT). One way to provoke children is to show favoritism. Another is to withhold affirmation and compliments.

We bring them up by choosing the right path for ourselves—by walking the walk. We do it by spending a lot of time with them, helping them understand the things of God in our daily interactions. We do it by instilling in them a Christian worldview that will serve them in the world outside your door.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it” (NLT). In other words, create a thirst for spiritual things in your child.

If your children follow that path for their entire lives, you can thank God for it. If they don’t, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a failure as a parent. The parable of the prodigal son teaches us that a seemingly worst-case scenario can result in a child making a deeper commitment to the Lord.

As parents, we must stay true to our beliefs. And we must never give up on our kids. We can’t see their spiritual journey. Only God can do that. But we can be ready when that journey leads them back to us.

 

Reflection question: What encouragement would you offer to the parent of a prodigal child? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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&ldquo;I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.&rdquo; (3 John 1:4 NLT)
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When I was young, I had a parakeet named Popcorn. He was a fantastic bird. I would stand a few feet away from his cage, open the little door, and call his name, and he would fly and land on my shoulder. I would walk around the house with him on my shoulder. One day on Balboa Island, I saw a guy walking around with a parrot on his shoulder. So, I went home, put Popcorn on my shoulder, and walked outside. Popcorn flew off, and I never saw him again.
It&rsquo;s one thing to lose a parakeet, but it&rsquo;s quite another to lose a child. When my son Jonathan was about five years old, he got in a hotel elevator before I could get to it. I almost had a heart attack as the doors closed between us. I waited for what seemed like hours for the next elevator. I started at the lobby and searched every floor until I found him.
Parenting is an awesome responsibility. And one of the greatest joys of Christian parents is seeing our kids walk with the Lord. The apostle John wrote, &ldquo;I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth&rdquo; (3 John 1:4 NLT).
When kids are young, they&rsquo;re receptive to our leading. They&rsquo;re compliant and, for the most part, obedient. As they get older, especially when they enter their teenage years, they start to push back and think for themselves. Sometimes they start to question their faith. If that&rsquo;s happened in your family, don&rsquo;t panic.
Solomon wrote, &ldquo;Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him&rdquo; (Psalm 127:3 NLT). Children are a gift. We don&rsquo;t own them. They belong to God. They are not ours to mold but to unfold. To nurture and to raise in the way of the Lord.
The apostle Paul offers some direction in Ephesians 6:4: &ldquo;Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord&rdquo; (NLT). One way to provoke children is to show favoritism. Another is to withhold affirmation and compliments.
We bring them up by choosing the right path for ourselves&mdash;by walking the walk. We do it by spending a lot of time with them, helping them understand the things of God in our daily interactions. We do it by instilling in them a Christian worldview that will serve them in the world outside your door.
Proverbs 22:6 says, &ldquo;Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it&rdquo; (NLT). In other words, create a thirst for spiritual things in your child.
If your children follow that path for their entire lives, you can thank God for it. If they don&rsquo;t, however, that doesn&rsquo;t necessarily mean that you&rsquo;re a failure as a parent. The parable of the prodigal son teaches us that a seemingly worst-case scenario can result in a child making a deeper commitment to the Lord.
As parents, we must stay true to our beliefs. And we must never give up on our kids. We can&rsquo;t see their spiritual journey. Only God can do that. But we can be ready when that journey leads them back to us.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What encouragement would you offer to the parent of a prodigal child?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.

Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

As Christian parents, we must create a thirst for spiritual things in our children.

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