Devotion for Wednesday, March 24, 2021

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

There is no instruction book in raising children, but the wisdom of the Lord is available to all.  How many of our children are provoked by having been ignored, or raised by others.  The point is to be intentional about investing in the lives of others.  Start with your children.  Be an adult and learn both authority and responsibility.  Do what needs to be done for the sake of the other.

Lord, this is an age of great immaturity.  Help me to learn what it means to be responsible and mature.  Guide me in the way of the life You have given me by grace so that I would be as a father or mother to those who need to be nurtured.  Lead me in what is right and fitting in every circumstance to hold fast to the faith You have given me in order that I may knowingly share it with others.

Lord Jesus, though You were younger than many of Your disciples in earthly years, yet You were as a Father to them, leading them in the direction they needed to go.  Through me, Lord, help me to lead others that in this too, I may put on Your image.  Guide me in all things so that I would now and forever continuously grow in wisdom.  Teach me Your admonition and then lead me to live it.  Amen.