Young people today face a battle like we have never had to face before--sin is more rampant, plaguing our streets and schools in such a way that it would make grandmother gasp in aghast if she only knew the true realities of the wickedness that tempt them today.
That is why I believe as parents we need to raise a generation with a different spirit like Caleb:
"But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it."
-Numbers 14:24 (emphasis mine)
Sadly, the culture of today is largely a generation of pride, rebellion and disrespect. They do not possess a different spirit. They do not follow the Lord wholeheartedly. In fact, many do not know the Lord and many who do reject Him for worldly knowledge and peer acceptance.
But Christian mothers, we are to raise our children with a different spirit-- and they should look and sound different from the world.
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." Psalm 1:1
In both verses we see that there is a blessing for the one who walks with and follows the Lord. The opposite stands true for those who don't. That is why as mother's we must raise up sons and daughters in such a way that prepares them to be servants to the Lord.
Sons should be brought up to be noble, courageous, brave, teaching the Word, busy, hard-working responsible and not idle. They should be taught to take dominion, and they should be educated well with wisdom and knowledge so they can take their places at the forefront on the battlefield for the Lord. Mothers must be careful not to feminize their boys or indulge them in much entertainment-- such as video games for example. These indulgences appeal to their sin nature that cries for comfort and pleasure. Clearly it is not a sin used occasionally , but what I am referring to is the indulgence of such things. There are grown men who are living in perpetual adolescence playing video games for long hours each day, refusing to seek jobs. They instead choose live off of their aging parents at home or making their wives support them and their children. This should not be so. These sons are a shameful disgrace.
I have also seen sons with a different spirit--sons who love the Word and spend hours devoted to its reading. I have seen them speak as men and act like men taking on the responsibilities of manhood at a young age. They use their time wisely, working, mentoring and serving others, doing ministry, acquiring and financing their own education, they buy or build homes in advance and even save enough for a nice nest egg--all this while they are contributing financially to their father's home. They are hard workers---they love the Lord--they are about the business of men. They want to bring glory to God with their lives. They help their fathers and carry on his vision, many times partnering with him in the family business and ministry as they help to reform culture around them by courageously and boldly teaching God's Word. We have known sons who have planted churches with their fathers and helped them grow and flourish. It has encouraged my heart and given me hope--such as when I had heard a noble son of only 13 years say:
If that is not vision--what is? We must raise men to have vision and to share it. These are the Christian leaders of tomorrow and we must equip them. Time is of the essence and we must use it wisely. We must also raise them to be the spiritual leaders of their families. In our home, our small sons are invited to preach and teach and share the Bible at a young age. This is important because it teaches them to feel comfortable in that role because they will be expected to lead their families in Bible studies one day. I think many men feel inept, fumbling as they teach their families today because they never saw it modeled as they grew up having a chance to practice it. This helps to alleviate any awkwardness and becomes a second nature--- much like breathing. This will help boys and men to preach to nations one day if God so allows.
A note to mothers here: this also requires sons to spend much time with dad when he is available. He is the one who will teach them about being a man--something a woman cannot do like a man. A father understands how a son thinks and will teach them how to be a man. I have seen my husband instruct and interact with our boys on things I would have never thought of because I view things from a different womanly perspective. I am grateful for his wise insight and am careful not to interfere as he teaches them.
And as for our precious daughters--I will address that in my next post. But my prayer today is that we would be found as faithful and courageous mothers who are not afraid to raise sons and daughters that possess a different spirit and be a refreshing aroma to the Lord. (2 Cor 2:15)
(The Christian Mother Series, Part 18)
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