Chapter 22 – My Daily Walk Through Proverbs

Scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – (22:6)

Observation: Today’s verse is a divine explanation of cause and effect. Whatever the parent teaches the child, that child will follow that path in his or her life. Therefore, if a parent teaches a child the ways of the Lord, when that child becomes an adult, it will be remembered. Conversely, if a parent teaches a child the ways of the world, that is the path toward which the child will lean.

Application: I grew up in a non-Christian home. My parents did not become Christians until years after I was an adult with a family of my own. Therefore, I was raised in a home that gave no though to religion or church. As time went on, my parents had personal struggles that led to a period of separation. I was sent to live with relatives in another state. While this was an extremely difficult time for all parties involved, I can look back and see God’s hand in my life during this time. I am certain it was used by the Lord to ultimately lead me to Him.

As a 5-year-old, being away from my parents was devastating, but my father’s family stepped up to love and nurture me during my stay with them. My grandmother was a woman of faith, and she took both my cousin and me to church regularly. We were little girls, not more than 5 or 6 years old, and we attended a nearby Baptist church. I don’t really remember the gospel being preached per se, but I still have Sunday school papers from that time in my life, and I know seeds of salvation were planted.

When my parents reconciled about a year later, I came back home, and, without my grandmother in my life, my church attendance stopped. However, as a pre-teen, and with my parents’ permission, I once again began to attend a church. It was within walking distance of my home (Yes! Children walked everywhere back then. It was a less dangerous world in those days!) It was there that I heard and understood the gospel and realized how desperately I needed the Saviour. I can still remember walking the aisle, kneeling at the altar, and asking Jesus to forgive my sins, come into my life, and be my Saviour. I was now saved!

The point of all of this is that God’s plans always come to fruition. He took a very sad situation in a little girl’s life and used it for His glory. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” As a child, I didn’t understand, and it was a very hard time for me; as an adult, I look back and thank God for how He worked in my life, eventually welcoming me into His family.

Living with my relatives was my first exposure to the things of God. I was “trained up”, albeit for just a short time, but God took those tiny seeds from His Word, watered them, and they took root! Now, well into my latter years of life, I can see how His Word did not depart from me, but instead, it grew and grew, eventually bearing the fruit of salvation in my life, and then guiding me as a wife, mother, and grandmother.

If you are involved in the spiritual training of a child’s life, as a parent, family member, Sunday school teacher, etc., but you don’t see any results, don’t give up! Stay the course! God is faithful to do His part. When that child is old, he or she will NOT depart from it! I am living proof of that! Praise God!

Prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for Your plan for my life. You took what could have been disastrous, and made it something beautiful for me! You showed me that I needed You in my life as Lord and Saviour. You planted the seed of the gospel in me as a child, and then placed me in the path of others who would water Your Word until I saw my need for You! I stand amazed, O God, that You would love me that much! Thank You so much for the truth of Your Word! I am so blessed to be loved by such an incredible God! My soul truly rejoices in the Lord! In Your holy name and with great thanksgiving, I pray. Amen and amen!

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

(from “Wonderful Words of Life” by P.P. Bliss)

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“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 19:14