Thursday, August 18, 2011

IBCD Summer Institute: Pre-Conferece Give them Grace Sessions 3 & 4

In the afternoon sessions, we are spending more time reflecting on how the gospel applies to our parenting. Fitzpatrick and Thompson started out by telling us that our usual formula, good parenting in good kids out, is not a biblical idea.

The third session, “Salvation is of the Lord”, encouraged us that our children’s salvation doesn’t depend on how good our parenting is. This is such a beautiful and encouraging thought. Here are a couple of great quotes by Fitzpatrick, “We were never meant to carry the responsibility for a human soul. Only the Good Shepherd is strong enough to bear the weight of a human soul.” “The Lord never encourages self-reliance, but rather faith in him.”

So what is your job? What should we do? They told us that we ought to:
  • Believe - in the promises of God
  • Trust that everything is already done - God is sovereign
  • Know that our good parenting is not a guarantee of our children’s salvation
  • Trust that Salvation is of the Lord
  • Pray - “The knowledge of God’s Father-love is the first and simplest, but also the last and highest lesson in the school of prayer.” - Andrew Murray
“Desperation creates praying parents.” Thompson reminded us that as we trust in Christ for the salvation of our children, we are driven in desperate prayer for them. But, as we pray our weak/sinful prayers, Fitzpatrick reminded us that “Our Savior purifies and transforms our prayer into petitions that please him, so pour your heart out freely to your Father.”

Session 4, covered Evidences of Grace in our children’s lives.

“Grace does not forbid giving directions, promises, corrections and warnings. only cruelty would forbid such help.” - Bryan Chappell

Thompson clearly stated that Grace disciplines, but Grace does not leave them there, Grace also points us to the realities of our new record and standing that we gain in Christ. The grace of God trains us, we don’t want to raise children who are rebellious, we want children who are zealous for the gospel. So how do we get them there? We train them in the context of grace and the gospel. Our problem is that we typically assume this context, so Thompson encouraged us to make grace the context of our families, and this will help to lead to contentment.

Thompson then encouraged us to “parent for the glory of God not for our own glory. God’s methods turn everything we assume about his glory upside down. We are to boast in our strong savior who uses our weak parenting, so we can be content for the sake of Christ”. Our pray must be to that God “Glorify His name” in our lives and in our children’s lives.

We must remind ourselves that our identity is not wrapped up in how good of a parent we are or how well our children end up. Fitzpatrick puts it succinctly when she said, “We are beloved Children of God”. This flows into our parenting as we remind ourselves and children that without the work of Christ in our lives we would be lost sinners. So because we are in Christ we are “Humble partners (with our children) in grace”.

As I sat through these sessions on parenting I have been encouraged with the realities of God’s grace in my life, and I have been confronted in the areas where I have parented according to law. I have been encouraged to pray for my children and to “dazzle” them with God’s grace. Thank God that he has poured out his grace in my life!

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