I love this post from Doorposts of Your Home about disciplining and teaching your children based on James 1:22.
What Do You See in the Mirror?
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, ESV)
Many children know the song, “The Wise Man Built His House upon the Rock.” I certainly remember enjoying the motions when we sang it – especially when it was time for the foolish man’s house to go SMASH! Jesus said that those who hear His words and do them are like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. His house stands firm in rains, floods, and wind. The one who hears but does not obey is like the foolish man who builds his house on the sand. As soon as the storms come, the house collapses (Matthew 7:24-27).
God is not pleased when we hear His Word but do not obey it. If we only teach our children about God’s Word, but do not train them to actually obey it, we are not doing our job. We are not preparing them to stand firm when they experience the storms of life.
We can help our children do what the Bible says by setting an example of obedience before them and by actively training them in the midst of real-life situations throughout the day. Training opportunities can be addressed with questions and instruction that lead to visible acts of repentance.
■What did you do?
■What does the Bible say about what you did? (Read directly from Scripture to answer this question. Use a topical Bible or For Instruction in Righteousness to help you find appropriate verses.)
■What do you need to do differently?
■Do you need to ask forgiveness?
■Do you need to make restitution?
■What will you do the next time a situation like this occurs?
■Let’s pray together. (Disciplinary measures may also need to take place at this point.)
■OK, go do it and come back and tell me how it went. James 1:22-25 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
.JPG)
