No Guarantees

The descendants of Solomon were Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah. 1 Chronicles 3:10-14

IN THIS PART of the genealogy of the royal line of David, we discover that the spiritual health of our children is not fully dependent upon us. When we read the stories of the kings who descended from Solomon, we discover that:

Rehoboam’s son was Abijah. A bad father raised a bad son.

Abijah raised Asa. A bad father raised a good son.

Asa raised Jehoshaphat. A good father raised a good son.

Jehoshaphat raised Jehoram. A good father raised a bad son.

There is no formula; there are no guarantees. Sometimes genuinely and consistently godly people have children who grow up witnessing the spiritual integrity of their parents, and yet these children fail to take hold of it. Other times, completely godless parents have children who grow up and become radically converted, wholly devoted followers of Christ.

So what does this mean for us as parents? It means that while we want to live before our children in a way that demonstrates the inherent blessing of belonging to Christ and models a life that is pleasing to him, we don’t take credit when they choose to live that way too. Neither do we take the blame when they choose to walk away from a godly life and toward a worldly one. It means that we put our faith not in our perfect presentation of a godly life, but in the power of the Holy Spirit to convict and convince our children, as well as to draw them in and keep them.

Lord, we can see from the history of your people that good parents have had the great joy of rearing children who have walked in your ways as well as the great sorrow of seeing their children walk away from faith. How we long for ________ to love you and live for you! Keep us from despair and from pride. Keep us trusting in you.