But he did not kill their children; for he did as it is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, “The fathers shall not die for the children, nor the children die for the fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.” –2 Chronicles 25:4 AMP

It's so easy to blame others around us for the for the wrong that we do, the sin that is in our own lives.

In this passage, and others like it in God's Word, it is clear, that we each are responsible for our own lives, for the sins that we each commit.  (Ezekiel 18:1-32)

Parents, not the government, not the schools, not the church, etc., need to raise up your children by discipleship and discipline according to God's Word.  It's then up to them what they do with it as/when they become adults and leave your home. 

And yes, we’re to raise our kids up to be on their own, and then send them out!  As we’re told in Proverbs 22:6 AMP-Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Notice the AMP says God’s will for their abilities and talents.    This covers the Spiritual stuff involving Biblical teachings, especially Salvation and walking with The Lord all their days and it also covers the normal living life things that involve the Biblical Principle that we’re told in Colossians 3:17 AMP-Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Remember that you’re not perfect and when you fail as a parent, ask your children for forgiveness, right away!  Don’t discipline in anger!  Take a quick time-out for you to gather your thoughts and pray to The LORD for wisdom and then you can discipline them appropriately!  Remember that discipline and discipleship is meant to show them that they, like all of us, have wicked and deceitful hearts.  (Jeremiah 17:9-10, Mark 7:20-23)  But God’s desire for us is to allow Him to change it.  First by having a relationship with Him.  Then making Him LORD of their lives.  And finally, by allowing Him via His Word and the Holy Spirit to mold and make them/us more like Christ, thus He has their/our hearts!  (Ephesians 4:17-32)

By the way, time-outs are NOT discipline/discipleship.  Just sending them to their rooms full of toys, electronics, phones, etc., that they can just sit away from you and do whatever isn’t helping them to understand God’s desire to change their hearts.  Threating is also not discipline/discipleship.  We must follow through with what we say and hold our kids/grandkids accountable for their sinful actions just like God does with us!  (Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13-15, Proverbs 29:15-17, Ephesians 6:4, Hebrews 12:4-13)

When our kids were younger, we’d sometimes paddle them.  After everyone settled down, we’d spend time with them in God’s Word and prayer and let them read passages of Scripture that spoke about their sinful behavior and hearts.  We trained them to use God’s Word and only His Word to help them understand the condition of their hearts and what God did for them to help them change.  (Romans 3:10-12)

When our kids were older teenagers, we would have them go to their rooms and all they could use was their Bibles.  We instructed them to get alone with The Lord in His Word and prayer about their sinful behavior.  When they were ready to discuss their actions with us/others, in accordance with what God’s Word had to say about it and ask for forgiveness, then we could talk.  Just saying I’m sorry was NEVER acceptable!  We would also have them read specifically from The Bible as to where their behavior didn’t line up with it.  We would also lead them further into other areas of Scripture that we thought was applicable.  It wasn’t easy, but parenting is NOT supposed to be.  Jesus didn’t promise us an easy life on this earth if we became Christians, He only promised us heaven that would be easy and in the meantime the promise that He was in control, no matter what!  (John 16:33, Matthew 11:28-30)

You don’t have to follow what we did, but if you aren’t trying to disciple them into a relationship with The LORD with a desire for them to give their hearts and lives to Him, then you are living in sin and need to repent.

Grown (adults) and younger children (not adults yet), you need to quit blaming your parents, you know what you're supposed to do just do it.  If you don’t, then it’s your fault and you should expect consequences for your actions.  Also remember that your parents aren’t perfect either.  This doesn’t excuse them for NOT doing what they’re supposed to do, just remember that!

James tells us in James 1:13-15 NASB—Let no one say when he is tempted, “ I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.  Our sin comes directly from our own stinking thinking!

If we each examine our own lives as Christ tells us in Matthew 7:1-5 and worry about the things that we do that we aren't supposed to and the things that we don't do that we're supposed to, then our lives would exemplify Christ more!

We can continue to blame those around us, our parents, our kids, our bosses, our circumstances etc., for the reason why we sin, or we can be honest with ourselves and The Lord, confess our sins, repent, and turn to The​ Lord and be obedient to Him.  (1 John 1:9)  Otherwise, as this verse says, we could be on our way to hell and at the least not as close as we should be to The Lord. 

Life is short and isn’t supposed to be easy!  Get in The Word, prayer, and in fellowship with those you can be accountable to!  

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, prayer requests, etc.  We'd love to pray with and for you and to the best of our ability answer any questions you may have soley using God's Word!

Here to serve and disciple until He calls us home,

Curt & Mary Jo

Note-all Scripture references in parenthesis are direct links God's Word so that you can easily click and read what The LORD has to say about the section before the reference.  I encourage you to click, read, study and even memorize these passages for yourself and NOT to just not just take my word for it.  (Psalm 119)