UNBROKEN
Proverbs 22:6English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Media has a way of impacting you for better or for worse. Now a days its hard to come across a good wholesome movie that makes you truly inspired. Recently I went to see the movie UNBROKEN and haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Not only does God receive all the glory in it, but there are so many spiritual lessons to glean from the true story of this one man.
The gospel is weaved all through this picture and it is a must see! Without spoiling the movie I choose to write about a smaller theme that I noticed in the movie. It starts out with a small poor immigrant Italian family that experiences oppression from the neighborhood. The parents of this man take him and his brothers and sisters to the house of the Lord to hear the word of God as young kids. I'm convinced the exposure to the truth created a strong foundation for what he would face later on in his life. I will let you see for yourself.
Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it" Although proverbs aren't promises they are principles. We are all created as free moral agents. We can choose the ways of God or not. Thank God that He created us with the freedom to choose. After seeing this movie, I thought about my own life. I thought about all the stuff I suffered and went through. A lot of it unfortunately was because of my own rebellion and refusal of the things of God. My pastor always says, "Choose to sin, choose to suffer" (James MacDonald) Although no one's childhood or upbringing is perfect, my parents did one major act of humility that marked me forever and for that I am forever grateful to them for it. When each one of us were children they dedicated us to the Lord. In essence they were saying, "God they are yours and we need Your help in raising them." I can testify for my own life, God has been faithful.
I was a heavy baby. When the pastor held me up before he prayed over me, he called me "the mighty one" although he might have been referring to my weight those words, and that story stuck with me forever. I have been called many other unpleasant things in life some due to my behavior and some just because the whole goal of the enemy is to steal, kill, and destroy your life. Through times of failure and defeat the echo of that pastor's words strengthened me. My parents took us to church and although the congregation was very legalistic, it gave us a good foundation. It taught me to fear God. It taught me His ten commandments, service, and respect. We memorized scripture and I'm convinced that is one of the main reasons I serve the Lord today. God's word has been my only source of strength and hope in times of deepest despair. His word has been my life source when I thought my spirit would break. The bible says,
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
I don't know how many of you have kids of your own. Maybe you are a teacher, maybe an aunt or an uncle. Maybe you are a father or a mother. Maybe no kids but you have spiritual children who you are mentoring and guiding toward the things of God. We are all exposed to youth whatever sphere of influence we might find ourselves in. Scripture says,
Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Whatever the case is, we have a responsibility to pass the baton of faith. Maybe you would say to me, but I don't even read the word myself I wouldn't know where to start. I would encourage you start together. Being in the education field myself, children always want someone to do it with them. It's a new year let this be a year where we invest in a child spiritually. At a young age children are so vulnerable and teachable. We can choose to let the world raise them or we can step up and put the truth in them so when they face adversity later on in life they have something on the inside of them to draw upon. That's what that Italian immigrant family did, that is what my parents did, will we? The choice is ours. I end with some scriptures that have helped strengthen me and I hope will be an encouragement to you!
We are Accepted...
John 1:12 We are God's Child
John 15:15 We are Christ's Friend
Romans 5:1 We have been justified
1 Corinthians 6:17 We are united with the Lord (one Spirit)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 We are bought with a price. I belong to God
1 Corinthians 12:27 We are a member of Christ's Body
Ephesians 1:1 We are saints
Ephesians 1:5 We have been adopted as God's child
Ephesians 2:18 We have access to God through the Holy Spirit
Colossians 1:14 We have been redeemed and forgiven
Colossians 2:10 We are complete in Christ
We are Significant...
Matthew 5:13-14 We are the salt and light of the earth
John 15:1,5 We are a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life
John 15:16 We have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit
Acts 1:8 We are a personal witness of Christ's
1 Corinthians 5:17-21 We are ministers of reconciliation for God
2 Corinthians 6:1 We are God's Co-workers (1 Cor. 3:9)
Ephesians 2:6 We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm
Ephesians 2:10 We are God's workmanship
Ephesians 3:12 We may approach God with freedom and confidence
Philippians 4:13 We can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Finally We are Overcomers only because of 1 John 4:4:
Be encouraged! I hope and pray you really read and meditate on these scriptures and decide to Train up a child while there is still time! Live Fit4eternity! GOD BLESS!
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