Key Verse: Verse 5 - " Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Key Words: in sin did my mother conceive me
Children, like all of us, come into the world with a sin nature. The Psalmist David said, “In sin did my mother conceive me.” In this Scripture we do not find a contrast between “innocent children” and “sinful adults.” “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). Children are sinners as well as adults.
I have never seen a child who needed instruction on how to sin; it comes quite naturally. I doubt that any of you sat your child down and taught them how to lie. It just comes naturally.
In his book, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, Douglas Wilson writes, “I had to confront my five year-old-daughter because of bitterness toward her brother. It seems he had clobbered her earlier in the day; although he was disciplined for his action, she was unwilling to forgive. So I quoted Matthew 6:14-15, ‘For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ Looking at me she said, ‘Who is this Matthew guy anyway?’” Now her questioning of the Scriptures was not due to liberal theologians, but rather it was a result of her unforgiving spirit and her sin nature.
Our children are sinners and education alone is not the answer. All you get when you educate a sinner is a “clever sinner.” Knowledge by itself does not make people better, but rather makes them worse. Education is not the answer to our problem, but Jesus is!! (See Romans 3:20 and 5:20.)
I think all of you would agree with me that we want our children to receive a quality education; but if all we do is educate the mind and never attempt to regenerate the heart, we have failed.
What to do:
✞ Don’t just educate the mind, work on the heart as well. This can be done through prayer, Bible study, and ministering to the needy and shut-ins.
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