Authority! How is That Working for You?
The most important relationship we develop in this world is with God, but we aren’t born seeking it. In His great wisdom, God places us, as Christian parents, front and center as one of the means of His grace. At first, we require little and most demands are met. However, at some point in life this all changes. How Christian adults wield authority over and make demands of a child will influence that child rightly or wrongly about God’s authority. How are we doing?
I highly recommend that every parent and teacher read Paul David Tripp’s newbook, Parenting, 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family. Learning better how to wield our authority will revolutionize our homes and churches.
Dr. Tripp asserts, “Children come into the world as self-sovereigns, In the heart of each child is a natural rebellion to authority. When I act in a selfish, demeaning, hurtful, way in exercising my authority I am actually deepening their rebellion toward authority. “He goes on to say, “Your job is to make authority a beautiful thing, a gracious thing, a loving thing, a protecting thing, a wisdom giving thing, so this child will grow to be thankful that there is authority in their life. A teenager has to be groomed as a child if they are to come to be thankful for authority.” He closed with a prayer that we would surrender comforts, plans, sense of needs, our very selves to God so that in turn we can “be the look on His face, the tone of His voice, the touch of His hand in the lives of our children.” I am adding this to my daily prayer list. I hope you will too!
Suzi Ciliberti
Suzi Ciliberti works for Christar, a Missions Agency that plants churches among least-reached Asians worldwide. She served in Japan for two years as a single missionary and another nine with her husband and two children, then the family returned to the states. She and her husband have been serving in the US Mobilization Center since 2000. As a part of the Member Care Department, Suzi is consultant to families with children. She has been working as a children’s teacher since she was 17 and began her training under Child Evangelism Fellowship. She has taught in the church, as a school teacher for two years in a Christian elementary school, and as a speaker for adults training to work with children. She has also trained children, who are a part of families that work overseas, in their identity in Christ. She brings 44 years of teaching experience to her work. She loves creative writing as well as teaching and has found great fulfillment in combining the two as she blogs for Heartprints. She finds it a great privilege and joy to serve the Lord and His people. One of her favorite verses is Deuteronomy 4:10b, "Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children."
