The Third Parent

How can I disciple my children when my own faith is a little shaky and when I don’t know enough about the Faith to disciple anyone? (Part 2)

In Psalm 39 David said, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (v. 13, 14)

In these verses God shows us that he is involved in the making of each one of us. God didn’t just make Adam and Eve, wind up the baby making process and walk away. He loves and knows each one of us and was there with us from the womb.

It is funny that even though we are taught that God knows everything, is always everywhere and that he loves us all (John 3:16) it comes as a surprise to us that God made us and has known us from the start.

God did of course wonderfully allow parents to be involved in the process. Our children are the product of our unions but although that is so much of who are children are, looks, personality, talents, quirks etc. that is not all they are.

Our Parent who art in Heaven

In truth every one of us has three parents. God was there at conception, wonderfully creating our inmost being, our spirits, us.

So here is my question. Is God a deadbeat dad? Did he create us in the womb and then dump us on our parents and merely hope that it would all work out. NO!

Highly educated people have been studying this wonderful thing called the human being for many years trying to figure out what makes us tick. Much has already been discovered, yet the consensus is that we have barely scratch the surface of all there is to know. We are as David said “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

What is amazing is that anyone would think that God somehow meant for us to have a handful of these baby humans and successfully parent them into eternity without His help.

In God’s Garden

Think about it.  Before the fall of man the Bible says that God walked in the Garden of Eden and talked with Adam and Eve. Before any children were born our original ancestors sinned and were sent out of God’s presence and we all started living apart from God. What would have happened if there had been no sin and Cain and Abel were born in the garden? They would have grown up with God right there with them. (Yes, God knew what would happen before he said his first “Let there be,” but the point is still valid. God did not want us to sin, He just knew we would.)

Sin took away the possibility of children growing up with God right there with them. Sin took us a long way away from God but through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have the opportunity to once again know God and walk with God.  He is present in our houses guiding us as parents, giving us wisdom, walking with and working inside our children. (John 14:17 – 21, 23, 26, Acts 2:39, James 1:5)

If you have received Jesus as your Lord he is waiting for access to your home. God wants to be there and parent alongside you, lovingly helping you, teaching you and working with his kids.

Here is the practical take away. Stop right now and ask the third parent for His help. Then the first thing you need is His help relying on His help. Ask Him is to remind you to stop right in the middle of any and every parenting situation and ask for His help and wisdom before you decide or act. I have found it amazing how just the stopping and praying has caused me to so often refocus and redirect.

Stick with it, you will not regret it!

Next time we will continue this blog series with, God At Work Within Us.

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