The book of Proverbs is a guide for pursuing godly wisdom in our daily lives. In this four-week study, we will read a selection of topical proverbs covering different aspects of wisdom, from how to interact with our friends, families, and neighbors, to fearing God and keeping His commands. No matter the subject, these proverbs urge us to wrestle with and reflect on our own response to them. To help you better engage with the proverbs in this reading plan, we have provided you with a short introduction and reflection questions for each day.
The last words in the Old Testament tell us the Messiah will “turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers,” healing what is broken between them (Malachi 4:6). Few relationships carry greater room for pain or influence than the parent-child relationship. The book of Proverbs does not assume this relationship is easy or naturally healthy, but it does acknowledge that it has the capacity to shape a young person’s life in beautiful and lasting ways.
Reflection Questions:
Looking back, how did you see the wisdom in these verses modeled for you or not modeled for you when you were younger? What can you learn from that now?
Read Proverbs 10:1. Why do the actions of a child have so much impact on the hearts of his or her parents?
In what ways can the parent-child relationship uniquely cultivate understanding of the gospel in our lives?
I hope and pray that I will model the love of Jesus for my future children. That they will feel his presence through my love and respect towards them, and that when they are old enough they choose to follow Jesus too ❤️
The reading today and questions were so insightful. Growing up my parents did not know the Lord, however their hardworking traits and the peaceful loving upbringing I received from them has impacted my heart tremendously. I kept part of them within me, the loving memories though we did not have much, but always had enough. I received Jesus in my adulthood after graduating from university, I was slowly changed. A new person and new inner qualities were formed within me slowly- by God’s mighty work and grace, He molded me through rough experiences and also through gentle ones. My parents now (who live overseas) come to visit us and the kids once in a while, they wonder why I read the Bible and play worship songs in the background as I do chores, however the actions I carried out (from fearing the Lord, obeying the teachings, modeling out what I learn through Scriptures) have given them peace, and impacted their hearts in return. I did not realize this until seeing the questions of today devotion (thank you SRT team). So even though they sometimes question the God I pray to, I am thankful that my parents see the fruits of a changed heart within me. As the result (fast forwarding) my mom decided to receive Jesus and got baptized, which was such a wonderful thing that God has miraculously done in front of my eyes. I am still praying for my dad to one day to receive Jesus as well.
Amen! ❤️
I pray that I would be able to model Jesus to my daughter so that when she is old enough she will choose to follow him. ❤️
Growing up we went to church faithfully every Sunday. I was raised Catholic. But it wasn’t until the late 1980s that we got involved with the Catholic Charismatic renewal, my parents and siblings and I all got saved during that time. We became a praying family even though we were already praying it became stronger. Our lives changed. Jesus became the Lord and Savior our family. And now 36 years later I have a couple siblings who do not serve the Lord BUT I know none of us will forget my parents did their best to model Jesus
Today’s study was hard for me. I was not raised in a Christian home. We went to Mass, but I did not learn about God’s love and forgiveness until in my 30’s. I feel that I failed my son in some ways. We are very close, but he has a stubborn nature and has made many poor decisions that have taken a toll on his health. It is truly heartbreaking. I wouldn’t be able to get through my days without God.
They read today’s Passages it made me think of vision 6:1-3 Call children obey your parents… ” But in verse 4 it talks about “parents provoke not your children onto wrath ” Don’t be mean, teasing to the point of angering them, stubborn, prideful just because you are the parent.
I feel like this is a verse that gets over looked. As a grandparent I also remind myself of this when my kids want to do thing differently. Bring them up in the ways of the Lord. Lay the rest at His feet.
I have a foolish son who is a heartache to me. He was raised to know the Lord but chose in his teens to walk in his own way and has done so for many years, he’s now 43. This son has turned my heart to prayer more times than any other thing in my life, so I am grateful that God has used my son’s foolish choices to draw my heart to himself. I will pray for my son as long as he has breath or as long as I do. My hope for him is in the Lord who can do all things. My prayer has been and will be that he will become an oak for the display of God’s slpendor!(Isaiah 61:3)