
Scripture teaches that the broad road leads to destruction, and a narrow path leads to life. So how can parents guide children to the narrow path without frustrating them? Examine the challenges of Christian parenting on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
Teach Your Children Well — Part Two
Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 22:6 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 43:39 • ID: 2285
Invest in Eternity
Affliction is a significant means by which God forms our character, but it is also a means by which He reveals our character. While Scripture gives us many examples of affliction exposing weak moral fiber, there are numerous examples of affliction highlighting virtue, too. One such example is that of the Macedonian church. Paul said that these early believers were “in a severe test of affliction” and in “extreme poverty.” What did this affliction reveal? An “abundance of joy” and “a wealth of generosity.”
The Macedonian model is worth pondering. That’s precisely why Paul mentioned them: he wanted the Corinthian church to learn from them—to “excel in this act of grace” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Consider what made the Macedonians worth emulating:
1. “They gave themselves first to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5). Their generosity was simply an expression of their devotion to Christ. As Lord of all things, He ruled their finances.
2. They gave in response to God’s grace, which had been “given among the churches of Macedonia.”
3. They gave “beyond their means” (v 3). They were willing to forgo some legitimate wants in order that they might supply others’ real needs.
4. They gave “of their own accord” (v 3), not in response to external prodding.
5. They were “begging … earnestly for the favor” of giving to others (v 4)—generous giving was something they wanted to do, not what they felt they ought to do.
Paul wants us to compare ourselves with the Macedonians, so that we are prompted to ask ourselves questions such as these:
1. Am I giving myself first to the Lord?
2. Am I giving in response to God’s grace? Is that what directs the extent of my giving?
3. Am I giving beyond my comfort zone?
4. Am I giving without external compulsion, without being prodded and prompted?
5. Am I clamoring for the privilege of serving the saints?
We don’t know how the Corinthians responded. We can be sure, though, that God wants us to respond with faithful, joyful investment in eternal things. Eventually, we will all stand before Him, and none of that which offers earthly security—savings accounts, stock portfolios, real-estate investments, pension provisions—will mean a thing. On that day, all we will have is the treasure that we have laid up in heaven through our support for the gospel (Matthew 6:19-21). What does your giving reveal about your character?
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Encouragement to Give Generously
1We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that has been hgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and itheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave jaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4begging us earnestly kfor the favor2 of taking part in lthe relief of the saints— 5and this, not as we expected, but they mgave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, nwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you othis act of grace. 7But as pyou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3—qsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.

Climbing a Mountain
Get you up to a high mountain.
Our knowledge of Christ is somewhat like climbing one of the mountains in Wales. When you are at the base you see only a little: the mountain itself appears to be only half as high as it really is. Confined in a little valley, you discover scarcely anything but the rippling brooks as they descend into the stream at the foot of the mountain. Climb the first rising knoll, and the valley lengthens and widens beneath your feet. Go higher, and you see the country for four or five miles around, and you are delighted with the widening prospect. Higher still, and the scene enlarges; until at last, when you are on the summit and look east, west, north, and south, you see almost all of England lying before you. There is a forest in some distant county, perhaps two hundred miles away, and here the sea, and there a shining river and the smoking chimneys of a manufacturing town, or the masts of the ships in a busy port. All these things please and delight you, and you say, “I could not have imagined that so much could be seen at this elevation.”
Now, the Christian life is of the same order. When we first believe in Christ, we see only a little of Him. The higher we climb, the more we discover of His beauty. But who has ever gained the summit? Who has known all the heights and depths of the love of Christ that passes knowledge? When Paul had grown old and was sitting gray-haired and shivering in a dungeon in Rome, he was able to say with greater emphasis than we can, “I know whom I have believed,”1 for each experience had been like the climbing of a hill, each trial had been like ascending another summit, and his death seemed like gaining the top of the mountain, from which he could see the whole panorama of the faithfulness and love of Him to whom he had committed his soul. Get up, dear friend, into a high mountain.
1) 2 Timothy 1:12

Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for June 25
Repentance and Forgiveness
1h“And iwhen all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and jyou call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2and kreturn to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3then the Lord your God lwill restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will mgather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4nIf your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. 5And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. oAnd he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. 6And pthe Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, qso that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. 7And the Lord your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you. 8And you shall again obey the voice of the Lord and keep all his commandments that I command you today. 9rThe Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. sFor the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Choice of Life and Death
11“For this commandment that I command you today tis not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12uIt is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
15“See, vI have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God1 that I command you today, wby loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules,2 then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17But if xyour heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18yI declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, zblessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice aand holding fast to him, for bhe is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in cthe land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Yodh
73lYour hands have made and fashioned me;
mgive me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74Those who fear you shall see me and nrejoice,
because I have ohoped in your word.
75I know, O Lord, that your rules are prighteous,
and that in qfaithfulness you have afflicted me.
76Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77Let your rmercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my sdelight.
78Let tthe insolent be put to ushame,
because they have vwronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will wmeditate on your precepts.
79Let those who fear you xturn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80May my heart be yblameless in your statutes,
zthat I may not be put to shame!
Kaph
81My soul alongs for your salvation;
I bhope in your word.
82My ceyes long for your promise;
I ask, d“When will you comfort me?”
83For I have ebecome like a fwineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84gHow long must your servant endure?7
hWhen will you judge those who persecute me?
85iThe insolent have jdug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
86All your commandments are ksure;
they persecute me lwith falsehood; mhelp me!
87They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88In your steadfast love ngive me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.
Lamedh
89Forever, O Lord, your oword
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90Your pfaithfulness endures to all generations;
you have qestablished the earth, and it rstands fast.
91By your sappointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
92If your law had not been my tdelight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have ugiven me life.
94I am yours; save me,
vfor I have sought your precepts.
95The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
96I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly wbroad.
Israel's Futile Idolatry
1The righteous man perishes,
and no one lays it to heart;
rdevout men are taken away,
while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
2she enters into peace;
they rest tin their beds
who walk in their uprightness.
3But you, draw near,
sons of the sorceress,
uoffspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
4Whom are you mocking?
Against whom vdo you open your mouth wide
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of wtransgression,
xthe offspring of deceit,
5you who burn with lust among ythe oaks,1
under every green tree,
zwho slaughter your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?
6Among the smooth stones of athe valley is your portion;
they, they, are your lot;
to them you have poured out a drink offering,
you have brought a grain offering.
Shall I relent for these things?
7bOn a high and lofty mountain
you have set your bed,
and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8Behind the door and the doorpost
you have set up your memorial;
for, deserting me, cyou have uncovered your bed,
you have gone up to it,
dyou have made it wide;
and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,
you have loved their bed,
you have looked on nakedness.2
9You journeyed to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
eyou sent your envoys far off,
and sent down even to Sheol.
10You were wearied with the length of your way,
fbut you did not say, “It is hopeless”;
you found new life for your strength,
and so you were not faint.3
11gWhom did you dread and fear,
hso that you lied,
and did not remember me,
did not lay it to heart?
iHave I not held my peace, even for a long time,
and you do not fear me?
12I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
but they will not profit you.
13jWhen you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
The wind will carry them all off,
a breath will take them away.
kBut he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land
and shall inherit lmy holy mountain.
Comfort for the Contrite
14And it shall be said,
m“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people's way.”
15For thus says nthe One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is oHoly:
p“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also qwith him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
rto revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16sFor I will not contend forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
and the breath of life that I made.
17Because of the iniquity of his tunjust gain I was angry,
I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18I have seen his ways, ubut I will heal him;
I will lead him vand restore comfort to him and his mourners,
19wcreating xthe fruit of the lips.
yPeace, peace, zto the far and to the near,” says the Lord,
u“and I will heal him.
20aBut the wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21bThere is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
The Sermon on the Mount
1Seeing the crowds, ohe went up on the mountain, and when he psat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2And qhe opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3r“Blessed are sthe poor in spirit, for utheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are vthose who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5“Blessed are the wmeek, for they wshall inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and xthirst yfor righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7“Blessed are zthe merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8“Blessed are athe pure in heart, for bthey shall see God.
9“Blessed are cthe peacemakers, for dthey shall be called esons1 of God.
10f“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for utheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11g“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely hon my account. 12iRejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for jso they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth, kbut if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14l“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15mNor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so nthat2 they may see your good works and ogive glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
17p“Do not think that I have come to abolish qthe Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but rto fulfill them. 18For truly, I say to you, suntil heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19tTherefore whoever relaxes uone of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least vin the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great vin the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds wthat of the scribes and Pharisees, you xwill never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Anger
21y“You have heard that it was said to those of old, z‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable ato judgment.’ 22But I say to you that beveryone who is angry with his brother3 will be liable ato judgment; whoever insults4 his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to cthe hell5 of fire. 23dSo if eyou are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25fCome to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26Truly, I say to you, gyou will never get out until you have paid the last penny.6
Lust
27h“You have heard that it was said, i‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that jeveryone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29kIf your right eye lcauses you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into mhell. 30kAnd if your right hand lcauses you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into mhell.
Divorce
31h“It was also said, n‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32oBut I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and pwhoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33“Again hyou have heard that it was said to those of old, q‘You shall not swear falsely, but rshall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34But I say to you, sDo not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for tit is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is uthe city of the great King. 36And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; vanything more than this comes from evil.7
Retaliation
38h“You have heard that it was said, y‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, zDo not resist the one who is evil. But aif anyone bslaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And zif anyone would sue you and take your tunic,8 let him have your cloak as well. 41And if anyone cforces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42dGive to the one who begs from you, and edo not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43f“You have heard that it was said, g‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, iLove your enemies and jpray for those who persecute you, 45kso that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and lsends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46mFor if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers,9 what more are you doing than others? Do not even nthe Gentiles do the same? 48oYou therefore must be pperfect, qas your heavenly Father is perfect.
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