Marks of Distinction

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

As a parent, you carry one of the greatest responsibilities in the world. God has entrusted young lives to your care, and they are making decisions before their minds are even fully developed. Science confirms that the brain does not reach full maturity until about twenty-one years of age. That means teenagers often make adult choices without adult understanding. This is why God calls you to be their shelter and their hiding place until they can stand firmly on their own.

Think of it like a safari. When you step into the wild, you are entering the world of lions, leopards, and elephants. The guide explains how animals survive: young ones follow the marks of distinction on their parents. The stripes on the gazelle or the spots on the ears of a lion tell the little ones where it is safe to walk and when it is time to stop. Without those markings, they would wander into danger.

Your life carries the same kind of distinction for your children. If your life blends in completely with the world around you, your children will not know where the boundaries are. They will not know when danger is near. But if you are marked by purity, holiness, and faithfulness to Christ, those markings stand out. Your children learn by watching you. They follow your choices more than your words.

That is why your home must be a hiding place. Protect their eyes and ears. Set godly standards that help them grow strong roots. But it does not stop there. The church must also be a hiding place. Your children need to experience passionate worship, fervent prayer, and the power of God in His house. This is not about empty religion. It is about showing them that Christ is real and His presence is worth everything.

You only get one shot at shaping the direction of your children’s lives. Let your life bear the markings of distinction that point them to Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the children You have placed in my life. Help me to live in such a way that my choices mark a clear path for them. May my home be a place of safety and my church a place of Your presence. Guard their steps and keep them walking with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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