Nick was every parent’s dream child – respectful, always studied hard, got the best grades and won all the awards. He loved church and could quote large portions of Scripture. He was respected by his peers who elected him a leader of his church group.
Pete was a little different. He talked when he should listen. He was impetuous and his tempter was always getting him in trouble. He would usually “act first and think later”.
Which of these best describes your kids? Here’s the deal on these two guys.
Nick believed in Jesus and looked great on the outside but needed a heart change. When he met Jesus he complimented him. But Jesus didn’t even acknowledge the greeting. He went right for Nick’s jugular – “You can’t even see God’s Kingdom unless you are born again”.
Pete was a mess but became the leader of Jesus’ band – despite his continued impulsiveness, aggressiveness and lack of self-control.
As Christian parents it’s easy to get discouraged with our “Peter” kid – the one who is always getting notes from the teacher, usually looks like he just emerged from a brawl and pushes every boundary beyond the limit.
And it’s too easy to be complacent about the spiritual life of our “Nicodemus kid”. He stays out of trouble, is compliant and a pleasure to have around.
As parents we have to train ourselves to look beyond the behavior of both types of kids.
God looks on the heart. We need to keep our eye fixed on their hearts also.
If we focus more on outward actions than inward attitudes we are just training the next generation of Pharisees.
Checking their heart might encourage us – or discourage us. Either way it’s the only way to get an accurate assessment of where our children are, what we need to pray about and where we need to focus our training.
Great News! We’re responsible to do what we can to shape our kids’ hearts but ultimately we can count on God to be working, too. He will smooth the rough edges of our “Peter kid” and confront our “Nicodemus child”.
Compare coarse young Peter to the gentle and kind one who wrote 1 & 2 Peter.
Nicodemus later courageously stood up for Jesus and became a disciple. (John 7:50 & 19:39)
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, … all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:11, 13
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