Many prayers were offered up to the God of heaven in behalf of the grieving families affected by the Newtown, Connecticut shootings in 2012. We can’t imagine the mental anguish brought about as a result of a young man’s senseless decision to end the lives of twenty-six innocent people, including school-age children. A CNN article reported that a woman wailed as she walked up a wooded roadway leading from the Sandy Hook Elementary School, asking “Why? Why?”
We may never know the answer to the above question in a complete sense, but the Lord knows the answer (Matthew 9:4; Psalm 139:1-4). In fact, He has given us all of the information we need in order to prevent such senseless shootings from ever occurring again. The question is, will we read, heed and make application of the information He has provided in His instruction manual — the Bible? There’s an old Ben Franklin maxim that my wise grandmother used to repeat to me from time to time that states: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” (source). The expression means that it is far better to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise. The same maxim holds true for our society today regarding the raising of our children that God has so graciously put under our care.
Our society can avoid more similar mass shootings in the future, by simply opening God’s Book and following the inspired instructions given by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:4 ESV regarding the training of children: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Note the words “discipline” and “instruction” in this verse. God’s instructions to the father focuses on incorporating the rule of “discipline” — so much so, that it becomes a habit in the lives of children who are under his guidance (cf. Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV – note the word “use” in vs. 14). A habit which will produce a godly character, demonstrating self-control, self-respect, diligence, faithfulness, and kindness of heart — those character traits which will insure true happiness and success, not only in this life, but in the life to come (2 Peter 1:1-11).
Inclusive in the word “discipline,“ is the concept found in the word “restrain” or “restraint.” The idea presented in this word, is that of keeping a child within the parameters of the instructions found in God’s word and restraining the child from wandering from those parameters. This concept of restraint was obviously not taught by Eli to his sons (1 Samuel 3:13), resulting in their demise (1 Samuel 4:1-11). Eli realized too late that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Beloved, let us diligently teach our God-given children the inspired instructions found in God’s inspired instruction manual, the Bible (Deuteronomy 6), so that God will bless not only the present generation, but ensuing generations to come (Psalm 78:1-8) and we won’t have to undergo the same tragic and senseless loss as those parents underwent in Newtown, Connecticut. Remember, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
We may never know the answer to the above question in a complete sense, but the Lord knows the answer (Matthew 9:4; Psalm 139:1-4). In fact, He has given us all of the information we need in order to prevent such senseless shootings from ever occurring again. The question is, will we read, heed and make application of the information He has provided in His instruction manual — the Bible? There’s an old Ben Franklin maxim that my wise grandmother used to repeat to me from time to time that states: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” (source). The expression means that it is far better to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise. The same maxim holds true for our society today regarding the raising of our children that God has so graciously put under our care.Our society can avoid more similar mass shootings in the future, by simply opening God’s Book and following the inspired instructions given by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:4 ESV regarding the training of children: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Note the words “discipline” and “instruction” in this verse. God’s instructions to the father focuses on incorporating the rule of “discipline” — so much so, that it becomes a habit in the lives of children who are under his guidance (cf. Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV – note the word “use” in vs. 14). A habit which will produce a godly character, demonstrating self-control, self-respect, diligence, faithfulness, and kindness of heart — those character traits which will insure true happiness and success, not only in this life, but in the life to come (2 Peter 1:1-11).
Inclusive in the word “discipline,“ is the concept found in the word “restrain” or “restraint.” The idea presented in this word, is that of keeping a child within the parameters of the instructions found in God’s word and restraining the child from wandering from those parameters. This concept of restraint was obviously not taught by Eli to his sons (1 Samuel 3:13), resulting in their demise (1 Samuel 4:1-11). Eli realized too late that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Beloved, let us diligently teach our God-given children the inspired instructions found in God’s inspired instruction manual, the Bible (Deuteronomy 6), so that God will bless not only the present generation, but ensuing generations to come (Psalm 78:1-8) and we won’t have to undergo the same tragic and senseless loss as those parents underwent in Newtown, Connecticut. Remember, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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