Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Lives Spent Well for the Lord

by Timothy Yoon

This past Christmas I was gifted a copy of Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. In its beginning chapters, he gives the reader an autobiographical narrative of his childhood, undergraduate, and seminary years. Piper stresses the influence of various Christian authors during his adulthood, but we should realize that earlier experiences in his childhood also played an important role for him spiritually. These influences came in such forms as a wall placard that displayed the words of the British missionary C.T. Studd, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last,” as well as from his parents: his father was a traveling preacher with gripping stories of conversion, and his mother as the embodiment of a woman after God’s own heart. [1] If we step back and look at the general course of Piper’s life, we see the fulfillment of a truth that many parents are familiar with:

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

What exactly is the way in which a child should go? How can we ensure that the lives of our children are not a waste in the sight of God, but pleasing to Him? The answer in Scripture is clear: They must be brought up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) so that they may be men and women who love Him with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). In every child there ought to be kindled a great, fervent passion to exalt God by enjoying and displaying His excellence in all areas of life.

Why, some of you may ask, is the importance of children knowing the Lord, even from childhood onwards, stressed so highly? Charles Spurgeon gives multiple reasons in a sermon titled “The Best Burden for Young Shoulders.” He preaches on Lamentations 3:27—”It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth.” A blessing of dedicating one’s life to Christ early on is:

“There is this goodness about it yet further, that it enables one to be well established in divine things. “They that are planted in the courts of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” A tree transplanted takes a certain time to root, but when it becomes well established it produces abundant fruit. There must be time for striking root in divine things; everything in the kingdom of grace is not to be learned in 10 minutes. I bless God that a man who has believed in Jesus only one second is a saved man; but he is not an instructed man; he is not an established man. He is not trained for battle; nor tutored for labor. These things take time. When we are converted, we go to Christ’s school; we sit at His feet and learn of Him. Now, who is the best scholar? All other things being equal, I should expect to find the best scholars in school to be those who come early. Eleven o’clock scholars do not learn much; evening scholars, with a good master and great diligence, may pick up something, but scarcely so much as those who have been at the school all day! Oh, how blessed it is to begin to know Christ very early, because then you can go on comprehending with all the saints the heights and depths of that which surpasses knowledge. No fear that you will ever exhaust this knowledge. It is so infinitely great and blessed that if we lived 7,000 years in the world, there would still be more to know of Christ, and we would still have to say, “Oh, the depths.” We need not be afraid, therefore, if we are converted when we are 10, or 15, or 20 years of age, we shall live to wear out the freshness of religion. Ah, no, we shall love it more and understand it better, and by God’s grace practice it more fully as the years roll over us! Therefore it is good to begin soon.” [2]

Fully recognizing the primary responsibility of the parents in raising their children in biblical discipline and instruction, we in the Sonlight staff seek to first and foremost assist the parents in helping the children come to know and love God from a young age. We do this mainly through teaching and setting the foundation of a right understanding of the Bible and of a Christian worldview, as was outlined by Jeff in his article “Two Objectives of Children’s Ministry.” In the Old Testament, for example, we have plenty of opportunities of showing the sinfulness of the human heart and the hope we have in the death and resurrection of Christ. In recent weeks, the children were taught the account of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21. In response to the Israelites’ complaining hearts, God punished them by sending “fiery serpents” but also provided a means of physical salvation through the bronze serpent, at which if any person looked, he or she was saved. This incident, as Christ Himself explains in John 3:14–15, is analogous to His own death. If any child would see his or her impending physical and spiritual death and look upon Christ in true repentance and faith, that child would most certainly be saved.

May we take all opportunities that the Lord puts in our way to point the children to Christ, whether it be through the beauty of a flower at the park, a severe chastisement after continued disobedience, or even the funeral of a beloved family member or friend. In 1755, Jonathan Edward wrote a letter to his ten-year-old son Jonathan Jr., whose playmate had recently died. The father wrote, “This is a loud call of God to you to prepare for death . . . Never give yourself any rest, unless you have good evidence that you are converted and become a new creature.” [3] I pray that all of us, whether parents, staff, or fellow members of the body of Christ, would emulate such love and concern for the children, caring most for the glory of God in the redemption of their souls.

[1] Piper, John. Don’t Waste Your Life. Crossway, 2003.

[2] Ministries, Eternal Life. “The Best Burden for Young Shoulders.” Spurgeon Gems – C. H. Spurgeon Sermons & Other Resources, www.spurgeongems.org/ (emphasis mine).

[3] Marsden, George M. Jonathan Edwards: A Life. Yale University Press, 2003.

If Thou Lift Up Thy Tool Upon It, Thou Hast Polluted It

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Exodus 20:25

God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord’s own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour’s work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man’s chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in Him alone.

Many professors may take warning from this morning’s text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.

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Examining the Faith in Youth Group (Part 1)

by Andrea Vigil-Ruiz

For the past four years, it has been a privilege to be given the opportunity to be a part of Youth Group as a staffer. Youth Group ranges from 6th – 12th grade and usually meets on Friday nights for Bible study and Sundays for Sunday school. When working with the youth, there can be many questions about the Christian faith that can come up: Why do Christians always talk about the Bible? How do I know that God exists? How do I know if the Christian faith is true? Why should I believe in Christianity as opposed to other religions? Overall, there can be a perception that being a Christian is somewhat mystical, driven by one’s emotions and feelings and cannot really be explained with reasonable reasons. During Sunday school this year, we are going through the book Reasons We Believe by Nathan Busenitz with the hopes of showing the youth that there are actual, tangible, reasonable reasons why Christianity is true and that Christianity is not a blind faith.

Since September, Johnny, Hansol, and Cesar have been on a rotation to teach through two reasons from the book each Sunday. Cesar kicked off the start of the Sunday school term with an introduction to why it’s important to know and understand the reasons we believe in Christianity. Knowing and understanding the reasons that support and defend the Christian faith can be beneficial in two ways: first, to help one grown in his own understanding of the veracity of the faith, ultimately leading to a greater appreciation and awe of God, and second, to equip the believer with the “tools” needed to talk about why the Christian faith is the one and only way with unbelievers.

After that initial Sunday introduction to the study, we dove into the reasons why we believe in God. Due to limited space, this article will address three of the 16 reasons that were presented in Sunday school so far. One of the reasons we believe in God is because the order and design of life that we see around us points to a Creator. The Bible explains that God is the creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1-30) and the overall design of life testifies to God’s creative power (Job 38-41; Psalm 104-1-35). Modern medical and biological science also points to the complexity of life. An example Busenitz uses is the complexity of DNA and how DNA is composed of very specific sequences of data (in the form of four bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine) to complete the genetic code. Given the complexity of how specific the DNA sequence must be points to how this complexity cannot have happened randomly.

More so, when one looks at the creation of man, the idea of a Designer is supported even more. Christian apologist John Gerstner says, “There is more in the universe than mere life. There is intelligent life. There is a kind of life which not only lives but which thinks about living….How could matter, which has no life in itself, actually produce a life which can reflect on matter and tell it that it has no life in itself?” Even the human ability to defy the existence of God is proof of a Designer because the level of intelligence to think about such questions testifies to His existence. During this Sunday school session, the Design (Teleological) Argument was presented to the youth. At the end of the session, the youth were asked to think about how even the most minute biological system requires such specificity in order to function correctly (the flagellar motor system of bacterial cells requires 30 proteins and if even one is missing, the entire system cannot function properly). This session encouraged the youth to look at the complexity of life around them and see that the existence and function of these complex structures, down to even the most minute organism, cannot be due to random forces.

During another session of Sunday School, we went over how the human sense of morality points to a Lawgiver. The argument here points to how all humans have a conscience that is intrinsically aware of right and wrong. In Romans, the conscience is described as “the work of the law [that] is written on [people’s] hearts” (2:15) because “what can be known about God is plain to them” (Romans 1:19; cf 1:32). This reveals that there is a higher moral order where God is the Standard and Judge (Ecclesiastes 12:14). This moral conscience can also be seen across cultures (for example, stealing, lying, and murdering are seen as evil regardless of where you are from geographically), and not as a result of Western Judeo-Christian culture. Moreover, there are universal rights that all cultures agree on, such as the right to love and kindness. Of course, sometimes this moral conscience can malfunction due to being fed the wrong information (1 Corinthians 8:7; Titus 1:15) or when it is ignored for too long (1 Timothy 4:2).

The existence of a moral conscience with humans also shows that depending solely on a biological explanation for the existence of creation (such as the survival of the fittest theory) is neither sufficient nor makes sense. This session also addressed the existence of evil. The question “Why does evil exist?” is often asked, but Busenitz sees this question as a presupposition in support of the existence of God. We are able to identify what is morally evil because of the existence of God, who is the Standard of good. Busenitz writes, “Deep in our hearts we understand something is unrighteous or unjust — it offends us, saddens us, and causes us to cry out for justice. We rejoice when good triumphs over evil, and we feel violated when it does not.” For people across cultures to understand generally what is morally good and bad, it has to point to the existence a divine Creator and Lawgiver who is the ultimate standard of good.

Currently, we are in the section about the evidence for why we believe in the Bible. One reason we believe the Bible is the Word of God is that the Bible is marked by a clear and consistent message. The Bible was written from 1400 BC-100 AD, which is a span of 1500 years. For the 66 books in the Bible (39 in the Old Testament; 27 in the New Testament), there were 40+ different human authors that God used to write the Bible, across different geographic locations (Asia, Africa, and Europe), and in different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). Not only that,  these authors were all from different backgrounds and vocations. Just to name a few of the human authors, there were: Moses, a prince (Exodus 2:10, cf. Hebrews 11:24-25) who became a shepherd (Exodus 3:1); David, a shepherd (1 Samuel 16:11-13) who became a king (2 Samuel 2:4); Paul, a former Pharisee (Philippians 3:5); and Luke, a Gentile physician (Colossians 4:14).

Given the varying conditions of where and when the Bible was written and by whom, this is evidence that God is the unifying factor in the authorship of the Bible. And even with such varying locations, languages, and authors, there is still a clear and consistent message about God, man, sin, salvation, and the end of the world. This unity in the message is also clearly seen in reference to the gospel of Jesus Christ, since He is the one that the entire Bible points to from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 22:16. In Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask about the Christian Faith, Josh McDowell and Don Stewart write, “The Old Testament is the preparation (Isaiah 40:3). The Gospels are the manifestation (John 1:29). The Book of Acts is the propagation (Acts 1:8). The epistles give the explanation (Colossians 1:27). The Book of Revelation is the consummation (Revelation 1:7). The Bible is all about Jesus.” With such a clear and consistent message from beginning to end, Christians can strongly hold firm to the belief that the Bible is from God.

To reiterate, the youth staff understands that going through this study will not ultimately save the youth. The salvation of a person is not dependent on any other human, but solely on the one who is the giver of the gift of salvation — God (Ephesians 2:8-9). By going through this study though, it is a way to encourage the youth to think about these different pieces of evidence so that they can see the Christian faith is a reasonable one, not a blind one. As a staff member, I have already been encouraged and even challenged in my own understanding of the evidence for the faith, and I look forward to the remainder of the school year in continuing in this book study. I hope the youth are, too!

Walking in the Truth

by Pastor Patrick Cho

With the dawn of a new year, I recently thought about the church and what my greatest burdens are for this congregation. During this time of reflection, I came across 3 John 4, which states, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” This verse aptly summed up my heart. My burden and great desire for the church is that the members would be walking well in the truth. Just like a loving parent wants the very best for his children, I understand that God is the very best — the greatest and sweetest pursuit — for our members.

The Apostle John is writing to his friend Gaius and gives examples of his faithfulness:

  1. The first way Gaius demonstrates that he is walking in the truth is through his love for the brethren, co-laborers of John who are doing the work of the gospel. John makes a general statement of his acts of love, “whatever you accomplish for the brethren,” which implies that his acts of service were many and various. What is notable about Gaius’s hospitality was that it was provided to strangers. Of course, many would gladly care for friends who stop by for rest on a long journey, but Gaius cared for those he did not know. This provision and care for the brethren flowed out of his love for the Savior.
  2. The second way Gaius demonstrates walking in the truth is seen in John’s exhortation to imitate what is good (v. 11). John warns him against evil reminding him that those who are of God do good. This is consistent with the Lord’s instruction in the Sermon on the Mount that a tree is known by its fruit (Matt. 7:17-20). Every person who is truly in Christ will do the things that are fitting with the gospel. But the one who persistently walks in evil without repentance “has not seen God.” John gives this warning to Gaius to encourage him to continue in the things he is already doing. Besides in the final greeting (v. 15), this is the only command in the letter.

As a pastor, I am often in the unique position of knowing much of what our members struggle with. I am aware of the conflicts, various sins, doubts, and struggles that beset our members’ lives. In my prayers, I ask the Lord to bring our people to a place of spiritual strength and health. It is always difficult to hear that one of our members is not doing well. But there is great joy in hearing about our members who are growing and thriving, seeking to live out God’s truth with faithfulness and perseverance. In this new year, may we all strive to set the best goals of pursuing Christ, that we might have more of Him and less of the world.

For God Is For Me

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Psalm 56:9

It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, ‘God is for me.’ He was ‘for us’ before the worlds were made; He was ‘for us,’ or He would not have given His well-beloved son; He was ‘for us’ when He smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of His wrath upon Him-He was ‘for us,’ though He was against Him; He was ‘for us,’ when we were ruined in the fall-He loved us notwithstanding all; He was ‘for us,’ when we were rebels against Him, and with a high hand were bidding Him defiance; He was ‘for us,’ or He would not have brought us humbly to seek His face. He has been ‘for us’ in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within-how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if He had not been ‘for us’? He is ‘for us,’ with all the infinity of His being; with all the omnipotence of His love; with all the infallibility of His wisdom; arrayed in all His divine attributes, He is ‘for us,’-eternally and immutably ‘for us’; ‘for us’ when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; ‘for us’ throughout eternity. And because He is ‘for us,’ the voice of prayer will always ensure His help.

‘When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back.’ This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance-‘this I know.’ I will direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, ‘for God is for me.’ O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee?

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Doest Thou Well To Be Angry?

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Jonah 4:9

Anger is not always or necessarily sinful, but it has such a tendency to run wild that whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its character, with this enquiry, ‘Doest thou well to be angry?’ It may be that we can answer, ‘YES.’ Very frequently anger is the madman’s firebrand, but sometimes it is Elijah’s fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with sin, because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God; or with ourselves because we remain so foolish after so much divine instruction; or with others when the sole cause of anger is the evil which they do.

He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it. God himself is angry with the wicked every day, and it is written in His Word, ‘Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.’ Far more frequently it is to be feared that our anger in not commendable or even justifiable, and then we must answer, ‘NO.’

Why should we be fretful with children, passionate with servants, and wrathful with companions? Is such anger honourable to our Christian profession, or glorifying to God? Is it not the old evil heart seeking to gain dominion, and should we not resist it with all the might of our newborn nature. Many professors give way to temper as though it were useless to attempt resistance; but let the believer remember that he must be a conqueror in every point, or else he cannot be crowned. If we cannot control our tempers, what has grace done for us? Some one told Mr. Jay that grace was often grafted on a crab-stump. ‘Yes,’ said he, ‘but the fruit will not be crabs.’ We must not make natural infirmity an excuse for sin, but we must fly to the cross and pray the Lord to crucify our tempers, and renew us in gentleness and meekness after His own image.

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Discipline in Sparklers

by Kyle Grindley

At Lighthouse, we understand that most of the kids in our children’s ministry are not Christians; they have not had their hearts of stone replaced with hearts of flesh, they cannot obey God. Ryan McAdam’s article Why Require Obedience in the Classroom? touched on why we require obedience in spite of their inability. I have found applying this in a way that represents God to be the most challenging aspect of teaching in Sparklers (LBC’s preschool ministry).

One elder presented this challenge in a way that has stuck with me: Can the kids tell the difference between the way we run our classroom and the way any secular school would run theirs? Can the kids see God’s order, righteousness, peace, mercy, grace, love all reflected in the classroom? Or do they only see order, and teachers who are annoyed when it is violated?

I have struggled with how to maintain an ordered classroom where we can teach children about God’s loving-kindness, without unteaching it with the way I impose that order. These are a few guidelines that help me approach classroom discipline.

Discipline in an LBC classroom must come from humble teachers. We are sinners in need of teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness, just like the children. To paraphrase Paul Tripp: we are more like the kids in our class than unlike them (see Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family). We do not discipline the kids because we are their moral superiors, but because we love them and want to teach them that the only way to have joy and peace is by trusting God’s wise words and following God’s good rules.

Discipline in an LBC classroom must come from unconditional love for the kids. Many kids go through a “difficult” time in Sparklers; a few months when they are consistently the recipient of discipline. In these times we must be careful to show unconditional love: a consistent desire to include them in class activities, to hear their thoughts, and to play with them. If children see that they are sought after in difficult times just as in good times, they might see a small picture of God’s love for us. God’s love is not diminished when we sin and does not grow when we obey. God’s love for us is always bringing us closer to Him, sometimes in the sweetness of close communion, and sometimes in the stinging conviction of sin.

Discipline in an LBC classroom must focus on the heart. Classroom disobedience is the result of a child deciding that they will be happier following their own wisdom, doing things their own way, rather than trusting and following God’s way of thinking and acting. It is what we call a My-Way heart (look at Getting to the Heart, by Liannu Khai (Dang)). Luke 6 says “out of the overflow of the heart, his mouth speaks”. We cannot stop at addressing the children’s behavior, we must address the heart that gave birth to that behavior. And we need to address it so that they are ultimately pointed to the only person who can change their hearts. Each time we discipline, it should be another lived example of what we teach during the lesson: “People need Jesus to change their hearts. You need Jesus to change your heart.”

Discipline in an LBC classroom must model a proper response to God’s Word. When we discipline the Sparklers we walk them through the process of repentance. First we identify the issue, perhaps it was unkind words, rebellious action, or an ungrateful attitude. Then we measure those words, actions, and attitudes by God’s Word. Does the Bible say what I did was good or sinful? If our actions are consistent with what God calls good, then we give thanks because our heart is consistent with God’s heart. If we find that God calls what we did sin, then our disobedient heart has been revealed. We ask for forgiveness, and we ask God to change our heart. It is my hope that as the children see their teachers and parents apply this pattern to their situation, they can learn how to apply it themselves. All this in the confidence that God’s Word is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart and bring change.

Please pray for the children’s ministry staff, that we would rely on God’s wisdom in each discipline situation. Pray that we would represent God’s righteousness and mercy each time we require obedience from children who cannot give it. Please pray that each child would trust that joy and peace can be found by listening to God’s wise words, and following His good way.

Weekly Links (1/14/2019)

by Stephen Rodgers

Happy New Year folks! Since it’s a new month, it’s time for the obligatory “free stuff of the month” post.

  • Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon (free audio book) – This is the classic devotional text by Spurgeon that we post from on every Saturday. I think you want this!
  • Isaiah for Everyone by John Goldingay (free Logos resource) – I’m not familiar with this author, but if you’re a Logos user, it might be worth picking up.
  • Awe by Paul David Tripp (free Faithlife resource) – Tripp is generally a reliable guide in matters of counseling and practical theology. If you’re familiar with his work or you’ve enjoyed other books by him, this seems like a safe bet.
  • The Synod of Dort (Tabletalk magazine) – I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Tabletalk is one of the best resources out there. This month the them is the Synod of Dort, which you should know from my church history class. If you don’t…here’s a good start.

That’s it for now folks. One year ends, and the another begins. Make sure you’re living it for something greater, more enduring, and more meaningful than just yourself.

Pro Rege

His Heavenly Kingdom

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

2 Timothy 4:18

Yonder city of the great King is a place of active service. Ransomed spirits serve Him day and night in His temple. They never cease to fulfil the good pleasure of their King. They always ‘rest,’ so far as ease and freedom from care is concerned; and never ‘rest,’ in the sense of indolence or inactivity.

Jerusalem the golden is the place of communion with all the people of God. We shall sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in eternal fellowship. We shall hold high converse with the noble host of the elect, all reigning with Him who by His love and His potent arm has brought them safely home. We shall not sing solos, but in chorus shall we praise our King.

Heaven is a place of victory realized. Whenever, Christian, thou hast achieved a victory over thy lusts-whenever after hard struggling, thou hast laid a temptation dead at thy feet-thou hast in that hour a foretaste of the joy that awaits thee when the Lord shall shortly tread Satan under thy feet, and thou shalt find thyself more than conqueror through Him who hath loved thee.

Paradise is a place of security. When you enjoy the full assurance of faith, you have the pledge of that glorious security which shall be yours when you are a perfect citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem. O my sweet home, Jerusalem, thou happy harbour of my soul! Thanks, even now, to Him whose love hath taught me to long for Thee; but louder thanks in eternity, when I shall possess thee.

‘My soul has tasted of the grapes,
And now it longs to go
Where my dear Lord His vineyard keeps
And all the clusters grow.

‘Upon the true and living vine,
My famish’d soul would feast,
And banquet on the fruit divine,
An everlasting guest.’

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God’s Wisdom for Parenting (Part 9)

by Pastor Patrick Cho

One of the places in Scripture to find a wealth of helpful principles for parenting is the Proverbs. Almost every book on parenting will reference these Scriptures repeatedly because of the wisdom they contain. Besides the plethora of verses that apply to parenting indirectly, several passages address parenting specifically.

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)

What are you afraid of? What keeps you up at night? What anxieties disturb the peace in your heart? When we experience this kind of fear, it exposes our lack of trust in the Lord. We think our problems are too big inevitably because we deem our God too small. We don’t trust His Word when it teaches that we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” (Heb. 13:6). We treat Him as small who has promised, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). We distrust that by prayer we have no reason for anxiety and we can have the peace of God guarding and protecting our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:6-7).

The psalmist writes that there is strong confidence in the fear of YHWH. It is ironic, I suppose, that the author states that “strong confidence” comes as a result of “fear.” But this is not a fear of dread like the fear of an untamed beast or horrible calamity. The fear of God is worshipful awe and reverence at His glory and greatness. This is about finding sure confidence in who God is regardless of what we face in life. Because we know Him, we understand that our God is bigger than any trial we may endure. The greater our fear of God, the surer our strong confidence. He is my God and He is my Lord, and if God is for me, who can be against me (cf. Rom. 8:31).

Every believer ought to strive to attain this confidence, which comes only as a result of greater knowledge and deeper relationship with God. This truth serves as an anchor for the soul to keep the heart from being tossed back and forth by its own inclinations and emotions. You can ask yourself, “Do I trust that in God I have no reason for fear? Is He my strong confidence?”

The principle for parenting comes in the second half of this insightful couplet. It says that if a man fears the Lord, his children will have refuge. The strength of my faith as a father serves as a spiritual protection for my children. One specific grace that God sometimes bestows is for a person to be raised in a Christian home with God-fearing parents. Many people reflect on the strong faith of their parents that encouraged them throughout their childhood. Especially in times of trouble, if my faith is unsure, it will have an adverse effect on the faith of my children. But if I maintain strong confidence in God, I can serve as a steadying influence for my children encouraging them likewise to trust in God.

One day, my child’s faith is going to need to be their own. They will walk through their own valleys and experience their own trials. But especially while they are young, I have a responsibility to demonstrate strong confidence in God because in my confidence they will find refuge. This is a helpful principle for parenting that cultivating our own walk with Christ has benefits beyond ourselves. Through our faith in God, our children can be blessed.