Solutions December 2018 | Page 17

Turning Children’s Hearts By Marty Machowski forgive one another, and our relationships are restored (Ephesians 4:32). The gospel is our hope that our children will no longer live for themselves, and it is our children’s hope that God will do the same for us. We will extend the same forgiveness to others that God has extended to us. The result is that our hearts turn toward our children and their hearts turn toward us. Sin creates division, while the gospel promotes reconciliation. Sin fosters selfishness; the gospel propagates grace. Sin brings demandingness; the gospel, servanthood. If there is a lack of reconciliation, grace, and servanthood in your home, there is good news for you in the gospel. The wait for the one who can turn the hearts of the children back to their parents is over. Jesus has come! Let the gospel first work in your heart toward your children, then patiently wait for God to transform their hearts to respond. Real Life Jim and Barb followed the biblical course laid out for parenting their children, training them up in the way they should go. They trusted that if they discipled their children in the things of the Lord, all would be well. They expected trials but were unprepared for the abject rebellion of their second-born daughter Cathleen. Looking back, they not only see the hand of God at work in their daughter, they also see how God taught them to depend on him rather than trust in faithful parenting to save their daughter. Solutions • 17