It is important to tell and remind children why we instruct them in certain ways.  Just as we look to the Bible to see which instructions we need to give our children and for guidance on how to train them, we can look to God’s Word to help us explain the ‘whys’ behind the instructions.  Here are a few examples from Scripture where God clearly answers this ‘why’ question for us.

• “Children obey your parents” 
  Why?   “for this pleases the Lord.”     Colossians 3:20
• “Honor your father and mother”
  Why?   “—which is the first commandment with a promise— that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”   Ephesians 6:2-3
• “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”
  Why?  “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of truth…”   Philippians 2:14-16a
• “Give thanks to the Lord”
  Why?  “for He is good.”      Psalm 136:1a
• “Thy word have I hid in my heart”
  Why?  “that I might not sin against Thee.”      Psalm 119:11
• “We love”
  Why?  “because He first loved us.”      1 John 4:19
• “Do not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged.”
  Why?  “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9b
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
  Why?  “And He will make your paths straight.”      Proverbs 3:5-6

This has been exciting to see!  May God continue to open our eyes to how we can use His Word for training in righteousness (first in ourselves and then our children =) )    For 2 Timothy 3:14-17  says “…continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”