Children's Day Celebration

The Nigerian Baptist Convention under the leadership of the President, Rev. Dr. Supo Ayokunle has tagged 2015 as our year of Moving Forward: Working and Praying for Peace and Progress.

With the theme in mind I want to ask
you one question. What kind of
teacher are you?
Parents hate it when children tell
lies. God hates it when any of His
children tell lies (Proverbs 6:17).
Liars have a special place in hell fire
(Revelations 21:8). Jesus said the
following about the devil concerning
lies “. . . . . When he lies, he speaks
his native language, for he is a liar
and the father of lies. . .” (John 8:45
NIV). However, parents can teach
their children and teenagers to
become liars and tell lies without
knowing. How you may ask? Well
God’s Word says, Dear friends, let us
love one another, for love comes from
God. If anyone says, “I love God, yet
hates his brother, he is a liar. For
anyone who does not love his brother,
whom he has seen, cannot love God,
whom he has not seen. And he has
given us this command: Whoever
loves God must also love his brother
(1 John 4:7, 20-21). As we get ready
for elections and especially the one
on Valentine’s Day, which is seen as
lover’s day. Let us examine how we
are going to show love, teach our
children, teenagers and wards
another meaning of love. Let us teach
them not to be liars.
How are you going to behave before,
during and after the elections? How
do you teach kids that the people who
are not in your political party, who
are not from your state or tribe or
even your religion are still your
brothers?
1. Show your children, teenagers and
wards that you love Jesus Christ
the Prince of peace (Isaiah 6:9).
Let your actions be peaceful ones.
Peaceful nature is caught rather
than taught. As you go and vote be
a peaceful voter. As you hear the
results, even if you do not like or
agree with them remember you
are a Christian, a child of the
Prince of Peace.
2. Teach children, teenagers and
wards to see all people from all
different tribes, religions and
political affiliations as made in
the image and likeness of God.
They should therefore be
respected and treated well.
Respect people who have different
opinions than yours. Respect
results that are different from
what you would have wanted.
3. Watch your words. Words are
powerful as there is life and death
in the power of the tongue
(Proverbs 18:22). One adage says,
“Words are like raw eggs once
they are dropped they cannot be
gathered together again. Do not
talk unpleasant things of people
who are not in the same political
party with you. Treat issues and
not people or personalities.
Discourage “hate speech” it has a
way of building up terrible
emotions, and that lead to ill
feelings, conflict and violent
confrontation. Watch your words.
Do not let them become fuel for a
fire that you cannot put out or that
could burn you.
4. Control your anger and your
reactions to people or situation.
Teach children/ teenagers to how
to control their anger by
controlling yours. Do not be part
of riots, looting or people who
destroy public peace. Defuse
tension around and about you. Be
a peace keeper and a peace
maker. Let the peace of Christ rule
in your hearts, since as members
of one body you were called to
peace (Colossians 3:15 NIV).
5. Teach your ward not to be violent.
Do not kill or injure people. There
is one thing God hates and that is
hands that are full of blood
(Proverbs 6:17). Even when Jesus
was provoked He did not open His
mouth.
6. Emphasis the importance of
forgiving people. Forgive people
who have offended you. Let your
children see your forgiving
actions.
7. The best thing is to do your civic
duty, that is voted and then to
leave the streets. There is a time
for everything. Teach your child to
do what is right then to walk
home not to do the wrong thing
and then have to run away.

In Conclusion: The opposite word of
love is hate. Run away from hatred.
Love people around you no matter
who they are. Chose not to be a liar.
Chose to love. Chose to teach how to
love. Chose to follow God’s Word.
Chose to teach your children and
teenagers not to become liars by
helping them love people around
them and thereby loving God. Jesus
says,If you love me, you will obey
what I command (John 14:15 NIV)
HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY