As I go through each day walking hand in hand with my six daughters, watching as they grow into the young ladies that God created them to be, I realize that the one thing that is vital to being a successful homemaker is something that is out of my power to give.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ~Mt.16:26
There is no benefit in nourishing food, beautiful surroundings or graceful manners if it ends in an eternity apart from God.
While it is not within our power to save our child’s soul or to hand them a relationship with Christ, that does not mean that parents have no responsibility. It’s a paradox of sorts.
We are commanded to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4) and to teach them all that God has commanded (Deuteronomy 6:4-7) beginning with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) while trusting in the grace of God and the work of His Holy Spirit to accomplish what we can not.
Salvation, relationship with Christ is a gift of God’s free grace that is in no way merited nor earned.
What is our responsibility? What practical things can parents do to begin to fulfill our duty to point our children toward relationship with Christ?
In our home each of the adults and all children who are able to read, even beginning readers, spend individual time reading the Bible daily. Those who are unable to read listen to God’s Word being read.
By the time our children are fluent readers they read through their Bible four times each year (We use this schedule).
In addition to this individual reading, we read the Bible corporately both morning and evening and we begin each ‘school’ day by reading God’s Word.
We encourage our children to come before the Lord in prayer both publicly (before meals, naps, bedtime, and during family worship) and privately (during their time of morning Bible reading and before bed at night). We seek to remind them to pray about everything; every decision, every need. When the little ones fall we thank God for His protection and ask Him to heal their boo boo. When the bigger ones have a request we encourage them to ask the the one who can give them all they need.
We pray that God will teach us to pray and that we will understand the privilege of being able to come into the very presence of God.
Hiding God’s Word in our children’s (and our) hearts is another important way we can encourage relationship. Our family uses this system each morning after family worship to memorize new Scripture and to review what we’ve already learned.
We also memorize Scripture through music. Jamie Soles has two albums of Psalms set to music, Ascending (Psalm 120-134) and Pure Words (Psalm 1-16). We’ve also used the Sing the Word CDs by The Harrow Family as well as our church’s Psalter to learn Scripture through song.
Each morning and evening, Mark takes time to sit down with our family and give us instruction from God’s Word. He reads a portion of the Bible, then teaches from it and applies it to our lives. We finish by having a time of prayer and singing.
Sometimes we work through a Bible study book.
Need I say more? It is important to be part of a church family. It is within this family that our children are able to practice their service to others.
We learn to serve God by first serving others.
But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. ~Luke 22:26-27
In contrast with the world, Christians are called to serve. We are called to take the least desirable tasks (Jesus washed the feet of his disciples), we should not be devoted to receiving recognition, but devoted to serving those in need. Once we begin to open our eyes to those around us, the needs are so vast and so great that we can not possibly meet them all, but we can begin.
Are we teaching our children how to love and serve others or are we teaching them that they don’t have time because right now their education, competition, sports, etc. is more important? The need is great and there are so few who take the time to serve, that even within our churches there are people struggling with no one willing to step in and help.
Our girls can and should learn to serve by helping in their own home, but they can be a tremendous blessing to others if they are also willing to serve in other homes.
Beginning at 10 or 11 our girls spend time regularly in the homes of others helping to cook, clean and take care of children for young moms or serving as a companion and helper to the elderly. We pray that they are learning to be the hands and feet of Christ.
While the one thing that we most desire for our children is something that we can not give to them, we can seek to obey God in how He commands us to raise and educate our children.
We obey out of our love for Him and we storm the gates of heaven begging that He will grant that our children would love Him also, that He would bestow His free gift of Salvation on our precious little ones. Then we trust, knowing that He will accomplish His perfect will.
Photo credit Morningstar1369
