Many times as adults, we forget that this world is not our home. We are here for very short time and we need to make the best of the time we have. We need to be striving for eternal significance, not temporary gain. Our lives should be focused on God's plans for our lives, and not worry about man's. We are to preach the gospel, and love those who are not so lovely. Our goal is to teach the love and grace of our Heavenly Father where ever we go. Jesus gave us a great commission in Matthew 28:18-20 ~ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
How well are we carrying out the command given by Jesus? Are we bringing up our children to be soldiers for Christ? Do they know that this world is just our temporary home? Do they see us striving to bring others to Christ? Do they see that Jesus is our firm foundation and that without Him our lives would come crumbling down? Do they see the importance of the eternal over the temporary things of this world?
In order to give our children the right atmosphere that points them to Christ and ultimately allows them to point others to Jesus, we must have a godly home. The setting for a godly home needs to be consistent in teaching the Word of God. What we teach our children today, will be in their thoughts tomorrow. When we read to them from the Word, they are absorbing more than we realize. My children know things that I didn't realize they were really paying attention to. Even if they seem squirmy or inattentive, they are hearing you.
We have a huge responsibility as parents. We are required to teach our children what the Lord expects from them. Our number one job as a mom and dad is to guide our children to God in a way that will last a lifetime. We don't want to force religion on them, instead we want them to cultivate a real relationship with Jesus.
How many times do you sit down with your children and just read to them from the Word? If we did this more often, we would see a change in our households. Lives would be changed day by day. Our kids would see the love, compassion, and grace of their Father in Heaven. They would hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Have you ever been appalled by things your children say or do? Have you really thought about what you allow into your homes via television, video games, music or computer media??? It effects them even when we don't see it right away, just as reading the Bible effects them long term. We must be very careful what we allow our children to see, hear, and do. They need our gentle guidance each day. They actually crave our instruction.
Today I encourage you to look through what you have in your homes. Are they pleasing to the Lord? Would you sit down and watch those shows with Jesus? In Philippians 4:8, we read this: "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." This should be our test of what we see, think, do and hear.
Be mindful to realize what we sow today, we will reap tomorrow. If we sow the Word into the hearts and lives our children we will see a harvest. They will be able to sow into the lives of others. They will understand that the things of this world will pass away, but the lives they lead to Christ will live eternally with their Heavenly Father. We will live lives that please the Lord.
