Footing #5 - Conditions (for kids)

Raising your children to follow the Lord is NOT a small responsibility, in fact, it is the greatest responsibility a person has in regard to influence. You are a steward for God of the most precious gift. How will you handle this incredible opportunity? Thankfully, the Bible is filled with tremendous truths that can both safeguard your family and inspire them to impact others for the Kingdom of God! They are all centered around creating a “culture of lasting faith.” In other words, your kids will NOT grow to love God if he is simply a “part” of their lives; he needs to “drive” their lives. He needs to be Savior AND Lord of their lives. So, that means that you must be intentional in your raising of your kids to see this happen. It begins with spiritual repetitions – actions that remind your children on a regular basis of who God is, what he came to do, and what he expects from them. It continues with spiritual connections – actions that teach your children both accountability and purposeful direction. We all make mistakes. Let the mistakes that your kids make be “spiritual markers” in their lives where lessons are learned and paths are redirected. Finally, you must give your kids a spiritual example – someone who is faithful to God in private and public, passionate about the Gospel, and driven to live a holy life in front of his kids. The blessings are immense as long as we take the role of “parent” seriously. It’s time that the American church stops “scheduling” Jesus in their family and starts “serving” Jesus with their family. It’s time that the American church stops “going to church” with their family and starts “being the church” impacting their family. We cannot afford to allow everything else in our kids’ lives to take precedent over the priorities of the Gospel. Our children are watching what we value the most, and their futures are going to be shaped by our present obsessions. So, what’s it going to be dad and mom? Are you willing to intentionally raise your kids to love the Lord Jesus Christ? It must be more than simply “going to church” with them! They need intentional direction from you. They need a model of character and consistency to follow. They need timeless truths from God’s Word!