Have you ever considered the significance of fostering faithful families who follow Jesus? If you are a parent or about to become one, you have many dreams for your child. Remember the Lord also has plans for your child. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. [1]
While we want our child to grow up and succeed in the world, the Lord’s primary concern is that your child becomes a person who has faith in Jesus as their Savior. No matter what we achieve in life, it is insignificant compared to becoming a child of God.
The Apostle Paul began life as an unbeliever until the Lord intervened, providing him with remarkable insight. Philippians 3:8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.[2] When we nurture children in the faith, we take the first step that opens a child’s heart to the good news of Jesus.
God’s Plans for the Children of Abraham
As the Lord prepares to visit Abraham, He converses with two angels who accompany Him. In this conversation, the Lord reveals the significance of a godly parent. Genesis 18:19 I have singled Abraham out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.[3]
To be a godly influence, we must walk the walk, as our most significant impact comes from our own lives. Only in God’s strength can we be the spiritual influence the Lord desires us to be. The children of Abraham would become the Jewish people and be the family from which God the Savior would be born. The words spoken by the Lord to Abraham would come true through Jesus. Genesis 12:3All the families on earth will be blessed through you.[4] As we allow the Lord to guide our lives, we will influence countless generations by our godly example.
Parenting Godly Children
Parenting can genuinely feel like navigating uncharted waters, even if you have more than one child. When our first child was born, I wished my mother were there because I felt so inadequate. Childrearing is a journey marked by joys, challenges, and numerous lessons learned along the way. When we think we have parenting figured out, the next child is entirely different.
As Christian parents, we hold both the responsibility and the privilege of not just raising our children but also guiding them to the love and truth of Christ. In the busy whirlwind of daily life, remember that the Lord will help you raise a godly family as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives.
To learn more about fostering faithful families, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/interceding-like-abraham
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.