"What About Your Children?"

I would like to share a word to our parents with children at home. When Zacharias and Elizabeth had John, the people were astonished at his name because no one in the family ever had that name. The question arose: "What then will this child turn out to be?" (Luke 1:66) Well, he would be a Jew, wouldn't he? In most cases yes but in this case he was one to prepare the way for the Messiah.

Francis Xavier, a Catholic educator states: "Give me a child until he is seven, and anyone else can have him for the rest of the time." He trained children to be Catholic.

If I were to ask you, "What kind of child will your son/daughter turn out to be?" what would you say in response? "I don't know!"? Many have no expectations of their children in regard to their spiritual well being. The influence for the Lord many times is just not there. The world can have an effect on our children but the most profound effect is found in the home, or at least it should be.

Too many homes are mere fillings stations today. People come and go, passing one another in the kitchen from time to time, lives are filled with televisions and videos and it seems to be the same day in and day out. We need hands on attention from our parents. "A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tear it down with her own hands." (Prov. 14:1) When Joseph's brothers revealed their youngest brother was at home with their father, the brothers expressed to Joseph that the youngest ones life was bound up in the life of his father (Gen. 44:30). What a wonderful thought.

Parents work hard and sometimes over-extend themselves each week. Weekends are tied up with golf, fishing, hunting, sports, cleaning or shopping. Many children spend more time in day-care than they do with their own parents. I am not saying that having a safe, responsible place for our children to go during the week is bad but many parents seem to push away their responsibilities even further with all the entertainment, distractions and business. Titus speaks of young mothers loving their children, being workers at home and loving their husband "so that the word of God will not be dishonored." (Tit. 2:4-5) Father's are told to bring up their children in the instruction and discipline of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). What's the point? The home, the family is where the attention should be and the home should be focused on serving the Lord.

Samuel's training started as soon as he was weaned! Josiah was taught to seek the Lord as a little boy (II Chron. 34). The psalmist learned to trust God and walk with God from his youth (Psa. 71). Jesus was about His Father's business from his childhood (Luke 2). Just "going to church" will not train your children in the ways of the Lord. Time and effort spent, teaching and instructing from a father and mother, teaching their children to love the Lord, follow His ways from their 'babyhood' is what is needed. Too many are teaching their children the ways of the world and not the ways of the Lord. Pause and take note of what you are doing with your children. Let me ask you, "What kind of son/daughter will your child turn out to be?"