When we found out we were expecting our first child, we were thrilled. Kerry’s excitement immediately turned to wanting to pick names and nursery decorations. My excitement immediately turned to an overwhelming weight that now I was responsible for a wife and a child! I finally told Kerry, “The Good Lord in His wisdom gave a baby 9 months to fully develop in the womb, and I think part of that was to give people like me a little time to digest the enormity of the trust placed upon me.”
We all want to provide for our children. But one of the great tragedies of our society is that many families nurture their children physically and socially, but not spiritually. There is a danger that parents may expect their children’s spiritual formation to be laid entirely by the few hours a week spent in worship, Bible class, or youth devotional-type activities. All of these are very important and spiritually valuable, but alone they do not attain the fullness of the spiritual environment that God expects.
God has always expected the HOME to be the main site of spiritual education and development for children. After a lengthy discussion of the commandments of God, we find this statement in Deuteronomy 6:6-7:
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Notice the repetition of the words “you” and “your” in this commandment. There is no room here for reliance on stand-in instructors or proxy-parenting. Use every opportunity as a moment to teach and apply spiritual truths to your children. Jesus spoke in parables to His disciples – He used everyday events and observations to teach them about the kingdom of God!
We are blessed at Graeber Road to have dedicated leaders serving our young people. We are blessed to have dedicated teachers to instruct our children in the truth of God’s word! But these should be added blessings that supplement the spiritual nourishment and training that is taking place in the conversations you have with your children each day as you sit, walk, lie down or rise up!
Make spiritual applications with your children. Set spiritual goals together and work together to reach those goals. We are praying for you! We are here to assist you! To God be the glory!
-J. Helbig
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