Sacrifice

The greatest example of selfless sacrifice and not making an idol of our children is seen in God sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, to earth.

Ponder this for a minute: Jesus was sent knowing He would be put to death, yet He was still obedient to the call because He knew that He was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. This act of love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith and demonstrates the priority of God’s plan for salvation over any earthly attachment.

If we are to be parents on fire for Christ and doing all we can to point our children to come to know Him as their Savior, this has to be a crystal clear area of their spiritual development. Our goal is to create disciples in our homes, not idols. Here are three areas to consider in fulfilling your God-given parental duty that can lead to incredible results:

1. Consistency: For children to believe something, consistency in messaging is crucial. They need to hear the same message repeatedly, over time from trusted sources (parents, teachers, caregivers). Using the Bible as part of daily engagements will put the consistent source of Truth in front of them on a regular basis.
2. Modeling: Children are more likely to believe and internalize messages when they see consistent behavior that aligns with those messages from influential adults in their lives. Remembering that more is caught than taught is key. Children pay far more attention to the actions you take versus the words you use. If being a disciple of Christ is important to you, then that should be observable by the children you are leading.
3. Context and Reinforcement: Providing a context for the information and reinforcing it through real-life examples, stories, and positive reinforcement can help children not only remember but also believe and internalize the information. This is where being able to simplify and apply God’s Word to their level of comprehension is crucial. It can take time to master this skill, however, with intentionality and discernment, parents can be equipped to provide much-needed, understandable context and reinforcement during important child development years.

At the end of the day, a relationship with God provides a more profound sense of purpose and meaning than our children's accolades. Being made in the image of God, our true purpose is to reflect His glory and honor Him in all aspects of our lives. This includes parenting, where we are called to be stewards, guiding our children toward their own relationship with God.

By keeping our focus on God, we can avoid the pitfalls of idolizing our children. Instead, we raise them with the understanding that their ultimate purpose is to glorify God. This perspective helps us remove idols from our lives and ensures that our priorities align with our faith. Like Abraham, Hannah, and ultimately, God Himself, we learn that our children are gifts from God, meant to serve His purposes. In doing so, we find true meaning and fulfillment in our relationship with Him.

Questions to Consider

1. What practical steps can you take to integrate the Bible and its teachings into your family's daily routine to reinforce the message of God's love and salvation?
2. What strategies can you use to simplify and apply God’s Word to your children's level of understanding, ensuring it is relevant and meaningful to them?

Thank You

We hope you enjoyed this devotional. For more resources to help you become the leader God intends you to be, visit https://thelionwithin.us.