FEEDING ON THE WORD OF GOD – PART II

Posted by Pastor Brown on May 14, 2011

Last month I wrote an article in the Pulse that encouraged parents to step forward and take action in training their children in the Word of God. I noted that parents don’t let their kids make unhealthy decisions for themselves in regard to their mental or physical health. Instead, good parents step in and mandate what needs to be done to keep their children healthy and safe. I exhorted parents to treat their children’s spiritual lives with the same, if not more, kind of critical care. The bottom line was that parents need to force their young ones to come to church, Sunday School, and youth group.
I do hope, however, that it wouldn’t have to come to forcing young ones to come to church. One way to instill it in their lives and help to make it a desirable activity is if they witness mom and dad exuding a healthy and happy faith life both at home and in the church. If mom and dad make church a priority, kids will see the importance of regular spiritual encouragement and strengthening. If mom and dad make Sunday School and Bible Study a integral piece of their life within the church, kids will see the importance of growing in a greater understanding of God’s holy Word. If mom and dad make service to the church (with both time and finances) part of their regular routine, kids will see the importance of getting involved (youth group) and sharing in the community of God. If mom and dad make family and private prayer time a necessity, kids will learn that there is no real life without being regularly connected to God. Think of 1 Corinthians 11:1 as Paul said, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” Also consider Titus 2:7, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.”
And yet, your ultimate goal is not simply to get them involved for the sake of keeping busy or even to just immerse them deeply into the institution of the church to perpetuate its existence. Instead, we have the very best in mind for our children. Our efforts are there to set for them an example as Christ set an example for His church (1 Peter 2:21) and to model a healthy Christian life so they will not stray from the path when they get old (Proverbs 22:6). We want to show our kids what it is like to live out our faith and become recipients of God’s grace which is given to us by the Holy Spirit and found solely in the arms of Jesus Christ, the one who sacrificed His very self that we might be His own. With this our children will be well on their way to being rooted in the faith and having their lives securely built upon the strong foundation (Ephesians 2:20) of that which is most important for their spiritual health.