"Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23
I once overheard someone make the comment that they felt their child had a better chance of staying out of trouble when they become a teenager because they go to church regularly and participate in church activities. While there might be some truth to that, I wanted so badly to interject and tell them that the church is not capable of fulfilling that great of a task!
One of the most disheartening parts of ministry is seeing Christians who don't bring Jesus home with them. They talk about Jesus at church, they might even teach Sunday School or serve in a leadership role, yet you'll never hear Christ's name mentioned within the walls of their home.
Many children grow up never hearing a parent pray for them, with them, or over them. Many children grow up seeing mom and dad open their Bibles in church, yet never even take it out of the car on Sunday so they can open it for personal Bible study during the week. Unfortunately, many children grow up with two different sets of parents: the ones at church and the ones at home.
Jesus stated in the Gospel of John that when someone chooses to become one of His followers, then He and His Father will make a home with them. I realize Jesus was referring to taking up residence in a person's heart, but I don't think it's a far stretch to suggest that He desires to abide in our actual homes as well.
One of every parent's greatest responsibilities, and also their greatest privilege, is to guide their children's hearts to Jesus. Once their children make a choice to follow Him, we then get the great opportunity to become an active part of helping them grow in their spiritual walk with Christ. We can't sit back and relax whenever a child accepts Christ . . . our job is only beginning then!
Moses very plainly instructed the children of Israel to make the things of God a part of every facet of their lives. He said:
"Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deut. 11:19
Christ shouldn't just be welcome in our homes, He should occupy the very center of our homes! Our children should also have no doubt that Christ occupies the very center of each of our lives.
So, while the church plays a vital role in the spiritual formation of children and adults alike, it can't be held responsible for instilling each and every bit of spiritual guidance that we all need. Our homes should be a sanctuary where God can speak to us. They should be a classroom where we can grow in our knowledge of God. And they should have an altar where prayer is a personal and a family activity.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is Christ welcome in your home?
- Do your children get the privilege of hearing you pray for them and over them?
- Do you play an active part in guiding your children in the ways of the Lord?
If you've been leaving the spiritual formation of your children up to your local church, make today the day that you take back those reins! Welcome Christ into your home! Let your children hear you speak His Name, let them see you live out His Word, and may you all feel His presence within the walls of your home.
This is one area of my children's upbringing I wish I could do over. They were always in church and I feel we gave them good examples of the proper way to live - not to cheat anyone, to be responsible, to love each other, to work hard, etc. We could have been better at family devotions and family prayer time. They are great people and I have only God to thank for that because I could have been better in some areas.
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