No Greater Joy

Have you noticed?  Each May in our churches we recognize Seniors who are graduating from high school, moving on in life.  Then have you noticed?  Have you noticed how 6 months to a year later the "Seniors", who are now college freshmen,  rarely attend church.  Studies show that we are losing the majority of teens raised in evangelical homes by the end of their freshman year of college!

Voddie Baucham says in his book "Family Driven Faith", "Our children are not falling away because the church is doing a poor job- although that is undoubtedly a factor.  Our children are falling away because we are asking the church to do what God designed for the family to accomplish".   You see, somewhere in history, many of us have fallen into the belief that the church has the responsibility of training our children in spiritual matters.  This is not the case...we do have a Biblical responsibility to train them before they leave home.  Parents may receive encouragement from the church, but the parents are intended by God to be the primary provider of spiritual direction and care.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NASB) says  “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gate."

As a mother, this tells me that I should do everything possible to teach my children about God and His Word.  As we go out to play in the morning, we can talk about all the beautiful things that God has made.  As we ride in the van, we engage in conversation about God or sing Christian songs.  As we make our lunches, we thank God for providing Daddy with a job so that we have food. As we get ready for bedtime, we honor God through  Family Bible Study Time which includes scripture, prayer, scripture memory, and songs.  I think you see the point.  For more ideas on family devotions, see this article from Above Rubies. As my children grow, I do feel that it is my responsibility to teach theology, doctrine, and apologetics.

Proverbs 22:15 says "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." Parents have the great responsibility to teach their children obedience and self-control.  Throughout life each person will answer to a figure of authority.  First, all people will and do answer to God Almighty.  Then as children we are obligated to obey our parents.  Colossians 3:20 says  "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord".  As adults, we have to obey a boss, the government, and other leaders.  We will always be under authority, and God knows that a child must learn this at an early age.  Nancy Campbell from Above Rubies says that discipline should take place for breaking one of the four D's:  Disobedience, Disrespect, Dishonesty, and Destructiveness.  Discipline and consistency allows a child to grow and thrive in a loving, safe environment.  Proverbs 3:12 (NASB) says "For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." 1 John 1:4 (NASB)  This my prayer for my young children, as they grow and develop into Christ-honoring adults!