According to a survey of more than 5000 parents in 16 countries by the investment bank HSBC, the main thing parents want for their children is happiness. Parents also want their children to become successful, be safe, embrace a healthy lifestyle, be responsible, and have a great career.
What do you want for your child or children?
Do you want what God wants? Are you parenting with the end in mind?
God wants children to come to Him (cf. Matthew 19:14). If God wants children to come to Him, then the main thing Christian parents should want for their children is a vibrant relationship with Jesus.
The main thing Christian parents should want for their children is a vibrant relationship with Jesus. Click To TweetConsider this verse: “Jesus Christ … gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” Titus 2:13-14.
Note the phrase, “that are his very own.” Jesus wants children who are exclusively His – children who will give Him their entire allegiance and wholeheartedly follow Him. In other words, Jesus wants children to be completely loyal to Him (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:35), and for that to happen they have to be unattached to the things of the world (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:30-31).
Can children give themselves fully and unreservedly to Jesus? Yes and no. While God isn’t limited in empowering children to live for Him, it usually takes a lifetime for someone to learn how to do it.
So how do you parent children with the end in mind?
Your primary parenting task is to help children be exclusively devoted to Jesus and fully committed citizens in His kingdom. Click To Tweet- Remember that your primary parenting task is to help children be exclusively devoted to Jesus and fully committed citizens in His kingdom.
- Don’t profess to your children what you don’t possess. Turn your back on godless, self-indulgent routines, and pursue a lifestyle that’s Jesus-filled and Jesus-honouring.
- Recognize that you and your children can’t be dedicated to Jesus in your own strength. You must ask God to fill you with His Spirit (cf. Ephesians 5:18).
- Rely totally on Jesus’ grace and mercy. Being exclusively devoted to Jesus is an inside job that only Jesus can do.
- Regularly and actively, engage with the Bible and pray. Bible engagement and prayer don’t happen ad hoc. You must teach, model and encourage these disciplines (cf. Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
- Be mindful of the fact that children are great imitators. So imitate Jesus so they’ll imitate you.
- Be patient. It’s unlikely that your children will be exclusively devoted to Jesus in a week, a month, or a year. It’s a process.
- Stay focused on the end goal. If there’s no struggle, there’s no progress. As your children grow in their devotion to Jesus, they may encounter setbacks.
- Be intentional. You have 936 weeks to do what needs to be done! Don’t squander the time. What are you doing this week to connect your children with Jesus and His Story?
- Don’t give up. Jesus wants your children to live for Him more than you want them to live for Him. Therefore, fix your “eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” Hebrews 12:2.
Make the most of the role God’s given you.
God hand-picked your child(ren) for your family. Click To TweetYour role and responsibilities as a parent are commissioned by God. In God’s economy, it’s not an accident that you’re your child’s dad or mom. God hand-picked your child(ren) for your family. He’s chosen you to care for them and teach them His Word. Your child is more than your progeny – he/she is your protégé. So parent with the end in mind. Share everything with your child(ren) that you know about loving and living for Jesus.
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© Scripture Union, 2020
Lawson read this. Extremely good.
Very good reminders! Hopefully (prayerfully) the current crisis will give parents the opportunity to practice home discipleship. These are good things to keep in mind as we do this.
Failure in examinations or businesses are not real failures but failing to properly parent your child is a colossal failure.
Good Nine point check list for parents.
Judges 2:10 is a stark reminder for parents to take parenting with the end – raising a godly generation- in mind.
Jacob & Rani
Family Life Educators
Scripture Union India
Very true! Excellent article. Love how the Holy Spirit speaks through you Dr. Lawson.
Our passion for Jesus is a mystery to our children at first, but as they watch us, they want it too. As we share the Word with them, as the Spirit leads, more is caught than taught.