A Parent's Delight
The most necessary thing as a Christian parent is the Christian parent’s own life in Christ. That may seem simplistic, but it is fundamental. As Christian parents, our own lives need to be marked by godliness. Godliness manifests itself in various ways, but one of the chief ways is a love for God’s Word. It is a blessed child who is raised by parents who know and treasure Christ according to His Word. A godly mother or father steeped in God’s truth is an effective instrument in the hands of God.
For starters, we can only share what we possess. Christian parents who know little of Christ will have little of Christ to share with their children. Christian parents who delight little in Christ will instill little delight in their children. Christian parents who speak little of Christ will have children who speak little of Christ. Our children are sponges; their little souls are inclined to soak up what floods forth from our lives. As we delight in Christ’s Word and manifest that delight to our children, they take note.
In addition, as we think about ministering to our children, it is the Scriptures that give us the wisdom and the means to do so. Of course, we will never do so perfectly, but if we would seek to do so well, our lives must be filled with the Scriptures. The Word is how we are made wise unto salvation and how we accomplish ministry for the good of those around us, including our children.
Lois and Eunice serve as two great examples of this in the Scriptures. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul says to Timothy, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” What a lineage! Here were two women of the Word; women who loved the Bible and made sure to bathe their son and grandson in this truth. Talk about a godly example.
Never underestimate the role godly parenting can and does play in the kingdom. Lois and Eunice rightly understood that the greatest gift they could give to the son and grandson they loved was the greatest gift that they themselves received—eternal truth. And just think about the impact their sharing the faith of the Scriptures with Timothy had upon the world.
Dear Christian parent, grow in your knowledge of the Word. Your children need you to do so. I know the mornings can be hectic, the days full, and the demands unceasing. But by God’s grace, do not allow all the duties of the day to encroach upon the most needful duty of the day—your own seeking of Christ. Pursue the Lord in His Word every day for the good of your own soul and the souls of your children. Let it shape your conversations and discussions, inform your activities and goals, and motivate your living and working. This is our tool, because it is His tool. This is our means of doing ministry, because it is His means of doing ministry—both in us and through us.