Face To FaithSample

What are you teaching your children? I want you to think carefully, because the real answer is probably not the first one that comes to mind.

The first answer you think of is a list of the most common things you say to your children or what you tell them during intentional times of teaching. Perhaps you take the time to sit down with your children and open up the Bible with them, studying together what God says.

But if you are like most families that I know, these intentional times of teaching are few and far between. And for those who do not intentionally teach, then the saying holds true that our children learn more from what is caught than what is taught. They learn more from our actions than from our words.

So let’s explore our actions today, and not just the ones you know you shouldn’t be doing—any closet over-drinking, ungodly relationships, secret addictions, anger issues, or just plain apathy toward God. Let’s explore the things you might not think of on your own, things that seem innocent and can be harmless enough, yet still have the potential to communicate a horrible lie—the lie that God can take second place in our lives.

I want you to think through a normal week. How do you spend your time? If you spend time in God’s Word or in prayer, do your children know about it? Do you ever invite them into your private relationship with God to teach them to have one of their own? Is all your time spent on activities or television? Do you race from one thing to another, never slowing down enough to talk about Jesus and invest in His work in each other’s lives?

Because the danger in our over-active lives is that we do a great job communicating that our children are important to us, yet accidentally teach through our demonstrated priorities that friendships or success in sports, academics, or arts is more important than hearts that wholly belong to God.

The eternal is forever, but these natural activities will end. Let’s make sure our priorities are straight so that our children understand what is truly and eternally important.

Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You are most important in my life! I’m sorry for any way in which I have failed to teach my children to have the same love for You that I have. Please help me to prioritize my life, both teaching and demonstrating what You mean to me so that You will mean as much and more to them.
Amen