And if it seems bad to you to serve the Lord, choose yourselves today whom you serve; whether to the gods whom your fathers served, when they were across the river or to the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
Joshua told Israel, "I cannot decide for you who you are going to serve, but I and my house will serve the Lord." How many parents can make the same statement today? As we watch the news, interact on social media, and read the letters that come home from school, we realize that our children face depravity that we never did.
How do we keep young people from porn when it is available on their phones? How do we keep our little ones pure when they live in a world where sinfulness is called good, and holiness is ridiculed? How do we teach our children to hate sin but love sinners?
My friends, we do it by being aggressively vigilant about what is going on in our homes. Children of God, your first responsibility as parents, is to be a line of defense for your family. As believers, we must say to the devil: "You will not touch our families. You will not do it on our watch."
Once your children grow up and leave home, all you can do for them is pray and offer wisdom when your children ask for it, but while they live under your roof, you need to instruct them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6 ). You need to read the Bible with them and inspire them to memorize it. The parts of the Bible I know by heart, I know it because my mother forced me to memorize them. Although I used to complain about having to do it, now I thank my mother for not getting tired of my complaints.
You need to defend your children as a lioness would defend her cubs. Pray with and for your children. Let them hear you interceding for them. Listening to my mom pray for me always put the fear of God in me. When someone invited me to do something "shady" when I was young, the first thing that came to mind was my mother's prayers. Don't leave your family's spiritual growth solely in the church's hands. The church can be your ally, but it should not be the only place where your children meet God.
We can't do much to change society, but we can influence our families. We can be attentive to what they see, hear and do. Children of God, do everything in your power to protect your family. God is faithful. If you do your part, God will do His, and you and your children will serve the Lord every day of your lives.
Comments