But as for me and my household..

by Tedd and Margy Tripp

Here are two more goals of formative instruction from Chapter 2 of Instructing a Child’s Heart. These goals validate your walk before God as authentic and thus offer your children a vibrant alternative to the deceitfulness of the surrounding culture.  Your mission as a parent must start here. 

From Chapter 2:

Model Spiritual Vitality for Our Children

The surest way to teach children to apply God’s truth to life’s circumstances is to model it for them. Parenting that exhibits a vital relationship with God in all the joys and storms of life is irresistible to children and young people. Conversely, the surest way to harden our children’s hearts to God and his ways is “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:5).

Our homes are the laboratory of life for our children. They will believe that Christian faith is the genuine article if we know God—not just know about God. As children grow to young adulthood in our churches, they are searching desperately for a faith that has the warmth and vitality of close relationship with the living God, and the sure footing of sound doctrine that will stand the storms of life. Relationship with God is the passionate assurance that the Sovereign God of the Bible can be known by his people in all the experiences of life. Our relationship with God will beckon our children to draw near to him as their source of comfort and rest.

Grow into a Mature Relationship with Your Children

Strive to grow into a mutual relationship of living and working together for Christ’s kingdom. The Christian life is lived in a community. Throughout redemptive history God’s people have witnessed God’s awesome deeds and gloried together in his protection and provision. Future generations are also in view. We must have the same sense of expectation as we talk of God’s faithfulness and provision for our physical family and our spiritual family—that we will work together to proclaim Christ’s kingdom until he comes. Joshua declares this expectation in chapter 24:15, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

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Shepherd Press