A gift that you cannot buy

How can you give the gift of God’s Word to your children? The best way to present the gift of the Word of Christ to your children is to have that Word dwell richly within you.  A full, energetic relationship with Christ through his Word dwelling in your life is a magnificent gift to your children. It is also an essential gift. Only this will make you a biblical shepherd who is practical, caring and responsive to your children.  Shepherding your child’s heart is an awesome and fearful task, but it is the task God has given you. Attempting this task without Christ’s Word richly living within you will only lead to frustration, both for you and for your children.

Perhaps the most valuable gift you can give to your children is to do a personal evaluation of just how precious the Word of Christ is to you.  Are you thrilled to open your Bible?  Seriously, how much time is given in your life to knowing God’s Word so that you will be able to be a faithful shepherd to your family?  This means that your children will consider themselves to be adorned by your words.  

Simply confronting behavior doesn’t require much time in the Scriptures. But if your intention is to address the heart biblically, only the Word of Christ will do. When there is a problem with your children, what are you looking for? A solution to calm things down — or are you looking to see how you can apply the Word of Christ to bind the relational wounds that your children both inflict and receive?

How special is knowing the Word of Christ to you?  How much do you rely on this Word as you shepherd you children? Remember, you are always a shepherd to your children. Some days you may not be an especially good one, but you are always a shepherd nonetheless. Your children always need your shepherding care.  The most important component of that care is to have the word of your own shepherd, the Great Shepherd, dwelling richly within.