I saw a beautiful picture on Facebook that caught my attention. It was an adorable blessing from above, all bundled up and dreaming of warm milk! What made me stop and take notice even further was the quote around the baby. It said, “Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise.” If God has blessed you with little ones, please take a few minutes and consider some thoughts from a Mom whose babies are all grown up now.

First of all, be the Christian you want your children to grow up to be.

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Think of yourself as a construction worker. You are “building” a child, one block at a time. The foundations you make time to set now, will be the very core of how your child sees life as a whole. Be a wise builder (Matthew 7:24) whose children see that your Rock will never falter, and has a place prepared for His saints. Let them see the excitement in you that you have been given the gift of eternal life, and that you want to share it with everyone around you! A spirit of evangelizing is contagious, and they will imitate what they see in you. As soon as they can talk, they too can tell of the wonders of God. Let them see your faith in action. Your children should see you pray, they should see you serving, they should hear you talking

Let them see your faith in action. Your children should see you pray, they should see you serving, they should hear you talking of the Judgement Day, and wanting others to know that there is One who will vouch for us on that day. Titus 3:8b reminds us, “…so that those who believed in God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.” If we want to make warriors for the Kingdom, then our focus needs to be on that Kingdom, not on all the distractions of this world. Use these early years as training years in the only Book that matters. We teach them the stories of the Bible, so

Use these early years as training years in the only Book that matters.

We teach them the stories of the Bible, so they in turn can teach others, and most importantly, their future children. Start a family habit of knowing the Bible inside and out. When we encounter those who have no hope, we tell them of Job. When they feel they are all alone, we will read Psalm 23 with them. Our children should see us counsel with the stories of the Scriptures, and they, in turn will grow to find solace in the pages of this marvelous Book, and do the same.

Show your children that your family is one that looks at people and sees them as souls that will live on forever.

You take the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) very seriously, and when you ask families into your home, it is not simply to share a meal, but you are concerned where they will spend eternity. Your children need to hear you talk about your love for the lost, and helping others to come to the knowledge of the Truth.

Next, keep focused on what truly matters.

I don’t intend to “step on toes” here, but we all need reminders from time to time. We have unending access to the virtual world with a smart phone in every hand, but your children won’t stop growing while you are looking down at your phone. Social skills are being lost, as all heads are absorbed in whatever is on their phone. The world around us is lost, and we cannot reach out to them if we first don’t even make eye contact with them! Our kids will see if the next “post” is more important than one- on- one interaction. Our priority should be to make our days profitable for God. “Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) Invite neighbors to church, or to your next Gospel Meeting, and encourage your children to ask their friends to come to your next Vacation Bible School. Your family should work together at evangelizing.

Several studies from Apologetics Press, Think Magazine, and other Christian publications point out the fact that we are losing our children to the world as they go off to college, so let’s work to combat those statistics. We are told, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) As mothers, let’s make sure those early years are filled with teaching opportunities.

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A child raised in the truths of God, will in turn, raise his child in those same truths. A child that lives in an evangelizing home, will most likely grow to imitate those ways also. Let us have a resolve in our hearts like Hannah did in 1 Samuel chapter 1. Remember her words to the priest Eli? “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28) Hannah used her time with her son as training him that he would be a servant of God all his life. Pray that God will give you a resolve like Hannah, to use your time wisely.

Evangelism begins in our homes.

 

by Robin Martin

Robin and her husband, Randy, work with the Lord’s church in Rosemount, Minnesota. They are blessed to have 7 children and 10 grandchildren. She is ever grateful for the grace of God and His undying love.