Actually, Children Do With Come With Instructions

Sigh: “It would be nice if kids came with instructions, but you have to kind of figure it out as you go.”

While that’s a common sentiment, the truth is that kids do come with instructions.  The instruction manual is the Bible.  God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed with the awesome responsibility of raising our children.  And he certainly doesn’t want our kids stumbling their way through life because they don’t have a clear understanding of who they are, who God is, what is important in life, or what is right and wrong.  He doesn’t want them to end up in hell for lack of guidance.  He wants them to know and firmly believe that his Son Jesus is their Savior and end up with him in heaven- which is why he gave us his word.

So if you have a Bible, you have the instruction manual for raising your children.  And you, even more so than your church, are the primary teachers of the manual.  God says so!

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” (Proverbs 1:8)

I spoke with an elderly woman today whose faith shines brightly in her cheerfulness, kindness, and love for God’s Word.  She lights up when she talks about Jesus, especially now that she has entered hospice care.  She told me today with a smile that she knows she is reaching the end of her life.  But she is certain that she is going to heaven because Jesus died for her sins and rose again.  I want my children to be like that when they are her age.  Come to think of it, I want them to be like that right now!  What will produce such faith and joy and hope and love?   The word of God that I am called to teach them and that is to shape my parenting.

So what is job 1 for us Christian parents?  It is getting to know God’s word better and better so we know what to teach and how to raise our kids according to the instructions of God’s word.  It is absorbing the word of God for the strengthening of our own faith in Jesus because only faith can move us to want to be godly parents and raise godly children for his glory.

So I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to regularly read the Bible, participate in a Bible Class at church, and hear the word in worship services.  For in the word of God we find full forgiveness for where we have fallen short as parents, flawless guidance for what to do, and power to do what is right for the good of our children and for the glory of the Savior who loves them even more than we do.