The most-asked question I hear from parents is, “How do we raise kids who will love Jesus in adulthood?” One mom in our church phrased it like this, “What is the secret sauce for raising kids who love Jesus?”
In our culture today, these are valid questions, and God left the blueprint for us in His Word.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8 says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them to your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates.”
As we seek to apply the principles of Deuteronomy 6 in our homes, here are four keys to instilling in children a love for the Lord at an early age.
Relationship
Deuteronomy 6 reminds parents that a spiritually vibrant home begins with their relationship with God. Kids notice the authenticity of their parents’ faith, which impacts the spiritual climate of the home.
Influence
Parents are the primary spiritual influencers in their child’s life. It may often seem easier to take our children to church and check off the box. Deuteronomy 6, however, reminds us that throughout our day we should be looking for opportunities to have conversations with our kids that point out how faith applies to everyday life and where God is at work.
Investing in your children’s spiritual lives now will leave a lasting impact on them as they grow older.
Reminders
Deuteronomy 6 points out the importance of having reminders of God’s Word around our home. Scripture passages placed around the home serve as reminders not only to our kids, but to parents as well.
Mission
A spiritually vibrant home is one that is on mission as a family in the world. As a family engages in reaching their neighborhood and community for Jesus, their kids have the opportunity to experience God at work through them, which is life changing. They begin to understand the purpose and mission for which they were created.
So how can we apply these keys in the home? Here are some simple ideas to get started.
Pick a theme for each month of the year. February’s theme could be love, June could be summer fun and August could focus on back to school. Find an activity, a Bible verse, a snack or anything similar that all relate to that theme and incorporate some or all of them into family activities that month.
Sometimes figuring all this out on your own can be overwhelming, but there are many resources online that can spark ideas through a simple internet search. No matter what route you choose to go, investing in your children’s spiritual lives now will leave a lasting impact on them as they grow older.
