FocusOnTheFamily

Evangelism begins at home

Written by Gary Thomas

The deeply troubled boy proved too difficult for the disciples to handle. His father appealed directly to Jesus: “Can you help me?”

Jesus replied, “Bring the boy to me” (Mark 9:19).

That is what we are called to do as parents: bring our children to Jesus.

If my goal is simply to raise “happy” children, I’ll buy them whatever they want instead of teaching them to be responsible with money. If my goal is to have “successful” children, I will spare no expense helping them to rise above others – they’ll get the best coaching, the best equipment, maybe even the services of a sports psychologist.

But Christian parenting calls us to a much different purpose and motivation: raising servants of God. Malachi tells us that God’s passion for marriage is rooted at least in part in our children’s spiritual welfare: “Has not the LORD made them one? . . .  And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring” (Malachi 2:15).

When I seek to raise children for God’s glory, I’ll be willing to face the difficult realities of training, encouraging, praying, and the like, because I know there’s no more important use of my time. Martin Luther wrote, “But the greatest good in married life, that which makes all suffering and labour worthwhile, is that God grants offspring and commands that they be brought up to worship and serve Him. In all the world this is the noblest and most precious work, because to God there can be nothing dearer than the salvation of souls.”

What is the grand scheme behind your family? What will motivate you to train and instruct your children instead of ignoring something because you’re too tired, too distracted, or too fearful to address it? What greater end will fuel your efforts?

Some children will follow eagerly. Others will overwhelm us with their resistance. But our ultimate aim must be Jesus’ command: “Bring the boy to me.”

Lord, refine my motivations, purify my actions, and energize my heart so that I do all that I can to help my children find their greatest joy in serving you.

Gary Thomas is a writer and the founder and director of the Center for Evangelical Spirituality, a writing and speaking ministry, that integrates Scripture, church history and the Christian classics.

To purchase his book Sacred Parenting, click here.

© 2008 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.