1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
Let’s face it:
Raising children may limit your social activities.
It will require going against the popular culture.
It may affect your bank account.
It will cut into your time tremendously.
It may limit your material possessions.
It may limit your ability to pursue some of your dreams.
PARENTING IS YOUR PRIMARY JOB . . . AND YOUR PRIMARY JOY!
James Dobson’s dad was a traveling evangelist with a slate booked for three years in advance. While away from home his wife called and said she needed help with the young teen James. Apparently, they had discussed this before. He closed his meetings in that town, came home, cancelled his bookings, and took a church as pastor so that he could be home with his teenaged son. Financially, it cost them tremendously, but James saw his own dad make him a priority; he focused on the family. Young James is now the founder and leader of the foremost family-based organization in the world, Focus on the Family.
Get this picture:
He saw his dad sacrifice for him.
He saw value in the home and family.
It shaped his own purpose.
It affected his view of the next generation, and
today he affects families throughout the world.
You lay down your lives for your children every day. Your sacrifices send a message to your children about the importance of the family. You walk it out, you demonstrate this day by day. You work through disagreements and struggles because you believe in a God-given future. That is your faith in operation.
As you do this, you create a background for children to grow up joyfully and securely. Do the kids realize it? Of course not. But they benefit from it. Faithful parents are weaving a fabric of culture that quietly builds the foundation for the lives of their children. Although we do not know what the future will be like, we do know that we can give our children the kind of foundation that prepares them for anything.
This is how God works, and He loves it when you do this for your children. In truth sacrifice is God-like, it is heroic. Moment after moment, day after day, month after month, year after year, you make the sacrifices that build lives, homes, culture, the very fabric of healthy society.
This is where God’s truth is learned, lived out, imitated, passed on. . . IN YOUR HOME!
1 Corinthians 15: 58
Therefore, my dear brothers (and sisters), stand firm.
Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know
that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Be engaged with your kids.
Play the games.
Attend their sports events.
Teach them how to cook or how to change a tire.
Listen, listen, and listen some more.
Your greatest ministry is in your home.
