You probably had some chores when you were a child.
Those might have gotten done more quickly and better if your parents just did those tasks themselves. They knew, though, that giving you responsibilities would help you in the long run.
Chores – those repeated tasks that may seem mundane – benefit the surroundings and the worker.
Let’s say you’re assigning your child the chore of putting away the silverware or emptying the trash baskets. First, you demonstrate how the task is done well. Then, you teach the task and do it with your child. Eventually, you let your child do it on his or her own. Little by little your child will become skilled at what you took time to teach.
You have given a gift of responsibility.
Does the idea of teaching your children about God seem a little like a chore – one more thing to add to an already busy day?
As Christian parents, we are to not only equip our children for life, but for eternal life.
This includes nurturing our children to be, by God’s grace, hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:1-17).
Are we laying the foundation to raise our children in faith?
Do our children see the fruit of our own communion with Christ – the work of the Holy Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22-23)? We can teach them about how own our faith grows through praying (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), reading God’s Word (Psalm 119:105), discussing God’s truths (Colossians 3:16), and putting God’s ways into practice (James 1:22). Our children can hear about God’s ways in our conversations about the day’s events, concerns, or plans. By God’s grace, we can model this with joy, peace, and hope (Romans 15:13). In times of weakness, we might present this with impatience or a lack of zeal, but we serve a loving, merciful God who works in spite of us, in us, and through us.
Is it on our minds to help our children learn about God, serve him, and know him through Jesus?
The ways of God – broadly, historically, and personally – need to be passed down through the generations so they are not forgotten and so God is not cast aside (Psalm 78:1-8).
When we raise our children in the Lord, we are helping them learn responsibility for growing their faith. Practicing daily spiritual disciplines, such as meaningful Bible reading and prayer, will develop in them discernment as the culture tries to entice them away from God (James 4:7). They will be learning how to “turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14 NIV, letter T in Do LAPS!).
Choosing materials to guide faith discussions and Bible readings – in an age appropriate and engaging way – is important. That’s why families use the Do LAPS! Heart Training books. They offer impactful and easy-to-follow daily Bible lessons for parents to do with their children, modeling the value of relationship with God.
Let’s parent in faith and teach responsibility to grow in faith.
Read reviews of how the Do LAPS! books have helped other families!