As children of God, we have multiple responsibilities. One of the biggest is raising our own children. We’re in spiritual warfare, and the enemy is after our families. The stakes are high. We can look around and see parents that are losing the fight. When we use God’s Word to fight evil influences, we equip our children with the necessary tools to carry on with the fight long after we’re gone.
Parents are a child’s earliest and most influential teachers. We have a choice as to the values we impart to them, and using the Bible early and often sets us, and our kids, apart from the rest of the world. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). To be holy is to be set apart from the common world; God’s favor enables our children to live in the world without being corrupted or tainted by it. His grace flowing through us into them empowers us to parent in ways we never could through our own efforts.
In everyday life, there are plenty of opportunities to be afraid, but succumbing to fear limits our ability to teach our kids. Grace-based parenting requires full trust in Christ, so that we can move past fear-based reactions and be proactive in doing God’s will as parents. His perfect love strengthens the family unit and gives us the peace of mind we need. “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]” (1 John 4:18, AMPC).
We all want our children to turn out right, but the world’s standards are no good at teaching kids right from wrong. It’s up to us to teach them what they need to know, but we can’t trust our own limited intellect or imperfect knowledge. Using the Scriptures as our guide makes us better parents. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
If we’re tempted to compare them with other children, or compares ourselves with other parents, the Holy Spirit helps us resist that temptation. Our job is to guide and direct our children firmly yet lovingly, using biblical standards and depending on guidance from Him. “Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them” (Proverbs 19:18, MSG). Daily, we see the sad results of adults who were overindulged as children.
Discipline doesn’t mean being overly harsh, however. Good parenting takes into account each child’s individual temperaments and personalities, and adjusts accordingly. Being too heavy-handed simply provokes and discourages our children (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21).
God highly values families. He’s on our side when we’re training the next generation. When we depend on Him, we’ll never go wrong. The best way we can show our kids we love them is to stand on His Word every day.