If you want to lead your kids to the promised land, follow the timeless advice of Moses to parents and grandparents. The first principle is simple: put God first.
- Standing at the edge of the promised land, Moses gave a speech specifically for parents and grandparents (pretty incredible)
- We’ll get to his words soon enough, but first let’s define the “parenting promised land” (goal of every Christian parent) - to raise healthy kids who leave the home and love Jesus on their own.
- We meet too many parents who grieve over the decisions of their kids - and it’s getting harder than ever to parent. So this goes out to parents with young children at home - you can do this, but start early!!!
Parenting Principle
Parenting is like everything else in life: if you put God first, the rest of it falls into place. That’s why our first Parenting Principle is: put God first.
Before you can teach your kids about God, you need to know Him yourself. Where does God fall in your list of priorities?
Deuteronomy 5:7-21,33 7 “You must not have any other god but me. 8 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 10 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those[b] who love me and obey my commands.
What “idols” do you have?
What drives us to spend so much time and money on sports? Is it for our own egos? What about that recreational vehicle or costly trips? Do we justify that over God because “we deserve it”
- Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
The fifth commandment
The command to obey applies to both parents and kids: parents obey God and kids obey parents. The fifth commandment (honor your parents) serves as a bridge between the “love God” and “love people” commandments.
- No god but me
- No idols
- Don’t misuse God’s name
- Observe the Sabbath
16 “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
- Don’t murder
- Don’t commit adultery
- Don’t steal
- Don’t testify falsely
- Don’t covet
Are you modeling obedience to God in your own life? Do your kids see you living according to a biblical worldview? If you model a heart of obedience to God, your kids will learn to have a heart of obedience, too. First to your rules but as they grow older, to God’s rules.
Deuteronomy 6:1-3, “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3 Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Every part of our lives
Wholehearted obedience should impact every part of our lives – both personally and as a family unit. Learn to practice spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, and family time.
- Deuteronomy 6:4-7
- What do you as parents model for your kids about your time?
- Do they see you read the Bible or pray? Do they hear you talk about decisions running it through a biblical grid? Do they see you sacrifice time, money and talents for God?
- The foundation of your family matters. If God is first, every decision flows from that mindset. If God is second or fourth, your decisions will lead you closer to the things with the higher priority and away from God.
- As you show obedience to God, your kids will learn to obey you and ultimately God.
