BE DELIBERATE...TAKE YOUR HOUSEHOLD TO CHURCH
Many times we underestimate the importance of insisting on taking our children (helps inclusive) to the house of God, particularly for the midweek service. Perhaps when we take a look at the 'under-aged' children used by terrorists we may stop to underestimate the capacity of those we still call children.
It is a form of delusion to conclude that children do not understand many things, or that they don't need many things. Nothing is farther from the truth in this regard. The scriptures acknowledges Timothy as a man who knew the holy scriptures which was (and is still) able to make him wise from his childhood.
Jesus Christ was a child when he argued with lawyers, philosophers and the doctors of His time.
The point is as parents, Father God counts on us to ensure the transference of the very culture that nurtured our faith. The culture of delighting in God's house. And regardless of the modern times, there should be the preservation of that culture.
When children go to church, their innocence graduates through understanding to become righteousness. They pick up on virtues and godly character that forms their inward person. Their exposure to the way of the Spirit and the Word of God is one heritage they will most likely not depart from as they grow.
Soon, you see some parents bite their tongue in regret and wonder why their child does not believe in God properly or absolutely like themselves. It could be because you have not shapened their values. You may have allowed the devil to speak more frequently than God has had opportunity to speak with that same child in the course of the week.
Do you know why pastors must keep preaching and teaching, because Satan keeps talking. And he is no longer whispering, he is making very loud noise in the head of an average child and youth.
The childhood of a youth is the formative stage and if what is formed is not correct, he'd be forced to make adjustments to help him discover his true self.
So, to cut the long story short, take this as God's challenge and directive to you: do not leave your child behind for midweek services again. It is an act of faith, a demonstration of your values and maybe more importantly an investment into his future to constantly at every opportunity expose him/her to the presence of where saints are gathered.
More than your good intentions for the child is that he learns to pick from you what you demonstrate is important to you.
It is not for the absence of other activities we take children to church. Stop fretting if he'd be bored or tired. Nothing like that. That child will forever be grateful that you insisted and demonstrated great faith in your actions particularly not grumbling or murmuring for stretching and crossing different lines and terrible traffic to get to make it for the service yourself. Do it joyfully! God will reward your faithfulness.
Gradually, the Christian heritage handed over to you, is loosing its weight in your own generation because of your poor administration of your self, selfishness, lifestyle and perhaps your wrong choice of career. This ought not to be so.
Make up your mind from now that you and your household shall serve the lord. Let the child learn it from now. Interestingly this was one of the reasons Abraham was called God's friend. Gen. 18:19. That He will command his children in the way of the Lord.
Will you be called God's friend if this were the only criteria required?!
May the lord grant us understanding in Jesus name. Amen!
Please do not let your redemption rights and privileges ever go to waste again. Use them.
I love and believe in you. Please believe also in yourself. Amen!
