1 of 1

Q. How do children "catch" the faith of their parents?

A. The Lord instructed the children of Israel that their deliverance from the slavery and oppression of Egypt would be relived through what is today called the Passover Seder. He said [in Exodus 12:24-27] to repeat the story from generation to generation so that there would be a systematic remembrance from year to year when the children asked, "What does all this mean? What is this ceremony about?"

The Seder was established as an opportunity for parents to tell their children, "We do it so that we never forget how the Lord delivered us. It's how our family became a free people and how God showed us His power."

This revelation in God's Word is sufficient to guide us to apply this wisdom. The Bible reveals six kinds of stories to tell the kids in our lives. Look at these, and then resolve in your heart to become a storyteller of the wonders God has performed on your behalf.

Tell your children …

… how the Lord saved you.

… about the Lord's provision.

… about how you've failed but the Lord forgave you.

… how God has guided you.

… how God has delivered you.

… about God's judgment and mercy.

Clearly, we as believing adults should arrange ways and means to provide periodic occasions with our kids to tell our story. Our testimony will excite their curiosity, and it will become registered in their minds for a lifetime.

Jack Hayford is founding pastor of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California.

Adapted from Blessing Your Children (Regal, 2002) by permission.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

Prayer for the Week

Heavenly Father, help me rise to my obligation to make my faith real to my children.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help