Teach Them Diligently 2012

God’s call to parents is to “teach them diligently,” but not without continual prayer. Prayer is the believer’s admission of weakness and even helplessness before God. For parents that means continually entrusting themselves and their children to their heavenly Father “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” thus preparing them to recognize the blessing of God when they see faith and repentance in their children after years of instruction.

The pattern of self-sacrifice inherent in mothering is profoundly significant and ironically yields the richest harvest of lasting satisfaction. A wise woman builds her home, knowing it yields eternal blessings for herself and her family.

Even as family devotions is too often a waning practice among Christian families, parents need to hear the call of God to disciple their children. By a renewal of “family devotions” and a transition to “family worship” and even “catechism” in the home, parents can answer the call with a great sense of purpose and privilege. The use of Reformed Confessions in the home will be explored, with a particular focus on Ephphatha’s publication, The Young Heidelberg (Ephphatha Reformation Ministries, Inc. 2012).

For every Christian man who is married, life's primary call is at home. A wise man is a faithful companion to his wife and a diligent mentor to his children.

Parents are called to take the lead in the faith education and formation of their children, but the challenge must be met in the context of the church and with the partnership of the covenant community. Thus, the church must be affirmed and parents can be encouraged to know that they are not alone.