“And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 11:19(AMP)

Recently I made a strong statement. My friend responded, “Wow, you certainly are passionate!”

“Don’t you feel passionate about certain topics?” I asked.

Our conversation instantly took another course as we began to discuss our passions.

Five years ago, I experienced a pay off for having practiced my passion. Not only did I realize a benefit from pursuing my zeal, but also I encountered a blessing in the midst of the worst of storms.

I have a deep passion for children, especially their salvation. I grew up in a developing country surrounded by third-world waifs. Living in the third world also afforded me the luxury of constant contact with missionaries. A combination of godly ambassadors, plus the financial and spiritual poverty around me reminded me daily of humanity’s need for Jesus.

You see, those who were poor truthfully had nothing. Yet those who were poor and had Christ had everything. I encountered God’s power in the simplest places and saw His overwhelming peace take control in the most desperate circumstances.

I am certain that the missionaries who encouraged me to visit their remote communities in South American jungles never realized their impact on the life of a little American girl. Without a doubt, God used them to plant the seed of Christianity in my life and call me to sow the seed of Good News into the hearts of others.

With the birth of my sons, I committed them to God. I told God, “I’m not sure I can be a good mother. I don’t like to cook and I am not much of a housewife. But I love You and I know my children will be eternally lost without You. Help me prepare them for the day they come before Your throne and account for their lives. My greatest desire for them is that they spend eternity with You.”

Years later tragedy struck. I received the phone call every parent dreads. Aaron, a junior in college had been admitted to the ER. I moved into the hospital and became his roommate, not a dream-come-true for a university student. During our first week as roomies, he had one of many brushes with death. He was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. The grave information stunned me. He could die any moment! What’s a mother to do?

Aaron admitted to having struggled with God at times but eventually realizing, “Why wouldn’t I want to go to a better place? After all, heaven is where God lives.” He told me not to worry about him - he would go to heaven if he were to die.

Those words flowed over me with a comfort that only comes from God’s perfect peace. Death had its grip on my son, but my Father’s arms opened wide, ready to accept His suffering child. Never was the gospel I had taught my children more real to me, or Aaron.

Nothing we teach our children matters if it does not point them to Jesus’ saving grace. As it turns out, God did not call Aaron home during his illness. I agree with John who wrote, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4 NASB). That, I am passionate about.

Father, every child deserves to hear about Your love. I pray for children everywhere to have a godly adult who would take the time to introduce them to You. Thanks for sending Jesus to earth to show us the way to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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Related Resources:

Do you know Him?

Little Halos by Van Walton

Be the Parent, Seven Great Choices You Can Make to Raise Great Kids by Kendra Smiley

Application Steps:

Make a commitment to spend time each day guiding your child to Christ.

Consider adding an age-appropriate children’s Bible to your book collection.

Reflections:

When I read to my child, do I include Bible stories with the secular stories?

Do I point out God’s creation when I take my children to the park and outdoors to play?

Do I use God’s commandments and laws to teach my child obedience and kindness?

Power Verses:

John 14:6, “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)

Romans 1:19-20, “But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse.” (MSG)

Revelation 21:1, 5, 7, 27, “Then I saw a new heaven… the one sitting on the throne said, ‘I will be their God, and they will be my children.’ Nothing evil will be allowed to enter… but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (NLV)