This is such an important question because if we do not teach our children to love the Lord, the world will teach them not to.  The first and most effective way you can teach your kids to love God and resist the world’s temptations is by your example.  They should see in you a committed love for the Lord, His Word, and His truth.  They should also see that your heart is not in the world, but you see the dangers of the world’s temptations and your commitment to resisting temptation from every direction.

Teach your kids that God loves them.  When they begin to truly understand that this great God actually does love them, they will respond in love to Him.  1 John 4:19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us.”  Show them the different ways the love of God is evidenced, especially the limitless love of God when He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins on the cross of Calvary.  Teach them at an early age of their need of a savior and how that, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

As parents we have grave responsibility to our children, to “…bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4).  If we honor the Lord in raising our kids according to His will, He will honor that and will help guide us as we seek to “train up a child in the way he should go.” (Proverbs 22:6). 

We have such a wonderful example of this when the Lord first instituted the Passover feast to His people who were living in Egypt.  After teaching His people about the purpose and value of the Passover, He instructs them in Exodus 12:26-27, “And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.”  Indeed, as our children age and want to know about the Lord and His love, we should be ready to faithfully and truthfully teach them according to their ability to grasp these precious truths.  We should always live a life for the Lord so that our children will see we are different from the world and will ask why. 

Here are a few brief suggestions that are very important in raising our children for the Lord.

  • Pray FOR them and pray WITH them.  Our children should see that dependence on the Lord is a way of life.  Let them hear you praying for their salvation and for the Lord’s guidance for their lives.  Encourage them to pray privately to the Lord, also.
  • Have daily devotions with your children.  Saturate them with the Word of God by having a time in the Word with them that will help them realize God’s love and purpose.  Be consistent so your children will expect to have these devotions day by day.
  • Take them to church gatherings to learn about the Lord, to find other children who also want to live for the Lord, and to get them used to setting aside the Lord’s Day for the Lord’s purposes.
  • Encourage them in their faith.  Help them find ways to serve God and share their faith with others. Nurture in them that love of Jesus Christ and for others.

I’m sure as you pray for your children, the Lord will show you many more ways to teach them about His love and care for them on a daily basis.  Help them to understand that not all choices are good ones. Teach them to seek God’s guidance when making decisions so that they can choose wisely.  Seeking God in all we do is so important!  (CC)  (696.2)