Role Models

There are no two ways about it. Parenting can be tough. It is a subject that comes with tons of research, ideas, and lots of books!

Every parent knows that they are a role model once their child is born. How does a child learn how to speak? How does a child learn how to behave?

Children are constantly watching their parents’ actions, reactions to different situations, and are also listening to how mom and dad speak. Being a good role model is a basic and simple way to be a good parent to your child and as parents we always want what is best for them.

Not only should we be a good role model for our children but also a Christian role model. Showing your child where your priorities lay is part of being a good Christian role model.

While our society stresses the importance of a good education and sometimes sports we send our children to school or homeschool them. Of course an education is necessary and important. But since the average time a child spends at school is 943 hours, how much time are we spending “educating” our children in God’s Word?

As parents, we need to teach our children the values of what we believe. Are your children listening to the sermons of the prophet of our time at home? Are they reading the Bible two or more times a day? Are you teaching them how to pray?

Being a Christian role model is very important. Show your children that what is important to them should reflect in his/her actions. For example, if your child doesn’t have time during the week to listen to a sermon (or part of a sermon) and is involved in sports let him/her quit the sport. Feeding their soul on the Word of God is more important than any sport/activity.

Making time to take your children to mid week service (or any service) should also be a priority. In Hebrews 10:25 Paul says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” We should not stay home with our children when our church is assembling. Excuses of being too busy or that church is too far sends a message to your child that mid week service is not all that important..and perhaps when they get older will stay home as well.

When I was a young girl, my family and I lived in NJ. We would travel about 2-3 hours to get to our church in Long Island, NY. Not only on Sundays did we do this but also for mid week services. Sometimes the traffic was horrendous and we would get there during the preaching or near the end of the service. But what remains with me are the sacrifices my family made to hear the Word being preached. I remember the Lord moving mightily during these service with speaking in tongues/interpretation and calling out things that were going on in people’s lives. It made such an impression on my life and I’m so glad we made it to all those services.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 it says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Paul was such a role model that people wanted to become a Christian like him. What did he do? He pointed people to Christ. What about us? Are we being a Christian role model that is pointing our children to Christ?

Reflect and consider how your actions are being perceived by your child(ren). Stress the importance of the Word above everything else. It is our absolute.

Our children will be the next generation of Christians to carry on “the message” that we have heard if the Lord tarries. What kind of Christians do you want them to be? Invest your time in them. Spend time praying with them and for them.