THE GOOD NEWS COMES CLOSER

 1 Samuel 1:1-10, 20-28; Colossians 3:17-21; Luke 2:41-51

Introduction

It is a common phenomenon seeing couples with their newly born coming to church to give thanks to God for the child. Most Christians would call on the Reverend Minister to do the naming to the glory of the Lord. Has this glory to God been just an event or a continuous lifestyle? What does God desire as glory from all parents?

A comment from one of our readers on this website [www.osofoahenkan.com] goes as "Children are precious gifts....without introducing them to the True Light to reflect in their lives as parents, church and society, we miss the mark."

In Christian parenting, it is NOT the sports achievements or instruments our children can play or academic prowess that is our ultimate goal. Our aim is to faithfully nurture our children in the glorious deeds of Christ so that one day they would put their faith in the Lord. What should be a parent's role in the lives of their children as we glorify God as a parent.

Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:31, "So, ...whatever you do [parenting inclusive], do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31. The goal is not to produce a well-painted child who makes us look good as parents, but rather we glorify God in parenting by engaging the gospel practically as we nurture. In parenting, the aim is to help our children see the heart from which their behavior flows, and in doing so help them to see their need for salvation in Christ and sanctifying faith. 

From the 1 Samuel and Luke's readings, there was this routine act of both Elkanah and Joseph's families. Going to Shiloh and Jerusalem respectively to sacrifice in God's glory. They both did this with their children always. If parents are conscious of the goal of parenting, our children will be introduced to the things of God in their early lives. As we engage with God, we parent the young ones to imitate the same. Scott and Peace in 'The Faithful Parent', "The goal of Christian Parents is to be faithful to God's Word by His grace and for His glory." Meanwhile, parents must always have in mind that, "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain."

Do you want to glorify God as a parent? Do not forget that you can do nothing without Christ (John 15:5) and the glory is the Christ in you (Col. 1:27).

Children learn best through imitation. Therefore, as parents, our actions are the very acts of our children copy. So Paul counseled, "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Christian parents are called to purpose and plan Christ-centered homes, where our children grow in the understanding that the family is to honour and glorify God through our God-given roles. "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." Colossians 3:18-19 (ESV). Glorifying God as a parent is creating a peaceful home for the family. Peace can be activated even in a polygamous family like that of Elkanah.

It is not enough to wear the same fabric to church and programmes as a couple. The home life must be singing glory to God. Elkanah and Joseph's families were walking in obedience to God's instructions to parents on how to glorify Him.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (ESV)

The most important aspect of parenting is that parents should know the only true God (Col. 3:16) as revealed in the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 6:4). We cannot parent biblically apart from knowing the one true God personally without the Word indwelling us. Truly knowing God is to love God and treasure His Word (Deuteronomy 6:5-6) to the point that it begins to overflow into all of life. We cannot rightly impress upon our children what is not being impressed upon our own hearts. 

Precious one, the safety of our children is glory to God. Provision of protection for the gift which God has given you is a way of saying, "God I thank you and I am grateful". Jesus' parents neglected their basic duty of securing their child by "supposing him to be in the group [and] they went a day's journey." Luke 2:44 (ESV). Many parents often do not even know the whereabouts of their children. These children mostly fall into the hands of a bad company who leads them astray. "They began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him." Luke 2:44-45 (ESV) Parenting is basically bout security, guidance, and guardians. The young couple, Joseph and Mary, failed but the boy found Himself in the house of God. Where is your child right now? Do you know? Jesus got missing for three (3) days from the parents. "After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions." Luke 2:46 (ESV)

There are parents who even leave their children at home when they leave for church services. Parenting today has lost the main focus of glorifying God, to glorification of society by proving that my child is better than yours. Parents are paying for extra-extra classes for their wards just to get them good academic qualifications and they neglect the nurture of their faith in their Creator. Bible club meetings to study and be mentored in the Christian faith is now classes time. 

Boys' and Girls' Brigades meetings have generally gone down in attendance because parent's glory is in their academic prowess not their strength in the faith.  Good attendance to Children's programmes has now been limited to Sunday school services because parents would prefer their wards to study academic books. God has always given us signs but we refuse to pay heed. For people study with good class but find no lasting jobs because of arrogance, indiscipline, insubordination and etc. 

The Presbyterians focus on training the heart, head, and hands (3H). When knowledge and skill are acquired in an undeveloped heart, we only produce intellectual thieves and criminals. 

Glorifying God as a Family

Establish a conscious teaching for faith life in the home. It lays the foundation for a more natural way of relating God’s Word to the rest of life. 

Prior to Paul's counsel to the family, in Colossians 3, he says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16 (ESV). This is a call to family devotional life that gives glory to God. In prayer, we glorify God by adoring Him, confessing sins, giving thanks, and petitioning God for ourselves and others. Growing family lifetime by acknowledging our need for God (Psalm 119:34-36). The study of the Word must be the central guide to Christian parenting. 

Another way to glorify God as a family is through songs. Psalm 96:1-2 says, “Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.” Singing unto the Lord is seen throughout scripture.

Conclusion

"Fathers [and mothers], do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." Colossians 3:21 (ESV) God expects parents to parent their wards "not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Parenting should be done "heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" Colossians 3:22-23 (ESV)

Shalom aleikhem...