“Ye are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
I grew up in a Christian home. A pastor’s home, to be exact. But I didn’t understand that I was a sinner in need of a Savior until I was a preteen. I was being raised in a Christian family, but I wasn’t yet a Christian. Light surrounded me, but my heart was still in the dark. (Sitting in a church pew doesn’t make you a Christian, just like sitting in a garage doesn’t make you a car.)
God calls every parent to raise children who have come out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
“…that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
This is true for all of us. We once lived in darkness, but God brought us into the light through personal faith in Jesus. Now, it’s our calling to help our children walk in that same light.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
So what does this look like? Here are three keys.
First, recognize that our kids don’t enter the world in the light. They arrive with a sin nature (Proverbs 22:15). In other words, our children aren’t saved just because we are. God has no grandchildren. Each child must come to personal faith and pass from death to life (John 5:24).
Second, make an intentional effort to bring them into the light. Every gospel conversation, church service, and follow-up after discipline should point our children to their need for a Savior. Our own godly example should do the same.
Third, remember that the darker the world gets, the brighter our light shines. God called us “out of darkness,” which reminds us that the world is growing darker. Its only hope is the light of Jesus. As a result, the “children of light” we raise will stand out more and more.
Still, leading our children in the light won’t happen by accident. Instead, it takes an intentional parent who puts the things of God first: the local church, the Word of God, and regular prayer.
“If Satan deceived a third of the angels in heaven, imagine what he can do with a generation that doesn’t read the Bible.” (Anonymous)
We have two precious little hearts at home, and we point them to Jesus daily. How many hearts are in your home?
This week, how will you intentionally point them to the Light of Jesus (John 1:9) in a world of growing darkness?
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Here’s a simple way to turn this into an object lesson/family devotion this week:
Turn off the lights and light one candle or a flashlight. Ask, “What does a little light do in a dark room?” It makes the point visually and gets your kids talking.
Follow up with a few questions:
- “What does it mean to be a light in the world, and where do you have the chance to shine at school, on the team, or with your friends?”
- “In our family, who do you see Jesus shining through?” (or) “If someone watched our family for a day, what would they see about Jesus?”
- “Who is someone in your life who might need to see God’s light right now, and how could we show them?”
