More than anything, our children need to know, embrace, and walk in the truth—the truth of God. The truth revealed in His Word has the power to make them wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. While there is an important and God-ordained role for the wider body of Christ (the church) in biblical instruction, parents have the primary responsibility and the greatest opportunity to influence their children’s spiritual development.
In our Side by Side event a few weeks ago, we asked our ministry partners to reflect on what motivates, challenges, and encourages them in their efforts to disciple their children. Jon Bloom, Co-Founder and Board Chair of Desiring God, shared how God uses family discipleship as a means of grace in children, including His use of imperfect fathers.
I’m a very imperfect father, as all my kids will attest to, but Pam and I have been gripped by the glorious vision of God that we share with David and Sally and the rest of the team at Truth78. Together we say with King David in Psalm 63:
O God, you are my God,
Earnestly I seek you,
My soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you
As in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in your sanctuary to behold your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.I do know that the vision of God presented in Truth78’s resources — that His steadfast love is better than life — combined with a parent’s or other influential adult’s embodying this vision as being real, is a massive means of grace for a child coming to see that same vision.
If you ask my kids, probably the most specifically memorable of Truth78’s influence on them is that their father blessed them every night at bedtime — I learned this from David Michael. This habit of blessing them extended well into their teenage years, and if I did not come to them, they would come to me and ask me to pronounce over them:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.Jon Bloom
Watch a replay of the Side-by-Side event.
Join us in side-by-side ministry for the faith of the next generation.
- Partner financially with Truth78 to help inspire and equip the church and the home in North America and throughout the world for the comprehensive discipleship of the next generation. We thank God for one of our generous donors who is matching 2:1 any new investment in Truth78---which means every $100 given by a new financial partner becomes a $300 investment during this match.
- Consider becoming a regular financial partner with Truth78 by making a recurring monthly investment.
