What do you need to know before anything as you embark upon this wonderful journey of discipling your kid?
God cares more about your kid than you do and He cares more about your kid’s discipleship than you do.
Afterall, He gave His Son (Jesus) over to death in order to make all of us His sons and daughters and to put discipleship into motion (Matthew 28:18 “Go and make DISCIPLES”). Therefore...
Your kid’s discipleship begins with God. Period. It doesn’t begin with your kid (how good they behave or how good they become). And it certainly doesn’t begin with you (your desires, preferences, and standards).
Above everything else, our kid’s discipleship begins with God. He is THE point. Just like He is with our own discipleship.
Consider Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
Something is clear here: God is grabbing Israel’s attention (“Hear” = Listen up). It’s almost as if they’ve been asleep and they need to wake up! There is a soberness to this statement. Seemingly, Israel had forgotten their God.
We tend to fall into the same trap. What do we need to be reminded of initially? God exists. He is alive. He rules and reigns. He is personal. He is not human. He is triune. He is relatable. He is near!
Deuteronomy 6:4 pulls a lot of weight in Jewish culture. It is called the “Shema” and is recited in homes and synagogues/temples and is often the first and last phrase spoken in Jewish worship services as well as in Jewish homes. It is the centerpiece of Jewish faith. It serves as a powerful reminder of who God is and what He means.
To recognize that there is one God presented in the Bible who is sovereign ruler, all powerful, not human, triune, and personal (“our God”) is crucial because ultimately it is going to lead us straight to Jesus, who is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and who has become the “cornerstone” of our faith (cf. 1 Peter 2:7)!
Specifically discipleship begins with Jesus. This is good news to us because it takes all the pressure off of us.
As parents, we have a hard time relinquishing control of our children. We feel the tighter the grasp we have on them, the better off they will be. We think we know best and we dictate their lives accordingly.
With Jesus at the center, you don’t get to call the shots and that is a very good thing. With Him at the helm, you get to observe as He does the good work of pursuing your children with His great love and faithfulness.
What a wonderful thought it is to know that God’s got our children. In every way imaginable. Especially their spirituality.
I know how hard it is to functionally live this out. So let me ask you this question? What is so hard about trusting God to do the good work of pursuing, saving, and changing our children’s lives? Where do you get hung up?
I would love to get your feedback in the comment section. Thanks and remember to check out parts 2 and 3.