You’ve often heard me say that seeing our children come to faith in Christ is a parent’s highest priority. Can there be anything more important than knowing that these precious gifts from God will be in heaven with us for all eternity? Unless we are successful in imparting the good news of salvation to them, we will never see them again in the afterlife. That puts this assignment in its most graphic terms.

I have written dozens of books in the past 40 years, but Your Legacy is, I believe, the most significant. It provides the framework for all that has gone before. This work emphasizes the legacy (in contrast to a heritage) we as parents can pass on to our progeny. A legacy is something of value built INTO someone. It consists of character, integrity, honesty, love, tenderness, self-worth, generosity, commitment, truth, compassion, and a reliable work ethic. Legacy is far more important than heritage, because it focuses not on what a person owns, but who he or she IS. That’s why the subtitle to my book refers to legacy as “The Greatest Gift.” By far, the most valuable contribution we can provide for our children is an unshakable relationship with Jesus Christ. Coming with it is a promise of eternal life.

Let’s consider the Scriptures that speak to the issue of the spiritual training of children. The first and most explicit instruction is addressed to parents and is found in the Book of Deuteronomy. It leaves no wiggle room. This passage is a transcript of the final speech given by Moses to the Children of Israel, after he had led them out of Egypt and through 40 years of wandering in the Wilderness. Only two of them, Caleb and Joshua, would live to enter the Promised Land. The rest would soon die because of their rebellion against Moses and Jehovah.

There were millions of Israelites by that time, and their descendants would soon cross the Jordan River and take possession of the Promised Land. Thus, what we read in the first few chapters of Deuteronomy are the final directions given to those who would fight for and inherit the land promised to Abraham’s descendants. It was an historic moment, and every word was given by inspiration to Moses.

It is significant that the first portion of that speech, quoted in verse 39, was addressed to parents about their children. Moses said, “[they] do not yet know good from bad.” That makes my case, doesn’t it? Then Moses spoke to the people. Here is his unmistakable message, which echoes down through the ages:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Notice that Moses wasn’t simply offering a “suggestion” to parents about the spiritual training of their children. He called that assignment a commandment, and there was urgency in his words. It is not enough to mutter, “Now I lay me down to sleep” with your exhausted child at the end of the day. Spiritual teachings are to be on our minds and in our conversations throughout every waking moment. We should look for opportunities to talk about Jesus and His tender mercies often. By the time your sons and daughters are grown, they should have no doubt about the fundamentals of the faith.

There is another rarely quoted Scripture that tells us how God feels about the family. It is written in Malachi 2:15, and states emphatically why the institution of marriage came into existence in the first place.

“Has not the Lord made [men and women] one? In flesh and spirit they are His. And why one?  Because He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”

The institution of marriage was created not for our purposes, but for the Lord’s. And why? Because He wanted us to raise our children to be brought up to serve Him. How can we ignore this divine plan?

There are many other Scriptures that emphasize the same instruction. Perhaps the most important is from Psalm 78, which states precisely what God wants parents to do regarding the training of their children. These verses were intended not only for the Children of Israel, but for you and me. This is our assignment. Read this passage very carefully:

Oh, my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things from old—what we have heard and known, what our Father has told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power and the wonders He has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. They would put their trust in God and not forget His deeds but would keep His commands. (Psalm 78:4-7)

Then we see reference to an extrapolation of the word “commandments” again. Other Scriptures that speak to the spiritual training of children are:

One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34:11)

The living, the living—they praise You, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about Your faithfulness. (Isaiah 38:19)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the
next generation. (Joel 1:3)

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you’ This is My name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3:14-15)

These Scriptures are “marching orders” for people of faith. Again, they are addressed specifically to parents, and all of us can understand them. No other commandment in the entire scope of Scripture speaks so emphatically to the responsibility of raising children. That assignment can be summarized by one verse written by the Apostle Paul in the Book of Ephesians. It says simply, “Bring [boys and girls] up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (6:4)

We live in perilous times. The Bible teaches us that believers will see rampant evil and disregard or even disdain for God as the last days approach. In the past, others have also thought they were living in the last days. We do not know the day or the hour, but we are exhorted to be prepared and to boldly affirm the truth of Jesus Christ. In large part, that involves reaching out to share the gospel.

Perhaps you feel inadequate to give voice to your faith. In the book of Exodus, Moses also expressed his doubts that he could accomplish the tasks God asked him to do. He even volunteered his brother to do the job and said, “Here I am, send my brother, Aaron.” Yet, God used Moses to bring His people out of bondage in Egypt. Moses had a strong passion to obey the Lord and to take the Israelites to the Promised Land. He wanted them to “be there” as a nation and to enjoy God’s bounty. When Moses released his fears and lack of confidence in himself and trusted in God to help him, he proved to be a strong and capable leader.

In the same way, God will give you everything you need to proclaim Christ and be the “Moses” for your family. Declare the goodness and grace of Jesus to your children, your other relatives, friends, co-workers and neighbors.