nourishing a good foundation

January 18, 2013 by tascha 2 Comments

I have written on this topic before, but it has been re-challenged to me recently -by my own life.

We all want our children to accept Jesus for their salvation! But before they can know about salvation we must teach them about God.

All men are born with the knowledge of God written in their heart [Proverbs 14:1, Romans 2:14-16].

But this does not mean our children will automatically know God.

Man is born a sinner. Even as a babe, we are all sinners.

If you have children, you cannot dispute this fact. A child left to himself brings shame on his mother [Proverbs 29:15].

Since the same heart that knows there is a God also contains sin, the knowledge of God must be cultivated to become knowing God.

People do not know who He is without being taught. Yes, if a lost man seeks for God, God will not hide himself [Jeremiah 29:13]. But that does not preclude our responsibility as parents.

We must teach our children who God is.

And we must teach our children to KNOW God- and the earlier the better.

In the first hours and days of each of our children’s lives they each had several people telling them them “Jesus loves you” often … through words, song and even action. These people included us as parents, our parents, and church members who visited.

My children are greatly blessed.

Of course, my babies had no idea what we were saying; but as they grow and learn from Bible stories and Sunday school and family devotions that Jesus is God and God made us and loves us and wants to be our Heavenly Father, a sense of God is All-Important is instilled in their hearts.

This is fundamental to their ability to realize their need of a Savior at an early age.

When children are taught this, it is fact in their hearts [Proverbs 22:6]. And if the knowledge that Jesus loves them and He is ALL-Important becomes as integrated into their being as the fact that Daddy and Mommy loves them,

the root of faith takes hold.

…even while still a baby.

This is fundamental to their growth after accepting Jesus. It gives them the added advantage that a “healthy pregnancy” gives to their physical bodies.

And I know each of us did our best to provide a healthy environment for our babies while carrying them in our bodies. The nature of the womb was created by God to be a safe, nourishing place.

Spiritually, the “womb” experience does not cease when they are physically born. It continues until they see their need and embrace Christ for themselves {are re-born}.

Let us be Momma’s providing the spiritual nourishment for our children

even before they are able to grow spiritually!

Over on my own blog I have a few posts that followed this about answering a few simple questions our children may have about salvation and teaching them about God. And I am working on some more posts about aiding our children in learning to do their own devotions. As someone who has struggled with reading the Bible consistently {as many do}, I want to be sure my girls create this habit at an early age.

{blessings} Tascha