12 Ways to Show Christ to my Children Every Day
God describes relationships in family terms. He is the Father. Jesus is the Son. Once the Holy Spirit indwells us at salvation, we become brothers and sisters with fellow believers. Family is important to God, and the way that we parent and love our earthly children helps them see and understand the love from our Heavenly Father.Jesus didn't say very much about parenting, or how to raise children. But His life showcased just how a child needs to be treated.If Jesus were a parent, He would have treated His children the same way He treated His disciples and followers, and here's twelve notable examples.
12 Ways To Show Christ To My Children Every Day
Give one-on-one time
My husband got his master's degree in Germany, and returned with a few German phrases. My favorite was the concept for a “four eye talk”. Giving this eye contact is important to all relationships, and your kids learn that skill from you.And Jesus saw the importance of one-on-one time, as well.Jesus repeatedly spoke with His disciples and followers in one-on-one settings.Also, how appropriate is it that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to ask Him to explain Himself? (See John 3:1) How often do your kids come ask you important life questions right before bedtime? 😉
Be near them
And wherever He went--villages and towns and countrysides--they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him to let them just touch the fringe of His cloak. Mark 6:56a
Sometimes I feel this way walking through my house. 😉Whenever Jesus went out, He was touched, begged, and His energy was spent.In fact in Hebrews 4:15 says: “We have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.”Yet, Jesus chose to be near them and touch them. Despite their neediness, He gave of Himself fully.[bctt tweet="We can be the hands and feet of Christ to our children when we choose to give of ourselves fully despite our weaknesses. " username="christcentermom"]See also: How to Be Emotionally Present For Your Kids When You Just Can't
Welcome them when they interrupt
I'm a work-at-home mom, which means that my life is a constant readjustment. I work as much as I can, but I get interrupted often. Trying to do dishes, but the baby needs a diaper change. My toddler needs help with his puzzle, but I'd love to have 20 minutes to write today. And naps? When my baby needs a nap, it takes me 30 minutes to convince her to settle down and 10 minutes to clean up the mess that my son made during those 30 minutes.I have to remind my heart often that interruptions are common, and my reaction to them is important.I look in God's word and I notice...In the midst of Jesus' most important teachings, there's an interruption.
People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have Him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."Luke 18:15-17
I'm tempted to regard my work as more important than caring for my children. But laying down my choices (and my preferred schedule) is Christ-like. It's dying to self.I understand that there is a fine line between welcoming and spoiling. When your child comes and interrupts you during an adult conversation, you can correct them gently, perhaps something like this: Friend: "Are you coming to the MOPS meeting this Tuesday?"Me: "Yes, but I think that I'll ju---"Kid: "MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MY ZIPPER!! MY ZIPPER!!"Me: "Yes, honey, come here and I'll help you in a second, come sit on my knee. Now, back to what I was saying..."This is a better response than: "Child, no. Go away, we are having an adult conversation."Burdening my children with a belief that I do not have time for them is not what Christ would have done. It's not what He did. He sat with children on His knee when He taught more than once, so I can do it, too.
Nourish them
Jesus fed His disciples and followers. The stories of the feeding of 5,000 (Mark Chapter 6) and 4,000 (Mark Chapter 8) only counted men, but women and children were among them, so the numbers were probably more in the range of 10,000-20,000 for both of these meals.He even called Himself the Bread of Life. Jesus is essential for life, just as food is for us and our children.As mothers, we feed our children multiple times a day. So much of our effort goes into the planning, preparation, serving, and cleanup of food. We want our children to be healthy and nourished, and in that way, we can be like Christ for our children, who physically fed thousands of people, and spiritually feeds those who accept Him.
Teach them
It’s important to teach your children about God’s Word… in fact we are called to talk about God’s Word with our children in every available time. All day long.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Always remember these commands I give you today. Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your forehead to remind you, and write them on your doors and gates.”Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Does this sound familiar to you? This all-day every day discipleship is what Jesus modeled with His disciples and followers.That was His assignment from the Father.And doing the same with our disciples, our children? That's our blessed assignment.[bctt tweet="Teaching our children to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength is our assignment from God. " username="christcentermom"]See more: 7 Practical Tips to Teach Your Children the Bible from Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Heal them
Can you imagine Jesus walking among people that He helped create and seeing what toll the fallen world has taken on their bodies? Or even their own sin?Jesus walked among people and saw them with compassion. He wanted to heal them. He wanted to do so in order that the Father would be glorified and that many would be saved through their testimony.We can't always heal our children, but we can have compassion for them in their illnesses and diseases and do all we can to be compassionate towards them.
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:14
The Bible has a lot to say about healing. See more: 44 Bible Verses for Healing and Why God Calls Himself Jehovah-Rapha
Tell them their strengths
Jesus was great at seeing His children in their weakness, or in their sin and turning it around to show them their strengths or abilities.He looked at Peter and saw stability, even though He knew that Peter would be unstable and deny His name three times. I can't help but wonder if Peter looked back at his life and wondered at the juxtaposition; that Christ believed in Him, but before Christ's resurrection, when so much was on the line, He did admit to believing in Christ.
“Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:17-18
Speak the truth about their sin in love
Walking the line between truth and love can be difficult with our children. We want them to be obedient but we don't want to break their spirit.Jesus was the same with His dearly loved creation. He saw the woman at the well in her sin. He called her out, but acknowledged her honesty, and not before developing a relationship with her.“Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband. In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.” John 4:18This is a great parenting tip from Christ. When you are correcting your child, tell them the truth about their action, but do so in love, and try to make a soul-connection with them before and after their discipline.
Forgive them
Your kids will hurt you physically. They will hurt you emotionally.They did the same to Jesus. And He forgave them repeatedly, and asks us to do the same.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.Matthew 18:15–22
Jesus’ point is simple. We must forgive, constantly. People will keep sinning against us. We will sin against others just as often.We should forgive as often as we are forgiven and teach our children to do the same.For some more practical tips, check out my friend Christie's article here - How to Help Your Child Grow Spiritually: 4 Concrete Ways
Withdraw to spend time with God
Resting in Christ is laying down your pride to trust Him fully, despite your insistence that you can do it yourself. Christ Himself withdrew from the crowds and even His disciples for some alone time.
“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, He went up on a mountainside to pray.”Mark 6:45
The Bible even says that He filled Himself with a private prayer time… frequently.
“But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.”Luke 5:15-16
Your kids need to see what it looks like to be in frequent prayer.[bctt tweet="Pray because you have a relationship with God. Pray because you want your kids to have the same relationship." username="christcentermom"]See more: Self-Care for Christian Moms - Smart or Selfish?
Pray for them
No one knows exactly what the communication between the Father and the Son looked like, except for the hints we have from Scripture. We know that Jesus asked the Father to give His disciples joy (John 17:13). We also know that Jesus asked God to forgive His killers. (Luke 23:34)See more: 7 Biblical Prayers Every Parent Should Say For Their Child
Teach them to pray
When I read most of the questions that were asked of Jesus during His ministry on earth, I can't help but think, "Really? Surely you could have asked a better question..." but who doesn't want to know the correct and proper way of praying to God?His answer?
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:9-13
He spoke to God openly, yet with reverence, and He quoted Ezekiel 36:23, Proverbs 30:8, among others.See also: 5 Creative Prayer Ideas To Get Your Kids Excited About Praying
What about you?
While Christ spoke very little on the matter of parenting, we know that His life is an example for all Christians to emulate. The time we have with our children is important, because through our children's parents, they understand their Heavenly Father.What are some other ways that we can be the hands and feet of Christ to our children?
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