August 26: Modeling Christ in the Home

Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson 

 Modeling Christ in the Home

Key Text: 

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

I sat scrolling through my phone. “Mommy, Mommy”, my daughter called. I heard her, but I was just not focused on what she had to say. I knew she wasn’t in trouble and just wanted to give me another story. “Mommy, mommy” she called again. “Didn’t you say that parents should put down their phone and listen to their children?” Torn between shock and embarrassment, I immediately placed the phone on the table and gave her my undivided attention.

It was just a few weeks before, that my husband and I conducted a parenting seminar. What I told the parents not to do was exactly what I was doing. I had no idea that my children were listening. So, here I was, being reprimanded by a 5 year old, and I deserved it. 

My children are my unsolicited accountability partners. They are not afraid to call me out when I fail to model what the Bible says or when I do something contrary to what I say. 

As parents, we have a responsibility to not only give instructions, but to model the behaviors we want to see in our children. How have you been modeling Christ in your home? 

Our key text does not focus on what children see when we take them to church. Instead the text focuses on the life we live at home. 

Ellen White tells us, “Your home is the first field in which you are called to labor. The precious plants in the home garden demand your first care. Consider carefully your work, its nature, its bearings, its results, ever remembering that your looks, your words, your actions, have a direct bearing on the future of your dear ones.” (CT 130.2)

What are you teaching your children? What are the words they hear coming from your lips at home? What do they see you doing as you sit at home? When you are walking around at home, engaged in various activities, can they see Jesus in you? When you are about to lie down and when you get up, do they see you spending time with Jesus? 

Commit today to being intentional in modeling the behaviors you want to see in your children. 

Prayer 

Heavenly Father, it is our desire to train our children in your way. Teach us how to represent you in all we do so that our children may see Jesus in us. In moments of anger, disappointment, grief, and even through trials, help us to demonstrate your character. Amen.