Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

My father was a large man—6’5”, to be exact. Everything a mortal man could do paled in comparison to the mighty Dad. He was the kind of dad who featured prominently in the classic childhood debate: “My dad can beat up your dad.” That conversation probably happened as recently as last week, and it wasn’t much of a debate. My dad could’ve whipped the entire collective dad group (probably all at once) with no questions asked.

But more than his physical prowess, my dad consistently pointed us to God. He made us go to church every Sunday and could often be seen turning in early at night to read his Bible—or waking up early on Saturdays to do the same. He carried the torch of legacy passed down from his father before him.

Fast forward to today: he is now a grandfather to my four children, and they are the apple of his eye. Meanwhile, I’m tired from babysitting his grandchildren—but I digress.

Proverbs 17:6 says, “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers.” Godly influence fosters mutual love and respect within a family, extending from one generation to the next. As parents, we put in the hard work daily—and the top priority of that labor should be our children’s eternity. They are the only "possessions" we can bring with us into eternity.

My father is now reaping the dividends of what was sown in my brothers and me—fruit that is blossoming in his grandchildren and will continue in future generations. My glories are my father’s. The lessons he didn’t even realize he was teaching have played out through the test of life.

Voddie Baucham once said:

“Discipling our children is not about teaching them to behave in a way that won’t embarrass us. We’re working toward something much more important than that. We’re actually raising our children with a view toward leading them to trust and to follow Christ.”

We are building a legacy—one centered not around our name or accomplishments, but around a relationship with Christ and His gospel. This is what endures.

Reflect on your priorities. How do they align with your spiritual responsibility to yourself, your children, and your grandchildren?

What should you remove from the table to make room for what truly matters?

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

Prayer:

God, let us be good stewards of Your gospel within our families. Let us raise up a generation that knows, loves, and follows Your Word. Help us to navigate the rigors of daily life and put what is truly important at the forefront. Give us courage and resolve for the difficulties of raising a family to seek You first. We love You. Amen.