The phrase, “the days are long, but the years are short,” is true! Family discipleship matters–and a few minutes a day adds up in a big way!
I took a deep breath. “Yes?”
“How long will I live with you?”
“Oh.” Erik was only seven–my youngest of four. The thought of him leaving home like his older brother and sister made me blink tears from my eyes. “Until you’re about eighteen, Erik. But if you go to college, you’ll come home in the summers.” I thought that might be the end of his questions.
“Well, how many days are in a year?” I was wrong.
“365.”
“How many days in eleven years?”
“Oh. Um… 3,650 plus 365… uh, 4,015 days, Erik.”
Erik was quiet another minute or two before yelling from the backseat, “Well, you have 4,085 days left with me, Mom. How are we going to spend them?”
Family Discipleship
Or, ever had someone come up to you in the grocery store while your two-year-old is melting down. She’ll pat you on the shoulder and tell you to cherish the days.
They are irritating sayings when you’re in the middle of looking for a sippy cup of milk that went missing two days ago, trying to locate two matching tiny shoes, and wondering if you’ll ever get your hair cut by a professional again. No one wants to hear that these are the wonder years. No one wants to be reminded to spend their days well. Here’s the thing–from a mom of four adults and near-adults.
It’s true.
The days are long, and the years are short. Time races by, and we wonder where it went. Our kids grow and have kids of their own. Each day counts.
Ten years is only 3,650 days. Eighteen years is 6,570 days.
That time is precious.
Psalm 48:13b-14, ESV, says:
that you may tell the next generation
that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will guide us forever.
Our job is to tell the next generation–our kiddos–about God. Our children need to know who God is, about our need for a Savior, and the details of God’s great plan for salvation. They need to know how to live for Jesus.
Imagine if you took those 3,650 days–or 6,570 days–and read a chapter of the Bible each day to your kids. Imagine the impact that exposure to God’s Word would have on the hearts and lives of your small people.
That, my friend, is family discipleship. It matters because Scripture matters. Consider God’s words from Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV:
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
God’s Word plants seed and brings it forth. Scripture accomplishes that for which God purposes it. The Bible never returns to God empty, without achieving the Lord’s goal.
Learn more about Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible and get your FREE Bible Study Resources here.
Christian Discipleship
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. – Titus 2:11-15, ESV
The term Christian discipleship means to teach or train up someone in the teachings of Jesus. As parents, we have the supreme honor of discipling our own kids. We get to introduce our kids to Jesus.
How do we do that? By taking our kids through God’s Word.
God has given us just 24 hours each day (perhaps twelve hours when everyone is awake together, and just a few when the family is together). I challenge you to use a fraction of your time each day to disciple your kids in the Word of God. After all, the hours add up–even though the years go by quickly!
Family Discipleship Book
Looking for a family discipleship book that will give you a crash course in leading your kids through God’s Word? I’ve got you covered.
You want your kids to learn and love the Bible.
You want to teach the Bible…
As parents, we deeply desire the best for our kids. We look for the right schools, we make them eat right and exercise, and we get them involved in extracurricular activities. We take our job as parents seriously.
But are we also putting our time and energy into
teaching them the Bible? Giving them the life-changing, soul-nourishing words of Scripture is not only doable, it’s an essential part of parenting kids for Jesus. And the good news is, studying God’s Word as a family doesn’t have to be difficult!
2 Timothy 2:15, ESV, says:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Our job, as parents who love Jesus, is to help our kids become approved workers, unashamed and rightly handling the word of truth.
The good news? Teaching the Bible isn’t hard. Your family can learn the Bible together.
…and you can!
A Crash Course in Teaching the Bible to Your Kids
Danika Cooley’s book, Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible, will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the guidance you need to set up a family Bible study habit.
You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child’s relationship with the Lord through His Word.
Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible will equip you with everything you need to know to teach the Bible to your kids!
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That was a very meaningful message. If we all would think of our time with our children, grandchildren, and the children we teach at church (Sunday School, Children’s Church, etc.) as the precious time that it really is, we would maybe make better plans for each opportunity we have. Thank you so much.