First String Disciplers

“That is how the LORD rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:30-31, NLT)

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-8, NLT)

When my son made the first string on his youth football team, he was excited. He said he had been “waiting his whole life” – all of 8 years – to play in a real football game. The big game day arrived and something strange happened: our first string player didn’t get off the bench the entire game. We asked him later why he didn’t play. With wide, innocent eyes, he said he would have played, but every time he was ready to run onto the field, another player who shared his position told him loudly and confidently, “You stay here. It’s my turn!”

As a parent, you are the first-string discipler in your child’s faith journey. From the moment they’re born till the day they leave the nest, God has given you the privilege and responsibility to teach them about Him and cultivate their faith.

In Exodus, the Israelites were slaves for four hundred years. Generations lived and died under slavery. Can you imagine? They knew no other way of life. Enter Moses, a man God raised up to lead His people to freedom. In answer to their prayers, God unleashed a series of plagues and wonders, as only He could do, and delivered His people from Pharaoh.

Undoubtedly, freedom was sweet, but a problem loomed overhead. Though the Israelites had been set free from slavery, they didn’t know how to live as free men and women. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to guide His people into a right relationship with Him and with one another. Then the Lord said, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

It wasn’t a religious leader’s job to pass faith to the next generation; it was the parents’ responsibility. This hasn’t changed. It’s essential that we teach our kids who God is, what He has done for us, and His faithfulness.

Faith at school starts with faith at home. You can’t reassign their discipleship to someone else. There is no plan B; there is no second-string discipler to nurture your children’s faith. With the unique challenges kids face in public school, a commitment to the work of discipleship is crucial.

Lord, help me get in the game and teach my children about You when they lie down and when they get up. Help me to share your teachings with them every day. Ensure I always help them know that You are God, You are faithful, and You are worthy of our praise! As a first-string discipler, I commit my family to You. Amen.