““Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.” Matthew 10:32-39 CSB https://bible.com/bible/1713/mat.10.32-39.CSB
God has called upon us to acknowledge Him before others, and particularly in our own households, if we desire to be acknowledged by Him before His Father as pardoned sons of God. This means that we must raise our children to know Him and follow His commands, teaching them His word, taking them to worship with other disciples, and keeping them away from the worldly ways that lead men to ignore God and disobey His commands.
It may not always be easy to put Jesus first in our homes, and we may face conflicts with our loved ones. However, we must be willing to engage in these challenges out of our fear of God, rather than seeking convenience. We should be ready to deny ourselves and do the hard things, insisting upon walking in the ways of God, even when our siblings or parents do not.
When we fail to live up to this responsibility, we are contributing to societal chaos by denying Jesus as Lord over all. Our children may grow up to become adults who ignore the Lord and do not seek His face or the fellowship of His people. However, if we are willing to own the work and the conflict of raising godly children, we can help to shape their hearts through the teaching of the Word, prayer, and physical correction that will drive foolishness from them. One day, they too will embrace Jesus as their Savior, bringing us great joy and peace, and knowing that our loved ones will live with us forever in the Kingdom of the God who saves us.
