Deuteronomy 30:6
“Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.”
The Lord is a merciful god. He redeems our families. This is interesting as it’s up to each individual to accept Christ. How can one’s faith act as an umbrella to family.
Proverbs 22:6 shares one piece of the puzzle. “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” If a child is raised in the faith, she will usually keep it. There may be some prodigal strayings, but she will usually return.
How does this happen? The child goes to Sunday school and learns scripture. This has an influence. Isaiah 55:11 “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” God’s Word is effective.
The faith of the parents has an influence. God’s blessings come down like a shower. They splash those around. The children feel and see the life of God.
The prayers of the parents are effective. The child will go through difficulties. The parents pray and counsel. They also speak to the child about how The Lord uses difficulties to mature us. They also teach that The Lord will not allow things to get too difficult. (I Corinthians 10:13). The child experiences this and is grateful.
The child also learns that God works these difficulties out for the good (Romans 8:29). This understanding gives purpose. The child learns that these aren’t simply random events, but the loving God will use them to make us better.
Faith being passed on is a general truth. The child still must make the choice to accept Christ. Some choose not to.
Lord, thanks for influencing our families and redeeming them. It worked for me and I pray it will work for my children.