I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is without limit. Psalm 119:96

Children grow up in the same home, with the same parents, in the same spiritual environment, and some choose to believe, yet others don’t.  Is a child’s departure from the faith the parent’s fault?  Not always. Not any more than it was Abraham’s fault when some of his offspring descended into wickedness.  It is a mystery why righteous kings in the Old Testament had wicked offspring. Just as puzzling is why wicked kings were often followed by a righteous heir.

While not perfect, we are to keep God’s covenant, train our children in the Word, and teach, by example, what it means to live by faith. Some of our children will choose God’s path, but to our great disappointment, we may watch another reject everything. 

Unfortunately, it is a human tendency to carry the weight of our children’s and grandchildren’s choices.  We lament that we weren’t perfect parents, but God didn’t demand perfection. That dream died in the garden.  That’s why a Savior and Redeemer was written into the story. One day, we will be perfected but for now, we are imperfect parents. We are loved and forgiven by Jesus. We are providing an environment that offers the greatest possibility of spiritual success for each child but what that child does after that rests entirely on their shoulders. 

The road to destruction is wide and most travel on it, even our children.  The way of the cross is narrow, only a few find it, and we rejoice when it’s our children. It’s a beautiful thing when families worship together but how painful when the clash of spiritual kingdoms is felt at our own dinner tables. Only God’s grace and compassion can keep us tenderhearted, forgiving, doing whatever is necessary to fight on our knees for their souls.

Grace and comfort, Lord, for all the parents who need this message.  Amen