Three Fundamental Facts About Christian Grandparents
Three Fundamental Facts About Christian Grandparents
Two months ago, our Grace Community Church sponsored a weekend workshop for grandparents. A hundred and forty people registered representing 17 different churches. The weekend included plenary sessions and breakout gatherings. The response from the attenders was spectacular. Evaluation forms were very encouraging. Those who attended have come to understand, from Scripture 3 important facts about their role in the family.
1 – They have been entrusted with the responsibility of investing spiritually into the lives of their grandchildren. Moses laid out this mandate clearly to His people …
“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God, to keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged” (Deuteronomy 6:1, 2).
With all the issues that bombard the attention of our children and grandchildren today, they need to hear from their grandparents. They need to hear the commandments, statutes, and judgments affirmed by their grandparents.
2 – Grandparents are to model a godly lifestyle. In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul encouraged his readers to follow his example (Philippians 3:17; 4:9). To his protégé, Titus he wrote …
“Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity of doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:6-8).
As our culture becomes more and more godless, the ability of people to think reasonably and rationally is largely compromised. The values of sensibility, good deeds, purity in doctrine, and sound speech are becoming rare. Our grandchildren need to see these values fleshed out in the lives and legacy of their grandparents. The Bible says, “A righteous man who walks in his integrity – how blessed are his sons after him” (Proverbs 20:7).
3 – Christian grandparents regularly pray for their grandchildren. Again, when we come to the Word of God, Jesus reminds us … “God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him” (John 9:31). In other words, people who harbor sinful habits, do not reach the attention of God. In the Psalms, we read …
“Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear” … (Psalm 66:16-18).
Perfection in the Christian life is impossible. But if … “I regard wickedness in my heart” … if I am hanging on to sinful thinking and practices, the Lord does not hear the prayers of the grandparent. The effective intercessory grandparent is one who comes humbly and with words of confession of sin before the Lord; he is the one the Lord hears.
So, what are your grandchildren seeing and hearing from you? How can we help you to be more intentional?
