The most important aspect of my parenting is how I point my kids to the gospel, and to the Savior of that gospel. I wonder just how often I communicate this clearly to my children.

As a minister, this is a focus of my life day in and day out, all day long. But sometimes, I notice that I “take a break” from this when I am at home. I could make no bigger error than to forget to point the way of the gospel out to my kids.

The saying may be trite, but it is nonetheless true: If I have the most successful ministry possible, but lose my family, then I have failed.

My kids need to see that the gospel is not simply a moral lifestyle, something called “the Christian life.” Rather, they need to see that this message is all-important, and is the source of the believer’s hope and joy. The gospel is life itself, because it is the message of the One who is the Life (John 14:6).

This is why we do many of the things that we do, such as family devotions and Bible reading, prayer times, and encourage our kids to find the source of life in the gospel.

We need the gospel on a daily basis, and we need to realize that we need it daily. Becoming complacent in this area is something to be avoided at all costs. This is why daily reminders of our need for the gospel and our need for a Savior are so critical.

I want my kids to find that source of hope and joy for themselves.

And that is why I will never regret pointing them to the source of life itself.

Be deliberate, Dad!

How do you point your kids to the gospel? You can leave your thoughts in the comments by clicking here.