Lay the Foundation

Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So, David made abundant preparations before his death. 1 Chronicles 22:5 (NKJV)

David wanted to build the temple for the Lord, but he was not permitted to build it because he had the blood of war on his hands. God told David that his son, Solomon would be the one to build the temple in an era of peace, which represented the peace between God and HIs people. So, David gathered all the materials needed for Solomon to build the temple, setting his son up for success.

Just like David, we need to set up future generations for a successful life in the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it,” and Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” It is our job as parents, grandparents, and as believers to lay the foundations in our children for a life with Christ. By the age of seven children form their beliefs in God and by the age of thirteen they are thinking abstractedly, so it is important to show your kids a Christian life from the time they are born.

Choose to follow Jesus in your household and set the foundations for a life with Christ for your children. Pray with your kids every day and read them bible stories. Lead by example, modeling the faith that you want them to have by demonstrating grace, forgiveness, and dependence on God in your daily life. Make weekly church service part of your schedule so that they learn community in Christ. Sign them up for VBS and bible camp. By providing the materials that your children need, you set them up to build a strong foundation and prep them for a life with Christ.