Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” (1 Chronicles 28:20)

The greatest thing a parent can do for his or her children is to pass on to them the historical faith they have in the true and eternal God. David set the example when he commissioned Solomon to succeed him as king of Israel. He challenged his son to “be strong and courageous.” That was Solomon’s responsibility. God’s promise was explained this way: He would be “with you” and “not fail you nor forsake you.” Does this not remind us of God’s promise to Moses at his burning bush commissioning to lead God’s people out of Egyptian slavery? “Certainly I will be with you…” (Ex 3:12). God likewise commissioned Joshua to take up after Moses: “Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (Jos 1:5). Is this not a universal promise of commissioning by God? Think of Jesus who, when giving His disciples the “Great Commission,” concluded with this: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20).

The lesson we learn is that we can do nothing without the very real presence of the Lord; we need His commissioning, His authority for every act of service for Him. So we must always seek His leading and guidance.

There is also a lesson for parents here. A popular statement on parenting thought by some to be wise and astute says, “I will let my children decide for themselves and not influence them toward any particular religion or belief in a deity.” If religion were just another of the social sciences, there would be no reason to pre-condition children in one way or another about belief in a deity. However, if in fact God truly exists and has revealed Himself in the Bible and through the history of Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and the apostles, then it is paramount that we instill in our children the same historic belief we have come to realize in our own lives. If we believe in the truth, why should we allow them to wallow in agnosticism or even atheism, to wander along aimlessly influenced by anti-God rhetoric that passes as educated awareness? Indeed, someone will influence their beliefs; best it would be parents who have the knowledge of the true God of the universe. As David charged his son Solomon to live before the LORD his God, so we should charge our children to not only believe in God, but to live all out for Him.

Lord, You have given me a responsibility to teach my children about You. Help me teach them well, and help me teach them truth.