The Lesson They’ll Never Forget

If we want to impact the next generation, we must do more than instruct our children; we must model the truth we teach. I’ll never forget a sobering conversation I had with a friend in seminary. His father, a respected minister and mentor of mine, was someone I deeply admired. He was the kind of man who lived out 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” His knowledge of Scripture inspired me to dig deeper into God’s Word.

But everything changed the day I learned that this man had walked away from his faith, his family, and his calling. When I heard the news, I felt physically sick. I didn’t know what to say to my friend except to remind him that God wasn’t done with his father (Phil. 1:6) and to warn him about the danger of bitterness. Before we ended our conversation, I said, “Let his fall scare you to death. Don’t waste this hurt. You never imagined this could happen to your dad, but it did, and it could happen to you if you don’t stay alert. ‘Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall’ (1 Cor. 10:12).”

Through tears, my friend replied, “When I was younger, all I wanted was to be a minister like my dad: to preach, to be recognized, to make an impact. But now, I just want to make it to the end of my life and have my family say I was a faithful husband and father.”

That moment reshaped my own view of success. My friend’s father had all the credentials, influence, and respect that ministry could offer, but none of it mattered in the wake of his fall. His most significant impact on his children wasn’t the information he taught; it was the truth he failed to live.

Your children are watching you. They see what captures your heart: work, recreation, comfort, or Christ. Whether you’re mowing the lawn, flipping channels, talking to your spouse, or worshiping at church, your kids are learning what truly matters to you. And that example will outlast every lecture you’ll ever give.

I love serving in ministry, but one of the hardest realities is knowing that no sermon or program can outweigh the message a child hears lived out at home. If parents show through their lives that they love God with part of their hearts and only some of their strength, it’s nearly impossible for another message to break through.

If you want your children to love God, let them see it first in you. The greatest lesson you’ll ever teach them is not in your words but in your walk.