Parents have a great task ahead of them. From the joy of finding out a couple is expecting to the time the child leaves home, they need to think of their children as “clay” and themselves as the “potter.”

The way they live their lives will determine how the child will live theirs. Clay can be molded different ways.

As long as the clay is being worked and water added to the mixture the potter can changed his mind as to design or start over if the pot becomes marred.

Parents need to understand the importance of working their “clay” while it is still moldable. Children must be instructed in what is right and good while they are young.

This is why it is so important that parents look to spiritual matters, not just providing a house and necessities, for the baby. Parents should be following God’s advice in how to bring up a child.

Putting God first is a great way to start that teaching. If from birth he or she is taught to love God and to be obedient, when they are older they will have respect for God and his word.

Children need to be taught to worship God and study his word, but they must be told why they are doing these things.

Sometimes in second and third generation Christian families, the children never hear the why of devotion to God, it is just expected.

God instructed the Israelites on how and when to teach their children: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

“And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

Television, radio, Xbox and other forms of recreation have come to be the babysitter and focus of many families. There was a time when Bible study was done in most every home. Today families must schedule a time and place to study or even just read from the Bible.

Parents need to take time to be involved in church. The country needs to have more spiritually minded people, parents and children to help change things for the better.

Those who fail to see the need for spiritual things in the world need only to study of how this nation was founded.

The family is one of the most sacred relationships found in God’s word. The love and respect children are to have for parents is readily seen in scripture.

“Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2, 3).

However, obedience to God must come even before allegiance to parents. Luke recorded these words of our Lord: “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law (Luke 12:51-53).”

Young people face many temptations today. If parents will have God as part of their life, they may avoid many tears and pain.

Parental involvement in a child’s life cannot be emphasized enough. The training of a child to kick or throw a ball should not be all that parents deem important.

Those things have their place but putting spiritual training first should be the order of the day.