By Joab Cano
Are you enjoying your family gatherings this holiday season? Family will always have a significant impact in our life. The members of The Light of the World Church receive counsel for every aspect in their life, including the family. As Christians, we have teachings that we learn from Christ that will provide guidance in our daily life. Through the gospel of Christ, we have been taught to always work diligently in our home to have a strong family bond. Parents play a major role because they direct the household. However, children also have an important role to play in creating a healthy family environment. All family members must remember that Christ is above all and following his example will lead to a healthy family nucleus. As a result, it is the responsibility of every household member to cooperate in this task.
First, the role of the parents in creating a strong family is crucial. The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:4, “Parents, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Parents have the responsibility to teach their children and bring them up in the doctrine of the Lord. It’s necessary to teach our children the principles and values of a true follower of Christ. Furthermore, it’s not just about telling a child what values to possess, but more importantly, teaching them with our example. Many parents might ask: When should I begin bringing up my children in the teachings of the lord? The word of God gives us the answer in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Therefore, parents must not waste any time and begin this instruction of the Lord immediately. This is a difficult task. It’s not easy, but when parents follow the advice, the results will be extraordinary.
Secondly, children also have an essential part in creating a healthy family nucleus. The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” The advice is clear for the children of a household: obey your parents in the Lord. It’s important to note that this advice is for all children, whether they are 5 years old or if they are a teenager, this excludes no one. Why must children obey their parents in the doctrine of the lord? The advice continues: “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth,” in Ephesians 6:2-3.
There is a divine promise for those who fulfill. When this advice is followed thoroughly, the child will also fulfill their part in creating a strong family.
As a result, when parents and children both follow the advice of the doctrine of Christ, the family nucleus will be solid. As members of The Light of the World church, we are taught to apply this in our life. In consequence, when our family is strong, we will help build stronger communities. Strong families mean that there will be more help to find solutions for the many difficulties that we may have in our towns, cities, states, countries, and in the world as a whole. Thus, let us all work harder every day to consolidate our family, for when we do, we will have stronger communities around the world.
To conclude, I would like to extend an invitation to parents and children to seek more advice through the doctrine of Christ. The Light of the World congregations all over the globe are seeking this knowledge, together as families, every day in the house of prayer. More information can be found at the official website TLOTW.org or The Light of the World social media pages. If you live in Juneau, we invite you to join us at: 1997 Dunn St. Suite No. 3 any day at 6:30 p.m. I encourage you to take these steps to strengthen your family even more. God bless you all!
• Joab Cano is a missionary for the Light of the World Church. “Living & Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Friday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.
