Sundrenched mornings, filled with days at the pool, barefoot picnics with neighbors in the backyard, and refreshing time with family – this is what the best summers are made of. Have you considered how to redeem these priceless moments for the kingdom?
John Stott reminds us, “Every Christian should be both conservative and radical; conservative in preserving the faith and radical in applying it.” As you bring your daydreams of the perfect summer to life, consider how you can preserve what God’s Word commands us to live out in a radical way in your neighborhood, on the summertime road trip and at the local park this summer. Imagine what God can do as you lead your family to live radically for Jesus!
Set Realistic Expectations
Trevin Wax reminds us that “seeking first the kingdom comes after we have been sought by the King. The root cause of worry is not misplaced priorities. It’s misplaced faith. It’s a failure to grasp the gospel of a God worthy of our trust.” Consider how you can trust God to order your summer activities so that they bring Him Glory and lead your kids and neighbors closer in a relationship with our Savior. Welcome impromptu invites to summer suppers and rejoice at cul-de-sac meet ups. The dishes can wait – eternity is at stake. A simple pile of sidewalk chalk and a driveway can provide the perfect template for sharing the gospel story.
Be Christ Centered
Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” We have been entrusted to train up our kids in God’s Word. Consider how doing simple things such as driving to grandma’s house can be an opportunity to model Christ to your kids. Will there be unbelieving family there? Pray for them on the trip. Each time you see a new city name pass by on the highway, challenge your kids to pray for the kids in that city! Grasp summertime moments as an invitation to point to the Savior.
Have Fun!
Learning to love Jesus should be fun! There are countless ways to help the scriptures to come alive to your kids. Consider what your kids love. For our little one, he loves to sit next to me and watch me draw out the storyline of the Gospels. His eyes get wide as he watches my untrained hand draw two fish and five loaves of bread. He squeals with delight and says “again, mommy!” Find ways to help them love and treasure God’s word this summer in fun and unique ways. Sandcastles quickly beg for an epic tale – and what better epic tale could you share than truth adventures of our King Jesus?
18 short summers is all we get. Consider how you can use those 1674 summer filled days with your kids to win them and your neighbors to the Kingdom.
