God used a different basket to save the life of one of the greatest preachers who ever lived. When bad people wanted to kill the Apostle Paul, his friends lowered him out a window in a basket – and he escaped. Paul could have just quit doing things that made people mad … but they were angry that he was telling them the truth about Jesus! We have to follow his example – even if it makes people upset. It is so important for us to follow God’s instructions to pass on the truth. Remember that we can’t save anybody, God does the saving. In describing his ministry to the Corinthians, Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

That is so true for us as parents. Although we would love to save our children, that is not our job. Any parent who has tried realizes that no amount of discipline against their strong will, their rebelliousness and their self-centeredness can save our kids. No amount of love and attention can do it. Forcing them to pray and read their Bibles won’t do it. Yet, there is great hope in Paul’s statement. We do have a job to do. God has called us to faithfully proclaim the gospel and water it by keeping the scriptures in front of our children. If we do that, God, in his timing will make the seeds we plant grow. Trusting God for the salvation of our children frees us from a mountain of worry and sends us to our knees in prayer, for it is in intercession for our children that we find our hope for what God will do in the lives of our children.