We often don't spend much time teaching and preaching out of the Old Testament prophets. Nor do we think of family ministry much in the Old Testament. I'd like to direct our attention to Malachi, chapter 4.
Malachi spoke to the nation of Israel when everything should have been restored, city rebuilt, walls rebuilt, temple rebuilt. Yet only a half century later their worship became corrupt and full of injustices. It is from this context (one that looks similar to ours in terms of being fully equipped), the prophet speaks the final words from God before 400 years of silence. The very last word is about the awful "day of the Lord".
Speaking of the prophet Elijah and his preaching … “He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”” Malachi 4:6 (NIV)
Families are under attack. Marriages are under attack. Our kids' identities are under attack. OUR identities are under attack. I have one and only one goal, to see the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the singularity of our identity in our families be realized in THIS GENERATION. We have no time and the costs are too high not to fight for the heart of our children TODAY. Do NOT wait. Do NOT delay. Do WHATEVER it takes to make Jesus the ONLY priority in your family.