You may not have a college degree. If you do, you may not have a degree in education. Your occupational background may be accounting or auto mechanics, sales or construction, customer service or medical transcription. It doesn’t matter. If you have children or grandchildren, you are a teacher.

Yes. You are your child’s teacher.

Your children might attend private preschool or public elementary school. They may be enrolled in your church’s nursery or Sunday school. They might have the most fabulous teachers in the world. But those teachers are not the most important influence on your children. You are.

You don’t need a degree, certification, or a title. You’ve been appointed to this role by God Himself.

Your mission is found in Proverbs 22:6: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Your mandate is explained in Deuteronomy 6:5-7a: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.”

Your classroom is your home. But Deuteronomy 6:7b tells us it’s also your car, the supermarket, the park, and anywhere else you find yourself with your children. “Talk about [God’s commandments] when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Your curriculum is the Word of God. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Your capability comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ. “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Teach them with your words when you think they’re paying attention. Teach them by your example even when you don’t think they’re paying attention.

Teach your children as if it’s the most important job you have…because it is.