Thursday, April 30, 2009

Spiritual influence begins on the home.

Hear the Words of the OT prophet Moses this morning:

Dt 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Dt 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Dt 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Dt 6:7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Dt 6:8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Dt 6:9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.


This is one of the most influential passages in the history of God's people. For the nation of Israel today Verse 4 is still something quoted on a daily basis. Verse 4 & 5 was repeated by Christ in the NT. Mk 12:29-30. What I want you as parents to focus on today is the latter statements. Verses 7- 9 are the pivotal teachings in Scripture that lead us to know that God's best plan for training the youth in our lives is thru the PARENTS. We as parents should be placing the Word of God everywhere in our lives, making it visible all around us. Look at the language of "when you walk along the road", we must be in close relationships with our children. Interaction is a must for Spiritual development. Make your house a billboard for the Word of God, "Write them on your doorframes". We often fear pushing away our children from the Lord, but the teachings of Scripture are to continually remind them visibly of the Word of God.

The tough part of this passage for parents however is found in verse 6. In order for your children to take the teaching well and to grow spiritually, it is imperative that "these commandments... are to be upon your heart".

"The difficulty of ministry is that we cannot minister people
to a place that we have never been."
Bro. J

1 comment:

  1. Yes, I agree -and this has been the most important section of scripture in my life. It is what convicted me to teach my children for as long as I could, knowing that while they were in my house, I could influence them throughout the entire day, not just for a few hours after being gone all day had they gone to school. It does take time and premeditated thought in order to be ready to teach biblical principles in everyday situations that occur randomly without warning. It is not as easy as they get older and busier to maintain the same depth of relationship, but it is worth the effort to be able to continue to speak truth into their lives. If we don't do it, who will?

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