TCN's Biblical Journey Feb 13

Today's reading is Deuteronomy 3-7

We see here in Deut. 6, God commands parents to teach their children about the things of God. This isn't a new idea for most Christians. There are few Christians who would say they don't have some responsibility to at least show their children how to live for God. However what God commands is something far more, and I believe it is something we who live under the New Covenant can learn from.  


God's command about teaching children isn't a once a week teaching or a youth group. God takes teaching children seriously and commands parents to teach children nearly all the time. Just look at verse 4-9: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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 on your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates" (NIV). This isn't go to church once a week for Sunday school and maybe Sunday morning service. What God is calling for is constantly finding teachable moments to tell your children about the things of God. This is both a talking and a living type of teaching. It requires a complete commitment, yet what has God called for anything less? 


Too often Christian parents, have either not taught their children the things of God, have not lived out their Christian faith, or both. These parents have looked back and asked, "God I took them to church, why aren't they serving you?" God's answer I fear may be, "You didn't teach them the way I told you too." 


One final note, there is always the chance that parents who do everything correct still end up with children who forsake God. This isn't a promise that if you do everything right your kids will be perfect. NO! The greatest teacher in the world was Jesus and after 3 years of teaching the disciples, one betrayed him and the rest forsook him. This being said, don't blame God, if your not doing all you are called to do.