“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’” — Deuteronomy 4:9-10
God has given us a tremendously high calling as parents. We are called to teach and train our children. He called the Israelites to do the same after He rescued them from Egypt and took them to the Promised Land.
If you recall, over and over, Moses and Joshua warned the Israelites not to neglect talking about what the Lord had done for them, specifically to their children and grandchildren. Why is that? Because, they knew if Israel forgot what the Lord did for them and their ancestors, they would be enticed to follow the nations around them into idolatry. If they forgot what God had called them to be (His own precious possession) they would live like a people who had no purpose. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened in Israel. They failed to remind their children of God’s goodness and they stopped following His ways.
One of the most important things we are called to do as parents is to teach our kids about what Jesus has done for us. Not just have them hear it in church and at Sunday school, but for us to always be talking about it. Deuteronomy 6 says, “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Jesus has called us out of slavery and into life as part of His royal family (1 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 6:18). Reflecting on what God has saved us from and saved us for, will be our greatest tool as parents. It will guide us in every decision that we make for our families. It will affect what we allow our kids to do, and see and be a part of.
God’s call on our lives will shape the standards we have for our family, the standards God has called us to. It will set the boundaries we have for our kids. This isn’t legalistic living, it is higher-purpose living. God lovingly gives us boundaries in our lives and then He says, “Live and be free within. Within these boundaries you can be free of fear, shame or guilt. Just stay within these parameters.” That is not authoritarian and oppressive; that is the beautiful loving protection of a Good Father. May we, by God’s grace, be willing to do the same for our children.
Praying for you!
Posted in A Word from the Pastor