Most moms scold their kids for sticking their tongues out, but not me. I encouraged my son to do this when I was teaching him how to pronounce the letter “L.” Like many toddlers, every time he tried to make the “L” sound, it came out sounding like a “W.” Although my heart melted every time he said, “I wuv you, Mommy,” I realized that it was my job to teach him the right way to speak.
As Christian parents, it’s our job to teach our kids the right way to live. God spoke through His prophet Moses as He urged the Israelites to teach His laws “again and again to [their] children” (Deuteronomy 6:7). They were instructed to keep them highly visible in their homes as reminders (Deuteronomy 6:8-9).
Like the Israelite parents, we have to do more than just help our kids memorize a list of divine do’s and don’ts. Moses said, “Your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations?’” (Deuteronomy 6:20). We have to explain God’s laws so that our kids will be able to live them out. We’re supposed to talk about God’s rules when we’re at home, on the road, going to bed, and getting up (Deuteronomy 6:7).
The Israelites were to tell their charges about how God had rescued them from slavery, about His signs and wonders, and about His provision of land (Deuteronomy 6:22- 23). For, as Moses said, “Your children . . . have never experienced . . . [God’s] greatness and His strong hand” (Deuteronomy 6:2). We too need to share the firsthand experiences we’ve had with God’s grace and power.
Our children need to know what God’s Word says, what it means, and what it looks like in the world around them. Then they’ll be able to “do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight” (Deuteronomy 6:18).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 9:1-21
More:
Read Proverbs 4 for an example of fatherly teaching. Read 1 Kings 2:1-3 to see how God may bless our children if they follow His ways.
Next:
Why is it important for you to take responsibility for your children’s knowledge about God? How have you been discussing God and His commands with your children?
jeremiah7 on March 23, 2011 at 1:18 am
Fine devotional. God bless you.
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
will77 on March 23, 2011 at 4:49 am
I can testify completely to rhe power of teaching the word of God to your children. While I was on the abyss of death, through a suicidal mindset and a self destructive lifestyle. In my most darkest moments I would hear God and I knew the way back to God. In my complete crushing failure to live and survive it was The hope of God planted in me through my fathers teaching us kids the word of God that gave me my only glimpse of hope. I should be dead today many times over but it was God who rescued me. I have always been so grateful to my father for planting the words of life that I know saved my life.
Teaching my children the word of God has been the number one priority in our household as well as living it out before them in the love of Christ
jennifer benson schuldt on March 23, 2011 at 11:06 am
Will77,
Thank you for sharing some of your struggles with us. What you said reinforces how important it is for us, as parents to teach our kids about God and His Word. Your testimony reminded me of what Moses said, “Your children have never experienced God’s greatness and his strong hand—but only because they haven’t “lived” enough. In your case, God’s “strong hand” saved your life. One day, you may be able to use your past experiences to help your children, or someone else’s children get through a difficult time in life.
eppistle on March 23, 2011 at 7:26 am
I’m thankful for my father who gathered our family together every day (except Wednesdays and Sundays when we had church services) so that the Daily Bread and its accompanying Bible passage would be read together. I remember very few of these individual lessons. But the accumlative effect was that I was convinced that reading the Bible was an important habit to develop in my own life.
jennifer benson schuldt on March 23, 2011 at 10:39 am
eppistle, I like what you said here. Your dad is to be commended for his faithfulness in reading the Bible to your family. Even if you don’t remember any of the specific messages at this point in your life, it’s possible that, at the time, God’s Word spoke to you little by little, day by day. Constant exposure to the Bible on a regular basis can certainly be habit-forming!
tom felten on March 23, 2011 at 7:29 am
Thanks for the post, Jen. Many educators I know have told me that they struggle with teaching kids these days due to the students’ lack of respect and self-discipline. How these children need to hear and see the truths of God’s Word in the words and actions of their parents. As always, God’s wisdom leads to greater health for families and for whole societies as well!
jennifer benson schuldt on March 23, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Tom,
Excellent point. If we, as parents, aren’t modeling what we’re teaching our kids, our words won’t go very far. That is very convicting. : ) Thank you for your thoughts!
winn collier on March 23, 2011 at 7:53 am
I understand one of my prime jobs to be a storyteller, to my kids, my community … to myself even. Thanks for the reminder to keep telling our children God’s story.
GrowinginChrist on March 23, 2011 at 8:28 am
Thank you for this post today. I will be eternally grateful for my mother, who raised 7 of us on her own. She taught us the word of the Lord. I am proud to say that we were “drug babies” as she would drag us all to sunday school, church, prayer meetings, vacation bible school. We never started a meal without prayer and a scripture. She is still at the age of 81 teaching her grown children and grandchildren the word of God. Also, my 99 year old grandmother is still teaching all of her offspring of the word of God and the importance of prayer and fellowship. Glory be to God. Praise his Holy name.
GChoo on March 23, 2011 at 8:36 am
Thanks for the reminder on the importance of sharing God’s Word to our children.
The devotion really reminded me of my teenage son’s baptism testimony 2 years ago. When asked how he came to know the Lord, he shared that it was through his mum. It did catch me with surprise. I thanked God for the wisdom He gave me to share His Word with my children when they were little and to learn how to pray to Him. As parents, we can never 24/7 protect them from outside influence but when they have God’s Word in their heart and mind and with our prayer, we know they will turn back to God should they stray at some point in their life.
Will77, thank you for your testimony, it has been very encouraging and reassuring.
borntolead on March 23, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Thanks jen. I must say my parents had a hardtime or should I say didn’t have enough courage to teach us the the Word of God when we were young. Nonetheless, I thank my spiritual parents who have been very patient in leading me the way to salvation, persistent always regardless of my obedience and acceptance of the things they are telling me. I’ll do the same to my future children, no space for shame or whatever hindrance.
Praise Jesus always!
jennifer benson schuldt on March 23, 2011 at 6:49 pm
borntolead,
You touched on an important thought–persistence in teaching our kids about God’s ways and His Word. The culture is a pervasive and persistent force that could lead them in another direction. It can be frustrating when we feel like we’re doing all the right things, and yet our kids don’t respond in the way we wish they would. A favorite pastor of mine likes to say, “God is still at work, even when it appears like nothing is happening.” Blessings to you and thanks for contributing your thoughts!
Debby Cathy on March 29, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Hey Jennifer Schuldt! Just read ur devotion on Our Daily Bread about talking low and slow. Wanted some further advice on this. If a church leader has anger management problems and is yet to learn how to correct people with love, should such a person remain a leader while learning to deal softly with others? Or should they first step aside and deal with their weaknesses? The reason I request for your help is because such a leader has unintentionally hurt others through their speech, and though they have given apologies, they are yet to fully change, and the leader fears hurting others, which now hampers their leadership. Thanks for your help.
jennifer benson schuldt on April 1, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Hello Debby Cathy,
Thanks for your question. You described a difficult situation. It’s hard to give specific advice without all the details. The Bible does indicate that people in church leadership are held to a higher standard of conduct than the rest of us. You might be interested in reading Titus 1:6-9. Still, if the offenses are unintentional, it seems like the congregation would need to show grace and be willing to work with the leader after an apology has been made.
I hope this situation can be resolved for the glory of God. Blessings to you.