We can teach our children to fear the Lord by listening to His word, according to God.
God instructs Moses to, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words, SO THAT THEY MAY LEARN TO REVERE ME(honor, fear, submit to) as long as they live… and may teach them to their children.”Deuteronomy 4:10 and then the children, who do not know the law, will listen and learn to fear the Lord your God .” Deuteronomy 31:12
God sends out His words to accomplish His purposes and He promises that the word will not return void or ineffective. It is likened to the rain of heaven watering the earth bringing forth flourishing plants and seeds (Isaiah 55:8-11)
His word brings life and it brings faith
Jesus says, “The Spirit of God gives life, for the words I speak to you are full of the Spirit and life.” John 6:63
His disciples knew the power in the words of the Lord. As some of Jesus’ disciples began to leave him because he was speaking challenging things , He asked the twelve, “Do you want to leave me too”. They respond, ” Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69
Jesus goes on to say”My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.”John 7:16 Jesus comes to reconnect us with the Father and in His words we find life.
Every time I read the word, I ask the Lord to speak to me.I read until I hear His personal word to me that is life-giving.
As we turn to encourage our children, we can take what He says to us and share it with them, until they learn to receive it directly from the Lord themselves, and begin their personal relationship with Him.
We have this promise from God that leading our children to Him, is not difficult.
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”(Deut 30:13 and Romans 10:8), that is concerning faith that we proclaim: “If you declare with your mouth,” Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call upon Him,”Everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved.”(Joel 2:32, Rms 10:9-10,13)
Paul continues his teaching in Romans saying that if this is true, then, “How , then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? How can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of Him who will bring good news!”…Consequently, faith comes from hearing, hearing from the word of Christ. (Romans 10:14,15,17)
I believe that we as parents are sent to our children to introduce them to the voice of the Father-to the words of eternal life. We are the ones to bring them the good news of what Jesus did for them to reconcile them to God by dying for them on the cross. It is our greatest honor and privilege to see them come to God in faith.
As Charles Spurgeon says, “It is our highest call and most sacred ministry to lead our children to Christ…The beloved of the Lord are to hand down their witness for the gospel and the covenant to their heirs, and again to their descendants. THIS IS OUR FIRST DUTY, WE ARE TO BEGIN AT THE FAMILY HEARTH: HE IS A BAD MINISTER WHO DOES NOT COMMENCE HIS MINISTRY AT HOME. It is often approved to be an accepted work for God has saved the children through the parent’s prayers and admonition. (Morning and Evening, page 387)
“Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. ” Joel 1:3
My grandparents and parents prayed for me to come into the Kingdom. It was their influence in my life that led me to Christ. I turned and taught my children from the word every day in their lives and it shaped them into who they are, more than anything else!
Jesus pleads with us to,
“Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them for the Kingdom of God belong to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16
May the Lord bless you richly as you lead your children to Him!!
Lisa
My pencil drawing
“Instruct the children in the Lord, when they are old they shall not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6
