"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."
Deuteronomy 6:5-7a
Here's a Tough Question
What, when, and where are you teaching your kids?
Today more than ever we have to make sure that we are leading our families to Christ. Because now more than any other point in history, society is leading them away from Christ.
All Times and All Places
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 is often quoted and it is extremely important in telling us when and where to teach our children: all the time, at all places. But we have to make sure we are teaching those commandments in verses 4-5 that verse 6 references: That the Lord is Lord alone and to love Him with all of your heart, your soul, and strength.
Alarming Study Results
A recent study found that more than 1/2 of all children raised in a “Christian” home walked away from the faith. Also, that less than 2% of people 18-29 years old hold a sound biblical world view. There is a fight for our children’s souls! So what can we do about that?
Take Every Opportunity
We have to take Deuteronomy 6:4-9 to heart. We have to take every opportunity from the time we wake up until we go to bed to show our children the love of Christ. We have to show them how to interact with the world around us. We have to show them that they are foreigners on this earth but citizens of Heaven. When our children ask us a question, rather than give our opinion first, ask the question together: What does God have to say about that subject.
What's the Goal?
If we ask the hard questions, if we put in the effort, and if we follow Deuteronomy 6:4-9, we will create disciples in our homes, which is the goal! They will be prepared to "push back" against the world's agenda. IF we can do that, we will have done our job as fathers and leaders of our families.
So say a prayer, take a deep breath, and get in the fight.
“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.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV
Thad Hardin
MD5 Lab Facilitator