Saturday, September 17, 2011
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon 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.
BIBLE TRUTHS TO KEEP ETCHED ON OUR HEARTS
Our children are very dear to Jesus: "Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost" (Matthew 18:14).
He is deeply concerned for their proper training: "Feed my lambs" (John 15:19).
He commands us to bring our children to Him early: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them" (Mark 10:14).
He wants them to be trained thoroughly in His Word: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon 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" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Jesus earnestly warns against spiritual neglect of children: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).
He rewards those who give their children proper spiritual care and training: "If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42).
Prayer: Merciful God, heavenly Father, whose compassions are new every morning, we praise You for the love and forgiveness You have shown us in Your Son, Jesus. You alone give us the strength to do our daily tasks and the will to live according to Your Word. In all we do at home, at work, or in the church, let our service be not to please men but to glorify You. You have given parents the responsibility to raise their children with the life-giving nourishment of Your Word and to train them to live in Your holy ways. Forgive our many weaknesses for Jesus' sake and strengthen us according to Your promise. As You have guided us by Your truth in the past, hear our prayer for Your grace to keep us as Your own in the future. We ask it to the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
