Passing on the Faith
After battling a headache last night, I have had a better day after some times of rest. I was glad to get in a workout at the fitness center. One that went better than I was feeling that it would.
Tomorrow our grandkids are coming up from Lakewood for a visit, while their parents attend a retreat in Estes Park. Debbie and I will be speaking at the Timberline “Prime Timers” lunch tomorrow as well.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.” (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)
Moses is preparing the Children of Israel to enter the promise land. In doing so, he affirms and reminds them about the laws and instructions the Lord has given them. He reminds them of the history of God’s deliverance from Egypt and the rebellion of their fathers who have died in the wilderness.
His admonition was, “Do not add anything to what I command you, and do not take anything away. Obey the commands of the Lord your God that I have given you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2)
God’s instructions were complete. God did not need help from people in adding to or taking way. It is interesting how this basic instruction about what obedience is, was a key point of failure for God’s people. Over the centuries they would “take away” and find that partial obedience is viewed as full disobedience. They would “add to” the law and as a result we see the gospels refer to the teachings or the law of the Pharisees. Both of these are perversions of God’s instructions that they were to be avoided.
Here is another reason for obedience to the Lord that is often overlooked. “Obey them faithfully, and this will show the people of other nations how wise you are. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘What wisdom and understanding this great nation has!’” (Deuteronomy 4:6)
The status of God’s people would be elevated by honoring and obeying the Lord opposed to following the ways of idolatrous nations they were driving from the land.
We see at the heart of the law and obeying the law is loving God. “Israel, remember this! The Lord—and the Lord alone—is our God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4,5)
Then we see that God’s instructions were to be at the center of their life and they were to be passed from generation to generation. This is how God’s blessing would rest upon His people for all time to come.
Moses admonishes parents to use every opportunity and every situation to instruct children of the ways of the Lord and why they live their lives as they do. It is important for parents today to still follow this guideline.
“Passing on the faith” is still an important requirement. It is to be done by modeling love for the Lord in all aspects of our life. And we are to use every opportunity to do so.
I am reminded of a time when our children were small and Debbie was cutting up potatoes in the kitchen. She cut open one and the inside was black. She told our children who were at her side, “look at this! This is just the way sin is. You can’t see it on the outside, but it marks your life on the inside.” A 30 second teaching opportunity for a truth that can last a lifetime.
Use structured times, use the ministries of your local church, use times when you are in the car and at home. Use bed time and when you are working on projects around the house. Use them all as opportunities to pass the faith on to the next generation. And remember at the heart of it is, “loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.”