Application is VITAL
As I am discussing about teaching our children the Word of God, I can not leave out a very important part of the main picture. That is applying what you learn and teach! The word of God is living and active, it is more than words and pages in a book. It is filled with foundations of faith and instructions in righteousness, neither are to be neglected. The word of God calls us to higher living and understanding than the world.
The life we live before the Lord and before our children is the most effective tool for teaching our children the Word of God. Nobody likes a hypocrite, including Jesus. The most devastating thing you can do to your child’s faith is to say one thing and do another, or to brush off what you learn from God’s word and not LIVE it. Bitterness will form in their hearts if we tell them the Word of God is important and yet ignore it’s teaching. This sort of hypocrisy will cause your children to run as far away from the bible and church as they can go.
§ Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
§ Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths, And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me,
§ Jamess 2:18-19 … I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
§ 1John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
§ 1John 5:3-4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith
§ Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Confess your faults. Don’t try to deceive your children into thinking that you have got your Christian walk all together (they know the truth anyway), tell them you fall short, ask them to pray for you, and ask them to forgive you. Let them see your concern for your own life before the eyes of God, let them see you DESIRING and STRIVING to please God, then they will respect you more as you show concern for their heart and life and be more open to your instruction!
§ Luke 6:41-42 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.
§ James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
§ 2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?
Relate LIFE back to the Word. If they do something good, tell them they have obeyed God’s word and quote the scripture that applies. If you can’t think of it right then, look it up and take a “heart to heart” moment to tell them what you found in the treasure of God’s word. Let them see, by your actions, that you are madly and passionately in love with the Lord by loving and obeying His Word! When they disobey, remind them that God’s word says He gave them parents for his good, and He expects them to obey.
§ 1John 5:3-4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
§ Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
I would like one day to spend more time on my thoughts for child training, but now is not that time. There are MANY good books and resources on the market that can train and assist you to biblical child training, Micheal Pearl, Steve Maxwell, and Gary Izzo have some really good ones. Also seek out sermons and teachings that encourage you to train your children in Biblical living. You can find free teachings from S.M. Davis at Biblepreaching.com and Voddie Baucham at sermonaudio.com. All of these can be down loaded as MP3 and burned to a cd to listen to in your vehicle. Reading these resources and listening is time well spent!
And so I close with this: The Word of God bearing fruit in your life IS your testimony of God’s power through the gospel to your children and all those around you! It is your assurance of faith! Your children are watching and they either see His grace alive in you or they see your need of a Savior.
§ John 15:7-10 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
§ John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
God bless you as you endeavor to live for the King of kings!
Striving to be a mom for His glory,
Regina
Please feel free to email me at servingasamother@yahoo.com
