Today we had the joy of dedicating several babies and families at Sycamore Baptist Church, my family included. Here is what I shared with them regarding the “How To” of training your child in the Lord (Part 1, Part 2).

(3) Keep God’s Word before our family

In Deuteronomy 6:8-9 Moses writes,

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 

Moses doesn’t mean we are to literally bind God’s Word to our hands or head, or write them on our doors. Instead, he desires we continually keep God’s Word before ourselves and our family.

God’s Word can’t be some dusty old book in the corner we never pick up.

We can practically keep God’s Word before our families by reading it together, talking about it throughout the day, and making decisions based on God’s Word.

It is necessary we make the effort. In order to combat the cultural noise and win the battle for our kids hearts, we must constantly keep God’s Word before them.

(4) Teach them all our provisions come from God

Again Moses writes,

And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 

Moses tells them not to forget God when they go into the land, to remember everything they have is from the hand of God.

We need to remember and teach our kids that God is our Provider as well. They shouldn’t grow up with the idea that everything they have is by their hands because it’s not. Everything we have is given by the hand of God. We must use every opportunity to teach our children this truth.

Think about how often we would talk about God with our kids if we thanked Him for the things we have. Conversations could be sparked at dinner, when it rains, when we pay our bills, go to work, go fishing, lie down in our beds. It’s important we take those opportunities, so that we don’t forget why we have what we have.

Questions for Reflection

1. How do you keep God’s Word before your family?
2. How do you remind yourself and your family everything you have is from God?

Resources

Post adapted from my sermon Training Our Children in the Lord 

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