We can read the Scriptures with our children, but if we do not teach them to heed its instruction, it will yield little fruit in their lives. The Bible says “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
The only way to teach our children to follow the Word is to walk according to its precepts ourselves. If we do not allow the Word to permeate and direct our lives, we cannot expect our children to care overmuch for it either. They will view us as hypocrites; and they will be right. We cannot tell them that the Word is important and completely disregard its truths. Rather, what we read and learn in the Word must influence our thoughts, opinions, actions, decisions, purchases, appearance, speech, and the use of our time. The Bible must be our daily guide, not a religious accessory.
We must also explain to our children that the Christian life is a journey. It is a process of growth and sanctification. We are to be constantly striving to be more like Christ. This means that there will be books we would have had in our home ten years ago that we will not have now. There will be programs we would have listened to ten years ago that we will not listen to now. There will be activities we would have allowed ten years ago that we will not allow now. And so on. This is not hypocrisy — this is growth. We need to share with our children from the Word what the Lord is teaching us and how we are striving to please Him in our home.
In the same chapter of James mentioned above, it goes on to say that a man who hears the Word, but does not respond to its instruction is like a man who looks in the mirror and recognizes he has a problem, but goes on his way without fixing it. If we look into the mirror of the Word and are convicted of a sin, but do not repent and change, our hearts will become hardened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. We will not be responding to His leading and we will miss God’s perfect will for our lives.
Many homeschooling parents delight in Deuteronomy 6 as a beautiful picture of family life because it directs parents to walk beside their children, talk with their children, and teach their children from early in the morning until they go to bed in the evening. The same passage begins with this important reminder: “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:” In other words, God is not only interested in having families know His Word; He wants them to obey it, as well!
Hear the Word.
Heed the Word.
Hide the Word.
Speak the Word.
Share the Word.
Send the Word.
Love the Word.
Learn the Word.
Live the Word.
Be not deceived.
Copyright © 2013
