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Of
the stories of the Exodus from Egypt and Israel's
wanderings in the wilderness the Scripture says: “These
things happened to them as examples and were written
down as warnings for us …” 1 Corinthians
10:11
The
Scriptures also warn us of a time that will come when:
“people will be lovers of themselves, lovers
of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to
their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving,
slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers
of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers
of pleasure rather than lovers of God; having a form
of godliness, but denying its power … always
learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”
2 Timothy 3:2-7
That
description could so accurately be applied to much
of what is going on in our society today. Notice how
the Scripture places those who are “abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful” amongst
some of the most brutal and vicious sins.
Respect
for Authority
Indeed, God's Law declares: “Cursed is the man
who dishonours his father or his mother. Then all
the people shall say Amen!” Deuteronomy 27:16
“The
eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to
a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the
valley, will be eaten by the vultures.” Proverbs
30:17
Our
Lord Jesus declared: “Honour your father and
mother and anyone who curses his father or mother
must be put to death.” Matthew 15:4
Tragically,
respect for parents and elders is becoming increasingly
rare, even in Christian circles today. Yet, God's
Law makes clear that we are to “rise in the presence
of the aged, show respect for the elderly” (Leviticus
19:32) and “Listen to your father, who gave you
life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
Poverbs 23:22
These
commands are not just to young children. No matter
what our age, whether we are living under our parents'
roof or running our own household, we are still responsible
to honour and respect our parents in the Lord. (Exodus
20:12)
“Each
of you must revere his mother and father, and you
must observe My Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 19:3
In
the light of the overwhelming pressures which assail
families, and the relentless temptations that surround
young people today, parents must take extraordinary
steps to ensure that our children are raised in the
love and fear of the Lord. We need to lay solid foundations
and form good habits, which will discipline, disciple,
strengthen and prepare our children for lives of Godliness
and productive service in our congregations, communities
and countries.
1.
Bible Before Breakfast
It is essential that we establish Bible-centered homes.
There are many ways that we can do this. Firstly,
we can establish the principle of The Bible before
breakfast. Encourage each member of the family to
conduct their personal devotions before breakfast
or read a passage of Scripture or a devotional reading
together as a family before breakfast.
2.
Scripture Before Supper
As the evening meal tends to be the most important
time of fellowship in most families, it would be ideal
to establish the principle of Scripture before supper.
This could include reading a chapter of the Psalms
or Proverbs each night, or working through some kind
of devotional book.
3.
Devotions After Dinner
Some families may prefer Devotions after dinner, which
could be done around the meal table, in a bedroom,
or in the lounge. The important thing is that Scripture,
Psalms and Hymns and prayer should be a daily part
of every Christian home. This does not mean that these
family devotions need to be long. In fact, particularly
in families with small children, it is wise to keep
family devotions short, cheerful and focused. Children
thrive on repetition, and so one could incorporate
basic memorisations of the Lord's Prayer, the Ten
Commandments and the Apostles' Creed. Even 3 or 4
year old children can memorise the Lord's Prayer and
some basic Scriptures.
4.
Bible Stories and Prayer Before Bed
One of the most important times of any Christian family
with children should be Bible stories and prayer before
bed. This should be an enjoyable and vibrant time
of fellowship, either cuddling up together on the
couch or on the bed, using colourful story book pictures
if possible, and regularly asking questions and involving
the younger children in these great stories from God's
Word.
Many
parents will protest that they don't have the time
for all this. Well, actually you do have the time
if you severely cut down on Television and newspapers.
In the light of eternity, what good have the multiplied
hours spent each week in front of the TV set and pouring
through your local scandal rags done for either you
or your children? Cut out TV and you'll have enough
time to disciple your children.
5.
Make Sundays Special
From the earliest, we need to teach our children a
love and a respect for God's Word, for the Church
and for the Lord's Day. Children thrive on routine
and rhythm. That is why ensuring that our calendar
reflects our faith is most important. Habits and routine
are a vital part of discipleship. We make time for
those things we deem important. God has decreed that
we work six days and give the seventh to rest and
worship. It was so important to God that He gave us
His example to follow, by resting after creating the
Universe. As Christians, we should repent for allowing
the Lord's Day to become so encroached upon and desecrated
by shopping, sports and worldly entertainment.
The
French Revolutionary and atheist, Voltaire, declared:
“If you want to kill Christianity, you must abolish
Sunday.”
D.L.
Moody observed: “You show me a nation that has
given up the Sabbath, and I will show you a nation
that has the seed of decay.”
Bishop
J.C. Ryle challenged us: “Common sense, reason,
conscience will combine, I think, to say that if we
cannot spare God one day in a week, we cannot be living
as those ought to live who must die one day.”
The
Puritan writer, Richard Baxter, advised: “See
that the Lord's Day be spent in holy preparation for
eternity.”
Any
relationship needs quality time and we need to devote
at least one day a week to developing and deepening
our relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ.
“If
you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from
doing as you please on My Holy day, if you call the
Sabbath a delight and the Lord's Holy day honourable,
and if you honour it by not going your own way and
not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then
you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause
you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast
on the inheritance …”
Isaiah 58:13-14
Setting
aside the first day of the week as a special day is
good for our body, mind and soul. We need time set
aside for relaxation, reflection and restoration.
It is a matter of rhythm and routine, but also a matter
of revelation and remembrance of the Lord's great
works of Creation (Exodus 20:8-11) and Salvation (Deut
5:12-15).
By
ordering our week to set aside the Lord's Day as a
special day for the family, to rest and to worship
the Lord, we proclaim to the world that Jesus has
risen from the dead and He is the Lord of our lives.
Resting one day in seven is also healthy spiritually,
emotionally, physically and economically. It is good
for business, good for families and good for any country.
Preparation
for worship on Sunday begins the day before - ensuring
that our children get to bed early enough, to be well
rested for Sunday worship. We can also encourage our
children to respect where we gather for Sunday Worship
and the Lord's day by seeing that they wear their
best clothes for the Lord's house. And ensuring that
we arrive early enough for worship, with expectant
and teachable hearts and minds.
It
is essential that we teach our children respect for
authority, starting with their parents, and then for
grandparents, uncles and aunts, authority in the church
and in society. Respect for God, respect for people
and respect for property.
6.
Scripture Memorisation
Scripture memorisation is a vital tool in discipleship:
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living
according to Your Word … I have hidden Your Word
in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:9-11
“Your
Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalm 119:105
If
we build our children's lives upon the Rock of God's
Word, then they will stand in the storms of life that
most surely will assail them (Matthew 7:24-27).
These
principles of: respect for authority, for the Lord's
Day and for the Lord's house; and love for God's Word,
the Bible, and for God's people; feeding our children's
hearts and minds with examples of excellence from
the Scripture and Christian history; ensuring that
they receive the Bible before breakfast, Scripture
before supper and are sent to bed only after Bible
stories and prayer; with much of the Scripture stored
up in their hearts through Scripture memorisation,
we will ensure that … “when he is old, he
will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Let
us disciple our children by word and deed, by our
lives and our lips, by education and by example -consistently
(Deuteronomy 6: 6-7).
“Let
the Word of Christ dwell in your heart richly as you
teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and
as you sing Psalms, Hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you
do, whether in Word or in deed, do it all in the Name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through Him.” Col. 3:16-17
(Dr.
Peter Hammond is the Director of Frontline Fellowship
and the author of The Greatest Century of Missions
and Putting Feet to Your Faith. Many of his articles
and news reports are available on the Frontline Fellowship
website:
www.frontline.org.za)
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