“There is neither encouragement nor room in Bible religion for feeble desires, listless efforts, lazy attitudes; all must be strenuous, urgent, ardent. Inflamed desires, impassioned, unwearied insistence delight heaven. God would have His children incorrigibly in earnest and persistently bold in their efforts. Heaven is too busy to listen to half-hearted prayers or to respond to pop-calls. Our whole being must be in our praying” (E.M. Bounds).
For parents to teach God’s word to their children, they must be passionate and prayerful. To be equipped for this task, seek God first; value God’s glory and greatness; love God with all your heart, soul and might; received God’s provision; fear God and do not follow the world’s philosophy.
Learn and follow God’s decrees. He made a covenant and spoke face to face with those alive today out of the fire on the mountain. God spoke these words to Moses: I am the Lord who brought you out Egypt from the house of slavery. Have no other gods before Me. Do not worship an idol for the Lord is a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of their fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him. Do not misuse the Lord’s name. Labor for six days and rest on the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Remember your slavery in Egypt and how the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand. Therefore the Lord commanded you to observe the Sabbath. Honor your father and mother so you may live long and things may go well with you in the land the Lord is giving you. Do not murder, commit adultery, steal, give false witness and covet anything that belongs to your neighbor (Deut. 5:1-21). Seek God first to spiritually protect future generations, honor your family and do not take advantage of others.
The Lord proclaimed these words in a loud voice to the assembly. Then He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to Moses. The Lord showed His glory and greatness to the heads of tribes and elders. Speak what the Lord says so your children can listen, obey and not die. Oh that people had a heart to fear God and keep all His commands so that it would go well with them and their children forever. Stand by God to get all the commandments, statutes and judgments to teach your children to follow in the land. Be careful to walk in the way God commanded to live and prosper in the land you will possess (Deut. 5:22-33). Value God’s glory and greatness, ask Him to give your children a heart to fear and obey Him, and teach His commandments so they live a prosperous life.
Teach God’s commandments so your children and grandchild fear and obey the Lord, enjoy long life and multiply in a land flowing with milk and honey. Because the Lord is one, love Him with all your heart, soul and might. Impress and talk about the words on your heart with your children when you sit at home, walk along the road, lie down and get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and frontals on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and gates (Deut. 6:1-9). Love God with all your heart so you can diligently teach your children and grandchildren to fear and obey His commands, enjoy life and have multiplied kingdom impact.
You should eat and be satisfied when the Lord gives you great cities in the land you did not build, houses full of good things you did not fill and vineyards you did not plant. Watch and do not forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt from the house of slavery (Deut. 6:10-12). God provides beyond your accomplishments and what you deserve.
Fear and worship the Lord only. Do not follow the gods of people who surround you because God is jealous. Do not test God like you did at Massah. Diligently keep His commandments and testimonies, do what is right and good so it goes well with you. Then you can enter and possess the good land by driving out all your enemies (Deut. 6:13-19). Fear God and do not follow the world’s philosophy so you accomplish His kingdom purposes.
When your son asks for the meaning of God’s laws, tell him that you were slaves of Pharaoh but the Lord brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand. He showed great and distressing signs and wonders to give us the land he promised to our forefathers. God commanded us to obey these decrees and fear Him so we would always prosper and enjoy life to be righteousness for us (Deut. 6:20-25). Grasp every opportunity to teach God’s word in a compelling and impactful way to your children.
Ask God to increase passion for prayer and teaching God’s word while finding creative ways to bring greater meaning in your relationship with God.
