Train Up Your Child
PROVERBS 22:6
“TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT”
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ” Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.” (MSG)
The book of Deuteronomy chapter 6 BEGINS with the Title …..”The Greatest Commandment” so God is clearly emphasizing something very important for us to pay attention to. A “command” is NOT a suggestion, it is just what it says…..A COMMAND! The definition of command is ” to give an authoritative order”….. “You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words which I COMMAND you today shall be in your heart”. And then He COMMANDS US to teach our children to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”! This is not a casual statement but an authoritative order! In verse 3 we are told to “be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you”! Verse 7 says, “Get them inside of you ( I will resist the temptation to get off on a tangent with this but will definitely follow up on our “getting them inside us”) and then get them inside of your children” another translation says, “teach them DILIGENTLY to your children.” (NKJ) A casual memorization of a bible scripture is NOT what God is saying here…..it’s a decisive, diligent effort we as parents make!! He goes on to emphasize to talk about Him, His statutes, His Love, His very Nature and Character EVERYWHERE we go! Talking of God should be a very natural, everyday conversation and lifestyle for our children to grow up in! Remember Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “Train up our Children in the way they should go”. We are the teachers and God has commanded us to teach our children so pay close attention to “teaching moments” in the home and when you are out. This is probably a good place to interject…..THIS JOB HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US PARENTS….IT IS NOT YOUR PASTORS JOB, YOUR CHILDS SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS JOB, OR THE GRANDPARENTS JOB (ALTHOUGH I DO ENCOURAGE EACH TO ALSO BE VERY INVOLVED IN THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND TRAINING!!) – that’s just a side note. Verse 7 says to “talk about them from the time you get up to the time you fall into bed at night”…..that means its a LIFESTYLE parents and that means it’s our job to instill God’s word, character, and instruction into them, day in and day out! Verse 8 tells us to ” tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder”, “inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes”! God is saying ….Keep these teachings in front of you and your children! Put up reminders throughout your home of Who God is, How much He loves us, How He cares for all of His children!! Children learn by example and by repetition….well….actually most of us do, So let’s make sure we remember our COMMAND…..the AUTHORITATIVE ORDER, to train up our children…inscribe them in the hearts of your children and in your home so that “it may be well with us” !!
