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Live the Word

"A family without a commitment to the God of the Bible has no hope of stemming the tide of cultural onslaught. If we mix a little biblical truth, a little secular psychology, a little romance novel ideology, and a little eastern mysticism, we will get a deadly mixture of lies. Unfortunately, this is what many Christian families do . . . If we are to experience multi-generational faithfulness we must come to a place where we throw off the shackles of our culture and live in the fullness that is found only in Christ. We must be people who live the Word in our homes."

~By Voddie T. Baucham, Jr~


What are our goals for our families? What spiritual goals do you have? My greatest desire is that my children would come to know Christ personally - that He would not just be Mommy's Jesus or Daddy's God, but that they would have their own unique experience with God and claim His as their own.

They hear the message at church, through children's worship, through Sunday School an Awanas, and they hear it at home in Bible stories. But more importantly than the ink and paper lessons are the flesh and blood examples they see. How will they know compassion unless it is acted out daily in their presence? How will they understand joy in the midst of trials if Mom and Dad aren't learning that themselves?

If they see in me a faith dependant upon rituals or a belief system that incorporates worldliness, their vision of Christianity will be tarnished. We have committed to create our home by settling firmly upon the strongest foundation possible - the Rock of Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.


God's command to the Israelites shows us how to pass on our faith from one generation to the next: by letting the Word saturate our lives. It should be in our homes and wherever we go! It's not just something we talk about during devotions or at church, but it is incorporated into everyday life. That's a living faith!



For more "In Other Words," visit Loni at Writing Canvas.

P.S. I feel compelled to add that I disagree with one thing in this quote. I believe that with God's word as our foundation, we must build upward with only elements that will stand the test of time and that are in alignment with Scripture. As such, psychology can be a useful tool if sifted through the sieve of God's Word.

Comments

Enjoyed your take on this verse.

Hope you are enjoying this day.

Hugs!
Anonymous said…
Heather,

My husband and I have written goals for our family. Having been in the work force for so many years ~ vision, mission and values statements were a thing of comfort. I wanted to have a focus when I came home and spent the entire day with my child. I wanted a light to guide my curriculum selection ~

I don't refer to it much anymore, but when I first came home... it was very helpful in deciding what activities to say yes to and what activities to say no to.
Karen said…
What is our goal, our focus spiritually for our children is important. A lady recently told me at church that she was amazed how excited my three granddaughters are about Jesus and that I was to blame. Praise the Lord! Can't think of a better goal or focus.
Amen, great post.

My older children are serving the Lord, my prayer lately has been for their mates. OH Lord bring the right people in to their lives at the right time.

Blessings,
Sue
Amico Dio said…
It really helps to stay focused on Jesus. That is how I took this quote too. We can't change the media but we can control it's effect on us!

great post!
lori said…
Heather,
"remind me of this with every decision, generations will reap what I sow."
When I heard that song the first time...I got tears in my eyes...what a convicting message!!

amen!!
amen!!
amen!!

values and faith...gotta LIVE it and SHOW it all day, in and out of the house...we are WHO they are watching!!
loved it!!
lori
Susan said…
Heather,

This was great! I appreciate your wisdom, and gift of writing.

PS I'm with you on your ending thoughts...
Anonymous said…
Thank you for visiting my blog today and leaving your advice for my journey ahead.
Kathy Schwanke said…
a kindred spirit...Heather,my heart for my family exactly. I was blessed just tonight on the way home from youth group when my 15 year old son said "thank you mom for the way you raised me." He is grateful for his safety in the dwelling place of God. Loving His ways and abiding in Him. At this point my prayer is for my children to have a deeper walk with the Lord,and extravagant devotion & passion.

Halleluiah, He answers our "mama" prayers abundantly!

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