Most of our homes have Bibles in them,
but they must not remain on the shelf or closed on the coffee table. God's Word
must be shared as a family!
Moses taught this
principle to Israel,"And these words which I command you today shall be in your
heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and
when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be
as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your
house and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Sitting around the
table, driving in the car, going about daily tasks--any time, everyday provides
opportunities to set forth God's teachings for our lives. In this way we instill
faith (Romans 10:17) and protect ourselves from temptation and sin (Psalm
119:11; Matthew 4:1-11).
When my children were
growing up at home, we would read from a Bible story book a few minutes each
night before going to bed. This would give them opportunity to ask questions and
learn God's Word. We would also have time for prayer together. I know this
helped our relationship and molded their hearts for the Lord.
Paul wrote, "And you,
fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the
training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul speaks
of one's responsibility to provide for the physical needs of other family
members who are not able to provide for themselves, saying, "But if anyone does
not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has
denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." What about the one who fails
to provide for the spiritual needs of his family?!
Robert Dodson
©1998 Robert Dodson. Permission granted to use
this article in any manner, as long as:
1) the content is not changed and 2) the name of the author is left on the article.
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