“You shall LOVE THE LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. “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
- WHEN YOU RISE UP.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
Why does God want us to teach our children 4 times per day? “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, “…seeking someone to DEVOUR (katapinō: to swallow up, to destroy). Resist him, firm in your faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9) He is looking for those who are defenseless, when Jesus was confronted by Satan, He battelled him with THE WORD OF GOD, THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT! Why does that work? Because “…the WORD OF GOD is LIVING and POWERFUL, and SHARPER than any two-edged sword, PIERCING even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a DISCERNER (kritikos: to understand the difference between things) of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
We must be sure that we and our families receive God’s Word because, “All Scripture is GOD–BREATHED (theopneustos: God’s breath) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and TRAINING (paideia: instruction that helps us to reach full development) IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) When we read God’s Word, He breathes the Word into us so we will know it’s meaning.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham