Deuteronomy 6:7 “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.”
Biblical instruction begins in the HOME and is to be done by PARENTS, especially by FATHERS!! As you may know, Proverbs 22:6 speaks of training up children. In training children, one should think of Deuteronomy 6:7. When a dad reads Ephesians 6:4, which calls for him to train up his children, he should think of Deuteronomy 6:7. The “them” of Deuteronomy 6:7 are the commands or the teachings of God, and the stories of God’s work. They are to be DILIGENTLY taught to your children.
PARENTS ARE TO BE THE FIRST TEACHERS OF GOD’S WORD TO THEIR CHILDREN!
So, here is some homework for parents:
You are to be READING, learning God’s Word for you and FOR THEM!! I do read God’s Word for myself, BUT I learned a long time ago that my reading of God’s Word is also for others, especially for my children. I can’t teach them what I don’t know. So what are you reading for you and for them?
Just as a coach sets times to practice, you should set up times to “coach your children.” Our verse says you are to talk about the Word of God when you lie down, and when you rise up. Look for ways to share a bedtime story and at least one verse at breakfast. Think Bible at Breakfast and Bible at Bed.
Look to have impromptu conversations about the things of the Lord, as the verse says, when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way. The tip I give is to create a teachable moment with a question. Jesus would many times ask His disciples WHAT DO YOU THINK and then give a subject to consider.
Use the special dates on the calendar during the year to convey spiritual truth. In the OT, the feasts were opportunities for parents to teach an aspect of God’s goodness and grace.
The last assignment is another tip. Be sensitive to teachable moments that happen when a child asks a question. Many times, we can find a child’s question annoying. Be careful not to quench curiosity!
Please take time to answer how does Deuteronomy 6:7 get lived out.
Continue Strong, diligently teaching God’s Word to the next generation,
And remember to daily DATE the Word