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Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Pass It On


While reading an article this morning by a local pastor, he mentioned some statistics
that got my attention. He said that if we live to the age of 75 we will spend on average 11 years watching television. He went on to say that on average we would spend 2-17 minutes each day “on religious activities such as praying, reading the Bible, going to church, or telling others about Jesus.” If his source is correct, and it probably is, that really says a mouth-full about our spiritual health in this country.

In Deuteronomy chapter six God said to Israel through Moses the following:

Deut. 6:1-2
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Deut. 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Deut. 6:12-15
Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

Deut. 6:17-18
Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers.

WOW! The Word of God must REALLY be IMPORTANT!

·        Think about His Word every waking minute
·        Wear His Word on your body (not tattoos)
·        Write His Word on the post of your house and your gates

Notice in particular verse seven, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Yes I know this passage was written for the benefit of Israel, but what God said to Israel is just as appropriate to the Church today as it was and is to Israel then and now.

Christian parents today make certain their children know about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Halloween witches and hobgoblins. They are taught the finer art of many sport activities, and we even teach them math and how to read and write.

How many Christian parents though teach their children what God says? How many Christian parents open the Bible and teach them God’s Word, and then kneel with them, teaching them to pray? How many of these Christian parents start when their children are young and continue until they leave the nest?

Most children are left to somehow pick it up on their own, perhaps by osmosis? The television, Internet and mobile phone are their babysitters. I know there are Christian parents who have tried to follow Deuteronomy 6:7, and have done a marvelous job. Most of us however have been so very weak in this area. By the way, the last place I would leave them unattended is in front of the television or on the Internet.

I am not trying to browbeat Christian parents, but perhaps it is an issue that needs attention. What better time to start than ‘now.’ Maybe we could do better with the grandchildren. Maybe we missed the boat altogether. If that is the case, then let us not forget our greatest resource … prayer. Put them in God’s hand and lift them up to Him daily.

The children of America, whether from Christian homes or secular homes, are being strongly influenced by any and everything Satan throws at them. They have hindrances and temptations today I never dreamed of when I was young. They really need our prayers. The world of today is much more dangerous; spiritually, emotionally and physically, for children, or anyone else for that matter.

If we, as Christian parents, would have followed Deuteronomy chapter six as God said, I really believe we would see a marked difference in today’s children and grandchildren. Sadly, we have actually followed the errant way of Israel and because they (Israel) disobeyed God, they suffered greatly back then and still do today.

God does not tell us to follow a certain path in life because He can’t think of anything better to do. He instructs us because He knows what is best for us.

This country is headed for judgment just as surely as a runaway train barreling toward a cliff is headed for destruction. Only the hand of God is delaying our demise. If we really believe this, and I do, you would think we would all be soaking up the Word of God like a starving wolf over a carcass. 

There are so many things we pass on to our children, whether we realize it or not, but do we pass on to them what our Lord wants them to know? If we do not teach them, we can rest assured that Satan will be more than happy to take over. Most parents would do just about anything for their children, but are we doing for them what they really need? Are we teaching them the Good News of Jesus Christ and living it out in their presence? If not, now would be a good time to start.

Grant Phillips
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com