Passing on the Treasure: Part 1
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Hear, O
This is going to be the theme verse for spiritually shepherding our children. Moses reminded the Israelites of the essentials; who God is and how we relate to God. The Lord Himself is our greatest treasure and the priceless heirloom we wish for our children to posses. Moses then instructed the Lord’s people make the essential inform everything they did on a daily basis. I think it is wonderful for mothers to exchange practical ideas, yet I also deeply believe that too much focus on the “how-to’s” of mothering as opposed to reminding ourselves of the few essential principles can become counter productive and burden a mother with many “laws” to keep. So as we consider the spiritual formation of our children, we will focus on the goal; for our children to know and treasure Christ above all, in everything they do.
There are many, many books giving counsel to parents, even Biblical counsel. However, no matter how wonderful a book or teacher, the advice given is shaped by the individual’s uniqueness as well as his children’s uniqueness’. Ultimately, we cannot just simply follow the “Ezzo” model or the “Sears” model, but based off God’s Word as well as godly counsel, we must develop our own family’s living example of Biblical parenting. You are the one who designs a training program for your home, according to the heritage, personalities, talents, weaknesses, and circumstances of your particular family. No one else’s exact system will apply or work. Ready or not, you (and your husband if he is on board but it is not your job to make him be) are your children’s teachers and you design the curriculum. Even if you use other books and tools, you are the one assessing what to use, how to use it, and you are the one modeling spirituality for your children. You are developing the unique “Finch” model, or “Viola” model or “Laiming” model.
Then as mothers we are charged with the spiritual upbringing of our children, in addition to their physical, intellectual and emotional. ParentLife Magazine (SBC/LifeWay) quoted the following statistics:
· A person's moral foundation is established by age 9
· A person's spiritual beliefs are formed by age 13
· Children develop decision making patterns when they are young.
This ought to seem totally overwhelming! God has given us a job that is much bigger than we are, in order to drive us to Himself so that we will trust in Him and depend on Him and rejoice to see Him do what we cannot, thereby modeling the spiritual life for our children. I asked my husband what he thought was the greatest thing mothers needed to know concerning the spiritual shepherding of their children. He responded with “They cannot save their children or make them become Christians.” God saves people. Only God can give Himself to someone. If that doesn’t seem relieving and encouraging, then we don’t know ourselves or Christ as we ought. God accomplishes mighty things and no purpose of His can be thwarted. He is infinitely loving and gracious. I, on the other hand, am shortsighted and usually mess things up to some degree or another!
Job 42:2 "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.
Romans 9:16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
I for one am easily overwhelmed with pressing immediacies of daily life, much less the spiritual formation of my child! However, God chooses to use mothers as earthen vessels of His teaching, discipline and calling of our children, for our joy and His glory, but it is like asking your two year old to help you put away the groceries or clean the floor. She really didn’t help much at all and it would have been easier without her, but great training and fellowship was gained by making her your partner. Praise God that He is the One who is faithful to complete the work of spiritual rebirth and maturation both in myself and in my child! Truly, we receive the joy of learning and growing with our children as the Lord works in our lives together.
Praise God that He has not only chosen us mothers as one of His instruments, but He has also made the essential principles for faith clear. Although the job of mothering is bigger than we are, God does not try to trick us with the Truth. He is the hound of heaven, calling us and our children to know Him. He has made Himself plain, but we make it complicated because we prefer to walk by total comprehension and in our own control instead of by faith. This does not mean that life is easy, but that the hope we cling to is plain and simple; Christ died to save sinners and in every earthly circumstance I am going to hope in Him to save me!
Matthew 11:29 - 12:1 – “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Luke 10:21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Matthew 18:2-3 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Click here for Part 2 of this series.
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