We are responsible for raising the future generation of followers of Jesus.  No pressure there, huh?  Good news!  Deuteronomy 6 gives us 4 great insights on how we can pass our faith on to the next generation.

 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Here are our 4 keys:

• Commit – In a world where we lack commitment in almost every area of our lives, we have to choose to intentionally, consistently invest in the next generation.  The text says, “teach them diligently.”  The picture is like that of an engraver who meticulously chisels away at the stone hour after hour.  His work pays off, after much effort and toil, with constant chiseling, and chiseling, and chiseling some more.  The good news is, once it is written on the stone, it is there forever.  It may get covered up, it may be hidden under other things, but the message is still there.  Writing the ways of the Lord on the lives of our kids takes hard work, consistency, and commitment.  It is difficult and often feels as though we are making no difference at all.  Don’t give up!  Each day you are etching eternal truth into their lives.  Though you may not see it, the message is being forever written on their heart.  Just keep chiseling away.
• Talk about it – The ways of the Lord should be a constant part of our conversation.  After all, we talk about the things we love.  Have continual discussions about God in your home.  Where do you start?  Talk about your faith (your kids would love to hear it). Talk about what they learned in Sunday School or on a Wednesday night at church. Talk about what the pastor said.  Just start somewhere!
• Live it out – In the text it says that the commandments of the Lord were to be worn on the forehead and on the hand as a sign.  That seems strange to us today, but the principle of “wearing” the commands on our life should be clear.  Live out your faith in a visible way in front of your family.  It is NOT a call to perfection or the appearance of perfection.  We are all sinners.  Pretending we don’t struggle creates an unrealistic and unhealthy standard for our kids.  Embrace your failures and mistakes.  Be honest about your struggles and mess ups. Kids are looking for authenticity.  We can give that.  In our mistakes, point them to the grace we find in Jesus.
• Work together – When it says to write the words on the doorposts and gates, it reminds us that this isn’t a one man job.  We must work together.  The doorpost was on the home, reminding us that all of us work together as moms and dads, siblings, grandparents, and others, to pass the faith on to the next generation.  Houses back then didn’t have fences and gates on their own.  The gates would have been found on the walls of the community or city.  This is a reminder that we are placed in a wonderful community that is responsible for raising up the children within its care.  God places us together as a community of faith, His church.  We are the body of Christ, the family of God.  The church should be partnering with the family as they etch the truth of Christ on the hearts of children.  Churches can’t neglect the family, but families can’t neglect the church either.  For the sake of that generation behind us, let the church be a priority in your family’s life.                                                                                   You may have heard it said that you eat an elephant by eating one bite at a time.  The seemingly impossible can be accomplished by taking one bite after another.  However, unless you’ve got an elephant sized freezer, you are going to need some help eating that elephant.  Everyone must take a bite!

We are called to pass on our faith to those who are coming behind us.  That is a tremendously daunting task.  Just keep chiseling away.  Talk about your faith day by day.  Live it out, honestly and imperfectly. Work together within your home, community, and church.  Everyone take a bite.  Miss the chance today?  Pick up the chisel tomorrow and go to work.  Forget to talk about it?  Start a conversation right now.  Royally mess up in front of your kids today?  Own it, confess it, and use it to point to Jesus’ forgiveness.  Trying to do it all on your own?  Partner with your church, staring this week.

You can do it!

Just keep chiseling.

 

To hear the full message explaining these keys, watch online at https://www.sundaystreams.com/go/fbchh/vid/356471