Be Careful To Obey

These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Our children mimic us, and that can be good or bad. They form their images of God from the images they have of us as parents. If we are stern and unmerciful, they are like to see God the same way. If we are distant and cold, they are likely to see God the same way. It is one of our most important duties as parents to help our children see God clearly, especially the unconditional nature of His love.

Imagine the family photo scrapbook showing your own relationship to God. We learn from Him how to live life, how to love, and how to make Him a permanent part of our being. He then teaches us how to teach others.

May the Lord grant us an understanding of Him and the wisdom to pass it on.

To teach your children well, let God teach you.

Our Daily Bread – February 17, 2012