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FOR BELIEVING PARENTS "From a babe thou hast been acquainted with the Sacred Scriptures" 2 Timothy 3:16. OF HOW MANY CAN THIS BE SAID? You, perhaps, have had the teaching of your children in mind, but have you pursued it? There is little neglect in teaching our children things related to this life, but how much more important are the things related to the spiritual. We recognize that no one is a better teacher than the mother (2 Tim.1:5; 3:15). Nature itself teaches us this. Who could love them more or be more concerned for their welfare and proper training than a parent? Yet so many seem to be unsure as to the proper way to go about it, it seems wise to offer the following few suggestions. NOT TOO YOUNG Each day of a child's life is important to a mother in the faith. Few parents realize the keenness of their child's mind and many valuable days are lost waiting for them to "get old enough to understand." Do not be afraid to start "too young" acquainting them with the Scriptures. Their minds are going to absorb something during these early days. Why not fill them with the living word? Early planting will bear precious fruit. If a child learned one thing a day from the time he could first talk, what a wonderful foundation he would have by the time he was twelve. If they can learn to say daddy, can they not--just as easily--learn to say God? KEEP IT SIMPLE Children do not need a sermon. Just talk to them simply--"God is a Daddy." That is something they can understand. In the Scriptures God often uses the material and the physical to unfold to us the spiritual, that we might perceive. This is a good method for children. A stubborn child can be used to illustrate to them what God means by "sons of stubbornness." Clay in our hands illustrates how we have no right to tell God how to be made. Sleep illustrates the state in death. God is light. Satan blinds. Everything about us can be used to illustrate some truth to them. This is teaching that is done "by the wayside, or when thou liest down" (Deut.6:7). GREATNESS OF GOD Children are impressed with great things. Let their minds sink into the greatness of God. Here is no limit. "God can make a lion. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He sees every blade of grass that moves. He hears every cow that moos. He hears every word that everybody says." Let them learn about God for they have to know Him before they can know about the Son of God or about His death on the cross for salvation. This is good foundation teaching. FEAR OF GOD Do not be afraid to let them know the severity and the fear of God for it is the beginning of wisdom. One of the accusations against the human race is that "there is no fear of God in front of their eyes" (Rom.3:18). God makes known His indignation, fury and just judgment before He unfolds the way of salvation. GET THEM TO THINKING This is an important principle to follow. "Why did Noah build the ark? Because he believed God." If we were teaching Romans 5:12 about death being passed through into all mankind, we might ask, "Did death pass through into Moses? Why? Because it passed through into all mankind. Was David dying? Why? Because God said it passed through into all. Did it pass through into you?" (Make personal applications. They must learn to recognize the Scriptures, not as a story book, but as something personal which they need to know). Things will be impressed more upon their minds if they have to think. SALVATION Keep ever in mind their need of salvation and be working toward that end. No child is ever born into this world with the spirit of Christ in him, and "if anyone has not Christ's spirit this one is not His" (Rom.8:9). There will have to be some time in their lives when they first believe the evangel of their salvation. Do not be satisfied with their apparent faith. All children appear to be believers, but later life often bears out that it was not the faith produced by the spirit of God on hearing the word of truth, the evangel of their salvation. All through their childhood keep their salvation in mind. This is vital to the heart of a mother in the faith, for only those in Christ Jesus will be among those who are snatched away together with us to meet the Lord in the air. NOT SUBSTITUTING Many times one is tempted to substitute an easier word for the one in the Scripture. This is a poor policy because it lays the wrong foundation. Acquaintance with the Scripture comes first; understanding, later. This is especially important to us who use the Concordant Version, because, if a substituting method is used now, when the child grows up the version will be "strange and hard" instead of something rich and precious, as we desire it to be to them. The words planted first will be the ones that stick. SONGS Singing is an important part of a child's life. Have you ever noticed how often they go around singing songs which they have picked up from the radio? They will do the same if their minds are filled with spiritual songs. There are many nice songs for children: "God's Word is Like a Hammer." "I'm Going Up, Up, Up;" but their songs do not have to be limited to those written especially to them. Children like to learn songs that the older people sing and it gives them joy to be able to join in the singing when they come to a meeting. FRUIT FOR YOUR LABOR Teaching children may sometimes seem discouraging for the fruit of this labor is seldom seen until many years later. Yet the time comes when what we have done now will be either for our joy or tears. Recognizing this fact should surely cause us to put forth every effort to "train them in the way they should go." The toil, the endurance, the faithfulness, the prayers--none of them will be for naught (1 Cor.15:58). It will accomplish that which God pleases and great will be our rejoicing as we stand before Him in that day. |