Every other week I have the joy of teaching the word and passing along what I have learned to three young moms in a small discipleship group. We spur one another on in knowing and following Christ, our knowledge of the scriptures, and specifically our roles as wives and mothers. Recently we took some time to more fully examine one of our scripture memory verses. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 is God's mandate in the Old Testament giving parents the primary responsibility to disciple their children.
As a prelude, we began in verse 4 with The Great Shema, "Hear, O Israel The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
- It's important to start here, for we are to teach our children about the the uniqueness of the one true living God. Israel was surrounded by pagan nations worshiping numerous false gods. In a culture of idols and the exalted belief that all religions are equal, do our children know how Jehovah is vastly different? He alone is holy and fundamentally at its core that means different, separated. Am I intentionally teaching my children about the attributes, the character of God which set Him apart as the one true God?
Verse 5 reads, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
- I highlighted strength here because I think it's important to see the other translations... "very," "greatly," and "exceedingly." Our love for God is so great, so very much that it exceeds all other commitments...work, academics, sports, friends, etc. Do our children see that God is the most important priority in our lives?
Verse 6: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts."
- God's commandments teach us about His holiness and His will and also how we can demonstrate our love for Him. Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." When we teach the commandments to our children, we show them how each one will always fit under one of two categories: love God or love others.
- The only way we can impart truth to our children is if it's an overflow from what God is doing in our hearts otherwise we will come across as hypocritical Pharisees.
Verse 7: "Impress them on your children."
- When we study verse 7 and the word "impress," also translated "teach diligently" in the ESV and NASB, we see a word picture. Seminary professor and author Matt Friedeman writes, "Shanan is normally translated 'sharpen.' But used in the intensive form, as it is here, shanan has a stronger sense. Related to the Hebrew noun for tooth (i.e., incisor), it could here mean to "incise" or "carve into." Moses gives parents a directive with a word picture of sharpening or carving into their children the truths of God.
In these first four verses we see three things that we are to impress or teach diligently to our children: the Oneness of God, our love for God, and the commandments of God.
HOW???
Verse 8 and 9 tell us.
"Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road. When you lie down and when you get up."
- It's verbal. Our actions always have to line up with our words and much of discipleship is caught from the overflow of our own lives. However, God clearly calls us to use words to tell His story! We are to tell of the great deeds He has done throughout history and in our own lives. As you walk with God everyday, keep your children beside you and narrate how you see God at work in everyday events.
"Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframe of your houses and on your gates."
- It's tangible. The more senses we employ the greater impact it will have on our children's ability to relate and remember.
- When our children look around our home, what do they SEE that reminds them of who God is and what He has done? Perhaps a current memory verse or scripture art on the wall. It's fun to look for art that tells a part of His story in a unique way. Our stones of remembrance box is a focal point in our den.
- What is the soundtrack of their lives that we repeatedly play for them to HEAR? I found it very interesting when my first child was born that the songs coming most often to mind as I sang to him were not necessarily the ones on my latest playlist but those that my parents sang over and over to me as a child. Somehow the soundtrack of those early years tends to stay with us.
- Are there SMELLS and TASTES that they associate with celebrations of who God is? Anytime my kids smell blueberry cake they always seem to think of blueberry cross cake and our Easter morning traditions.
- What can they TOUCH in the home that draws their thoughts to the Lord? Some examples could include a family Bible, an instrument, a globe that was spun as missionaries were prayed for.
Every family fleshes out discipleship in the home differently, but I think I agree with author Noel Piper that there are four things that will help us be most effective in creating a culture of discipleship in our homes: intentionality, planning, repetition, and consistency.
Three of my most worn out books on family discipleship include:
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
Treasuring God In Our Traditions by Noel Piper
Discipleship in the Home by Matt Friedeman
We are all at different places along the journey of raising our children. Often I've felt overwhelmed by all the things I could be doing and teaching my kids, and when I take those burdens to the Lord, He faithfully shows me what my children need me to give them in that season. Kennon and I have 18 years to invest in our kiddos, and my greatest desire is simply to be faithful. God alone can turn the lights on in their hearts and awaken them to the truth of the gospel; therefore I will do all I can to keep pointing them toward Christ while I pray like crazy.
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