What Will We Teach Our Children?

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 2:28 pm Post subject: What Will We Teach Our Children?

What Will We Teach Our Children?

Scripture:

(Moses said to the the people) Yet so if you hear the voice of the Lord your God, and keep his precepts and ceremonies, which are written in this law: and return to the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. This commandment, that I command you this day is not above you, nor far off from you: Nor is it in heaven, that you should say: Which of us can go up to heaven to bring it unto us, and we may hear and fulfill it in work? Nor is it beyond the sea: that you may excuse yourself, and say: Which of us can cross the sea, and bring it unto us: that we may hear, and do that which is commanded? But the word is very nigh unto you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. ( Deuteronomy 30:10-14 )

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him. And he is before all: and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may hold the primacy: Because in him, it has well pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell: And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth and the things that are in heaven. ( Colossians 1:15-20 )

And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting him and saying, Master, what must I do to possess eternal life? But he said to him: What is written in the law? How do you read it? He answering, said: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with all your strength and with all your mind: and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him: You have answered right. This do: and you shall live.

But he willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who also stripped him and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead. And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by. But a certain Samaritan, being on his journey, came near him: and seeing him, was moved with compassion: And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two pence and gave to the host and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever you shall spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay you. Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers? But he said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do you in like manner. ( Luke 10:25-37 )

Reflection:

The Word of the Lord was recorded for us within the scriptures. Though it has been passed to us over the complexities of time, it is not beyond our comprehension. It contains a message of great wisdom. It encourages us to approach both God and one another with love. The commandments He asks us to follow are not difficult, yet some approach them as if the impossible is demanded. Perhaps we should ask instead, is it more ideal and noble to live against them than by them? Do we believe the opposite of what they ask from us will yield true happiness? We might ask, what fascination lures us to pursue contempt and hate over compassion and love? What do the constant conflicts of the world yield to us?

The evil one invites us to spurn the Word of God, yet, if we examine it, if we study it, we will find it can yield to us the peace which eludes us. Within His Word is the wisdom of community, civility, and charity. His Word encourages us away from the harm we cause to the blessings we may share.

Moses reminded the people of the great works of God and the blessings of His commandments. Moses told the people, ?Teach them to your children, speaking of them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up, and write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.? (Deuteronomy 11:19-20) How are our children to know what is possible for them if we do not help them learn? As we were entrusted to our parents, our children are entrusted to us; but we should have no illusions, the evil one lurks so that we may be separated from our children so that our children may also be separated from God.

The battle is great and the stakes are grave, for it is not only about life in this world, but life for eternity. The evil one seeks to silence parents so that they will not share the Word of God with the generations which follow. The prince of darkness desires parents to be silent about God, for it is with the apathy of mothers and fathers that the work of the evil one becomes easier. Without the foundation of the Word and respect for the commandments of God, children become vulnerable to the lures and snares laid out by the master of deception. No parent should leave their child to do battle against evil, alone and within the darkness.

Our children may not fully understand while they are young, but if we approach them with love and share with them the Word of love, the day will come where they will remember what we did for them. They will see the blessings we shared with them and the blessings they are called to share with those who come after them. Let us pray that no child shall cry out, if only my parents would have taught to me the blessings of the Word of our Lord.

As we seek to teach to our children the commandments of God, so should we listen to the One who came to us as the Word made flesh. Because the generations are stiff necked people, God sent His only begotten Son so that all might have the chance to learn of the blessings of love, repent of their sins and turn to His light. It is by the blood of the Lamb that those who are unclean, by what they have done and what they have failed to do, may make their robes white as the day before they were conceived within the womb of their mother. What the world has stained, the Son of God has the power to cleanse.

It is for this reason He taught us, so that we may teach our children. Jesus spoke so that children, as well as the wise, might understand; but those who profess their wisdom by their own estimation fail to see the blessings of His Word and their blindness within the world. (Proverbs 26:12) Those who are tempted by the ways of the world fail to see the fullness of the love which Jesus sought for all to know and to comprehend.

Our Lord poured out example after example, using parables and speaking plainly to those who would listen. He spoke of heaven and the life which we should have together. He taught that though we live in many lands and call ourselves by different names, we are all children of His creation. It is for this reason that our civility, compassion and charity should not be for just the few, but for all who cross our path.

While God made each of us unique and there are many differences among us, what should be common among all the children of His creation is the love He asks us to share. The generations began with the offspring of Adam and Eve. Our divisions began with that first family, but divisions which sow misery, hate, violence and death need not be so. We have the choice to walk a different path. If we seek to learn the Word of God and follow what our Lord and Savior teaches, both friend and stranger will see His love within us and we will bless His name.

Let us, then, teach our children. Let us help them to receive His message of love. Let us help them to understand the blessings of His commandments. Let us share with them the wisdom of His parables. Let us help them learn the value of civility, compassion and mercy; for if we teach our children so they may comprehend the blessings of the Lord, they will endeavor to make the world a better place. Let us not deprive any generation, by act or omission, the wisdom and blessings of His Word.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier