It seems that the struggles we have in our home coincide with the verses we are learning in devotions, school, Sunday school, junior church, and kid's club.
If we have said it once, we have said it a hundred times..."This is exactly what we were talking about..." or "This is what God is teaching in the verse we are learning..."
We are working on the nineteenth week of Kid's Club...this next week. That means, we will have learned nineteen verses! All the verses this year have to do with character. We worked through the chosen lessons to pull verses for the children to memorize. Not just looking in the concordance to find what verse had "that word" in it, but to find a verse that would be a help to these children who are living in this wicked world...having to cope, some of them, without Godly help! Our job as we minister to children is to fill their minds with God's truth...which they then would be able to apply to every day real life. Our intent was to help the children in their spiritual walk...and in doing so...God has been working in our hearts!
The verse two weeks ago...Proverbs 1:5 "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:"
In our little bubble, that we as Christians like to live in...Satan keeps us naive to what he is really doing. He has been able to "dupe" us. We are oblivious (whether intended or not...which is a whole other set of problems) to the counsels our children are being told to attain to. Some of us stupidly (foolishly, naively...whatever) turn our heads the other way because of how "awful it is", some of us stupidly follow the "fad", and some of us have remained simple (stupid, foolishly not educating ourselves).
"I just don't have time." "It is too hard for me to do that." "I learned it when I was young...so I know it." And how many of us would accept those statements from our children? We think that God is accepting that behavior from us?
God used Proverbs 1:5 to continue to challenge and convict me! I can be wise...or I can be a fool. It is amazing to me that the foolish are the ones that talk the loudest and everyone listens to them. Shame on me. I say nothing many times. So...I say it now...Mom...if you are not memorizing and meditating on God's Word...you are being foolish! I was! I have time! I have the ability to read. I have the ability to think. I have no excuse! And neither do you! Turn off the t.v. Turn off the computer. Put your phone down. Be still...hear God's Words...and hide them in your heart...you are not too "old"!
Since when is it enough for our children to memorize Scripture, yet we don't see the importance in our adult life anymore?!? We expect our children to do something that we won't even do as adults!
Who is going to be their example?
We fudge it with "I am just not a good memorizer." or "I have alot going on." or "This program is for the kids."
SHAME ON US!
How will you answer the Lord when you stand before Him and He asks, "Did you follow my plan in Psalm 119:9-11?"
What do you think His answer will be to your statement, "I just don't do very well memorizing things. It's not that big of a deal. I have my Bible and I can read those verses when I need them." I would venture to say that you are alot like me..."I know the general idea of it." That is how I answered the question when it was asked of me! I justified my actions! Yes, but can you find the verse? "I can google it. I have my concordance." What about the times when you don't have your Bible with you? What about those moments in life when you can't have it in your hands? (Silence...I have nothing to say...and I have had several real life experiences where I have had this happen...)
IF IT IS NOT IN YOUR MIND/HEART...YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RECALL IT...YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE HEED...letting God's Word comfort you, guide you, convict you, keep you from sin, challenge you, fill you, protect you...
IF WE DON'T MEMORIZE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DRAW FROM WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST...when a friend is hurting, when you or your child is tempted, when your tears blur your vision, when you need to ride the gurney into the operating room with your child...
Mom...Dad...Grandma...Grandpa...Aunt...Uncle...Friend...whoever you are...IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DID YEARS AGO! What are you doing now? What are you filling your mind/heart with now? Who will you be able to help in an instant...if you have filled yourself with nothing?
We know what the Bible says.
We've said we'd do it.
We've resolved to follow it.
But when it comes right down to doing it...we have excuses!
What are you teaching those around you?
God won't accept excuses...from anybody!
Young...or old!
James 4:17 doesn't include age limits. We're working on this verse this week...and it's been tough...for all of us!
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