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Day 22
Learning Teaching
By Al Menconi
Did
you know that research shows as many
as 70-75% of young people raised in Christian
homes will NOT live for Jesus as adults?
How can this be? Either we don't have
the Truth in Jesus, or we are conveying
this Truth improperly. I believe it’s
the latter.
Some of our best directions to teach
the Word of God are found in Deuteronomy
6:5-7. Notice that the passage is a directive
to adults to teach the laws and principles
of God’s Truth to their children.
This implies that the adults know something
of God’s Truth before they can
teach it. So while the passage seems
to be aimed at children, it actually
applies to adults first – and not
just parents, but ALL adults.
If you were not taught the principles
of God this way, it’s never too
late to start learning. And whether you
are a parent or grandparent, a single
mom or a single guy, there is always
someone you can use this process with:
a neighbor, a friend, a fiancé,
a relative, even yourself! Well, you
get the idea.
So how does this process work? We must
start by choosing to love the Lord with
all our heart, soul, mind, and strength,
and keep the commandments of God in our
heart. Next we are told to "…talk
about them when you sit at home and when
you walk along the road, when you lie
down and when you get up."
This verse advises us to teach biblical
principles at four specific times: when
we sit down with friends and family,
when we walk together, when we lie down,
and when we rise up. Is that the case
in your home? If you are like most Christians,
you are doing just the opposite! When
you’re sitting at home, what is
usually taking place? You are probably
watching television or eating, or both.
That's right; when we are sitting at
home the television is doing most of
the teaching! TV can be a very effective
teaching device, but its teachings are
often against the commands of
God.
How about walking along the road? In
today's society, we don't often use walking
as a means of transportation. We drive
our cars. What is happening when we are
in our car (I mean, besides the kids
fighting)? We are usually listening to
music on the car stereo system. And what
is the teaching that is taking place?
For the most part, the music of today
is teaching a philosophy that is against
biblical values. Another missed opportunity!
How about "when you lie down and
when you get up?" In other words
when you go to bed at night and get up
in the morning. The majority of us are
watching the news, or Leno or Letterman
before we go to bed. And when we get
up in the morning, it's usually the news,
local talk radio, or our favorite rock
music.
Think about it. Even if the television
and radio programs weren't spewing out
philosophies that are against biblical
values, God says these are prime times
for His people to learn to love Him.
When you are eating, driving, going
to bed, and waking up, are you using
that time to impress the values of God
on your children, your family, your friends,
yourself? Or is the Enemy getting all
the best class time?
Reflections: Have
you ever tried this approach to teaching
biblical values? Does it seem too weird
or radical? How is your family’s
faith in Christ? How is the joy of their
salvation? Are you hungry enough to try
something new and radical, just because
the Bible says so?
Response: Why don’t
you set the pace for your family by listening
to Christian music when you get up in
the morning, when you go to bed at night,
and when you are in your car? Also, make
sure that the television is off when
your family sits down for dinner.
Verse of the Day: Ephesians 5:19 / Colossians
3:16
"Speak
to one another with psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs. Sing and make
music in your heart to the Lord."
Most Christians don’t realize
the significance of these parallel verses.
They are not suggestions. They are commands!
When God gives a command, we should follow
it. And it must really be important for
God to say a command twice! If you aren’t
singing psalms, hymns and/or spiritual
songs from your heart to the Lord, you
are being disobedient. Period!
The next question is, why does God
care? I believe we can see the answer
to that question in the verses that immediately
follow these passages. We are told to
always give thanks, be submissive one
to another, love without reservation,
and obey the authority over us. Those
commands are medicine for our spiritual
lives, but they are difficult “pills” for
most of us to swallow. Christian music
can coat these bitter pills with a "spoonful
of sugar" to help the medicine go
down easier.
One important reason for us to sing
in our hearts to the Lord is to help
us be willing to fulfill the commands
that conform us to the image of His Son,
Jesus Christ – especially in giving
thanks in all things.
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