Devotional For the Week—23 Oct 2006

Get R.E.A.L – Raising the Future Generation

Scriptural Text: Psalm 78: 1-8

Today’s scripture text reveals the paramount importance of the family in transmitting spiritual values from generation to generation.

As Christians, we have the wonderful privilege of passing on to our children knowledge of God’s mighty works, present and past. To do this, we should make it a point to remember what God has done for us and our families. We should also be familiar with history, for e.g. what God did for the Israelites and how He saved them from bondage when they cried out to Him. All this knowledge, we must teach and pass on to our children.

The psalmist tells us that parents have the primary responsibility for teaching God’s Word and ways to their children. Many youths turn away from God in their teens. However, if they have been taught in the way of the Lord and grounded in the Word especially when they were young, there is a higher chance that in time, they will turn back to the Lord. This underlines the importance of teaching your children early about God and His ways.

We must remember that children do not belong to us but to God, as they are a gift from Him. Williams Wordsworth wrote “The child is father of the man”. This means that the experiences which occur in the early and formative years of child’s life (for e.g. the experiences of home) shape the character and behavior of the child when he/she becomes an adult. Knowing this, we should give our best to our children as they will be tomorrow’s adult. As an adult, we must check our spiritual lives. How we live our lives is important as children are always watching us and learning from us even though we may not be aware of it. We have to be honest in our dealings with people. Children should also be taught between needs and wants. If you have the opportunity, expose your children to mission work. By experiencing how other people live in different countries, children will learn first hand the different cultures in the world and the suffering others go through in poorer countries. This will teach them to be grateful for all they have been given and to distinguish between what is important and what is trivial. It will also teach them to be less self absorbed, to care for others and to pray for the needs of others.

Psalm 78 places a spotlight on the “inter-connectedness” of the family, that is the passing down of teachings from generation to generation and fellowshipping together as a family. There are two questions to consider here: Why is this inter-connectedness so important? How do we pass on our faith?

Inter-connectedness is important because God has commanded each generation to teach their children about God’s laws and His praiseworthy deeds. The purpose of passing down such teachings is so that the next generation will put their trust in God, not forget His deeds and not be stubborn, unfaithful and rebellious like the Israelites of old (see Psalms 78:4 - 8).

Psalms 78:4 tells us how to pass on our faith. We must not hide the things of God. We hide the things of God by failing to talk to our children about God or living an inconsistent life. Therefore, we must seize every opportunity to talk to our children about God. We must also lead by example. An easy way to remember how to pass on our faith is to remember that children need to get R.E.A.L with God.

R – Relationship with God (John 4:24)

Some children (and adults too!) experience difficulties relating to God whom they cannot see. We should teach our children that God is alive and real. Even though we cannot see Him visually, we have evidence of His presence: He answers our prayers. He speaks to us through the bible, gifted speakers, a friend or stranger He sends out way, and sometimes, through a still small voice. He meets our needs, even those which we have not told others about or even asked Him for help on. He protects us from danger, whether we are aware of the danger or not. God’s interventions point to His loving care. We can also see God in nature. From all these things, we know that God is indeed alive and real. Help your children to build a vibrant relationship with God.

E – Excited to come to Church (Philippians 3:10)

We should teach our children to desire and be excited to go to church. On a practical level, lessons taught to children must be relevant to them, otherwise they may have difficulty understanding and relating to what is taught.

A – Approved by God (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Our children should be taught to live a life that is approved by God. This means that their priority should be to obey God and not seek to please mankind only. It would help tremendously if children are able to see Christ in their parents. How are you as an example to your children?

L - Live to Glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Teach your children that in all areas of life, they are to live a life which glorifies God.

Prayer Response

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to be honest in all my dealings and relations and live a life worthy of your calling. Please enable me to bring you glory in the things I do. Help me to talk to my children about you and to teach them to have a close relationship with you. My desire is to give them a firm grounding in your Word so that they will not depart from it all their lives. Please hear my prayer. Amen.

Devotional based on a message by Pastor Winnie Phoon