It's been a little while since we looked at the Shema found in Deuteronomy 6. If you would like to read the other posts in this particular series just click here, here, and here. Today we're going to come to the end of our look at these verses.
Let's quickly review what the Shema is before we dig into God's Word. The Shema teaches us, as parents, about our role in the Spiritual rearing of our children. The word "shema" is a Hebrew word which means “hear”. It has become the Jewish confession of faith and is recited, along with Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41, twice a day by the devout Jew.
We saw in verse 7 of Deuteronomy 6 that we are to be diligently teaching our children the ways and commands of God. This means it's a constant thing; ALWAYS teaching, ALWAYS talking, ALWAYS fleshing out His commands. When we sit and when we walk. When we put them to bed at night and when they get up in the mornings. Here are a few practical ways our family has found to do this.
*My kids and I take "nature walks" every Friday. (Well, almost every Friday!) As we walk, we talk about God's creation; about how only God Almighty, who is all-powerful could have created something out of nothing and made it into this beautiful place we called planet earth. The kids ususally find something to bring home and put in their Nature Journals and then we'll write a verse to go along with it praising God for what He has done.
*Each night when we put our kids to bed we pray with them. Before pray, we ask them a few questions: How did God bless you today? What did God show you that you need to work on today? Is there anything you need to confess to the Lord before you go to sleep? How can we pray for you?
*Even though our kids are only 8, 5, and 1, every morning we have a "quiet time" together. I myself have tried to make it a priority to rise earlier than anyone else in my home so that I can spend my time with the Lord and prepare for the day. On those days that I choose to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep... well, let's just say, it's not a very good day for any of us. I want my kids to know how important it is to start their days with the Lord, asking Him what His plan for the day is.
Let's quickly review what the Shema is before we dig into God's Word. The Shema teaches us, as parents, about our role in the Spiritual rearing of our children. The word "shema" is a Hebrew word which means “hear”. It has become the Jewish confession of faith and is recited, along with Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41, twice a day by the devout Jew.
We saw in verse 7 of Deuteronomy 6 that we are to be diligently teaching our children the ways and commands of God. This means it's a constant thing; ALWAYS teaching, ALWAYS talking, ALWAYS fleshing out His commands. When we sit and when we walk. When we put them to bed at night and when they get up in the mornings. Here are a few practical ways our family has found to do this.
*My kids and I take "nature walks" every Friday. (Well, almost every Friday!) As we walk, we talk about God's creation; about how only God Almighty, who is all-powerful could have created something out of nothing and made it into this beautiful place we called planet earth. The kids ususally find something to bring home and put in their Nature Journals and then we'll write a verse to go along with it praising God for what He has done.
*Each night when we put our kids to bed we pray with them. Before pray, we ask them a few questions: How did God bless you today? What did God show you that you need to work on today? Is there anything you need to confess to the Lord before you go to sleep? How can we pray for you?
*Even though our kids are only 8, 5, and 1, every morning we have a "quiet time" together. I myself have tried to make it a priority to rise earlier than anyone else in my home so that I can spend my time with the Lord and prepare for the day. On those days that I choose to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep... well, let's just say, it's not a very good day for any of us. I want my kids to know how important it is to start their days with the Lord, asking Him what His plan for the day is.
"You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets
between your eyes."
Deuteronomy 6:8, NKJV
This verse means that we are to be continually meditating upon and being led by the commands of the Lord. Later on in Jewish history the people took this literally and began tieing phylacteries (little boxes containing these verses) around their arms and strapped them to their foreheads with pieces of leather. In looking more into this I found that often times phylacteries were worn on the upper arms so that when one crossed his arms in prayer God's Word would be closest to his heart. Makes me wonder if this was the beginning of praying God's Word? I've heard of ladies safety pinning index cards with Scripture on them to their shirts and I've made signs and hung them around my kids necks. Whatever works, right!?!
"You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:9, NKJV
I don't know about you, but I've got Scripture posted everywhere in my house. Some of them are beautifully framed pictures, some are cute little things I've printed from my computer, and others are index cards taped to my bathroom mirror. I need reminders of His Word everywhere I go. My aunt recently made for my kid's rooms beautiful vinyl wall art that I can't wait to hang. On it is their name, the meaning of their name, and the Scripture verse that goes with it. This will hang in their rooms above their beds to remind them that they belong to God and He has a special plan for their lives.
My children will one day stand before the Lord, as will I, and answer directly to Him about how they have lived their lives, under His leading or according to their own selfish desires. It is my responsibility and privilege as their parent to bring them up in home that has allowed God to be its foundation. It is my responsibility and privilege to teach them the ways of God, to love them with the love of the Lord, and to discipline them according to God’s Word. Ultimately, I cannot make them follow the Lord, but it is my responsibility to do all that I can to aid them in traveling down the straight and narrow.
Thank You Father for truths found in Deuteronomy 6. May we not only hear these commands, but follow and obey them.
2 Lovely Thoughts Shared:
Great post! It's an awesome reminder of what our role is as mother. I need to work on that! It's easy to do when I'm not busy, but other times I find myself being a little impatient and then later realizing that I passed up a good opportunity to teach them something.
Looking forward to the next post,
Krista
I really like what you said in the last paragraph. As a parent to many children, some are already grown and have chosen, hopefully for the moment, to 'wander in the wilderness'. It is comforting to remind myself that we did try very hard when they were young and growing up to make sure that they were taught God's ways and God's love and this should be their foundation, especially when you see them making lifestyle choices that we know they will have to answer to God themselves.
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