-
-
-
- Teaching Our Children
Everyday!
James E. Haynes, Jr.
The Bible teaches us that as parents we should
utilize every opportunity we can to instruct our children in the
way of the Lord. In Deuteronomy 6:7, God's servant Moses wrote,
"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and
shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you
walk by the way, when you lie down, and when
you rise up (emp. Mine)." Likewise, under the
New Covenant, the inspired Apostle Paul wrote, "...bring
them (children) up in the training and admonition of the
Lord" (Eph. 6:4). So, the teaching of our precious children
is a principle that is taught under both covenants.
This type of training or teaching is not necessarily
a lecture period immediately following the completion of homework.
Neither is it necessarily a predetermined devotional period
before bedtime. Those things are good and useful and you should
be commended if you are instructing your children or grandchildren
in such ways.
However, probably the best type of instruction
is that which acknowledges God in all that our children see and
do. This type of teaching is not controlled by time or situation.
The Psalmist exclaimed, "When I consider Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have
ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son
of man that You visit him ?" (Ps. 8:3-4) There are so
many opportunities to teach our children by just observing the
things that God has made and by the things he has lovingly done.
Sometimes we think our children are too young
to learn the Bible; however, this is not true. In fact, our children
often know more than we think. Such was the case one Sunday evening
a few years ago following the traditional worship hour. At the
time, my son Kaleb was only 4 years old. He and I were up in the
pulpit area, so I picked him up so that he could look down into
the baptistery. In an attempt to teach my son as opportunity arose,
I inquired, "Son, do you know what happens in there?"
His reply amazed me and still amazes me; he said, "They die
in there!"
What exactly did he mean by that answer, "they
die in there"?" It could be the case that he and many
other children like him had been warned and warned again, "be
careful around the baptistery because we don't want you to fall
in and drown". That is the reason we lock the baptistery
rooms, so that little kids don't end up going for an unauthorized
swim. However, I think it was more than just that credible warning.
I think it had to do with what he had been taught on the subject
of baptism (Rom. 6:1-4) among other things.
Several years ago, the later brother Bobby Bates
delivered a series of lessons on personal evangelism at a local
congregation. My family and I faithfully attended so that we might
learn how to be better personal workers for the Lord. At the conclusion
of each lesson, brother Bates would lead us in the song, "Take
Em To The Water." It was a very catchy song and it became
ingrained in our minds. Over time, we taught it to Kaleb and explained
to him the importance of baptism. He began to sing it wherever
he went. He sang it at school and in the grocery store. I seem
to recall one incident where he at the age of 2 or 3 told some
people at the store they had to be baptized. He was a little proclaimer
of truth and he knew it. He was not ashamed of the Gospel (Rom.
1:16).
Furthermore, every time there was a baptism there
was another opportunity to teach. "Listen son, in order to
go to Heaven one must be baptized (buried) in water for the remission
of his or her sins. One becomes a Christian by hearing, believing,
confessing, repenting, and being baptized in water for the remission
of sins. One cannot go to Heaven, without being a Christian."
My son once replied, "But dad, I am not a Christian and I
want to go to Heaven!" Yes, another opportunity to teach
was made available. This is just one example among many.
Brethren, let us all seek to fill our children's
minds with the Bible. Their little minds that God gave them are
growing every single day. I heard just the other day that the
brain is one of the body parts that is not fully developed after
birth it continues to grow and grow. It has the ability to soak
up information like a sponge. Let us all take every opportunity
to teach our children, and other children in our influence the
way of the Lord most holy!
-
-
- JamesHaynes, Jr
- Mabank, TX
-
-