Remember to Tell Them

As parents, we talk to our kids about a lot of things:  the weather, school problems, table-manners, how NOT to eat disgusting things, nor hide their dirty clothes in their closets!  Yet, how long has it been since you've talked to your kids about Jesus? How long has it been since you've spoken to them about the glorious works of God in your life - past and present?  How long has it been since you shared a verse of Scripture to encourage them through some difficulty they are experiencing?

How long?

"But they don't want to hear it," you might say.  "They roll their eyes, and I feel like they are a million miles away when I bring it up."  So, instead of speaking, you choose to be silent and pray that God speaks to them.  All the while, He gave them YOU to be His mouthpiece!

Whether you and I realize it or not, our kids ARE listening.  And if Scripture is indeed, "Life" as it promises in Hebrews 4:12, then when we speak Scripture to them, we are speaking LIFE into them...rolled eyes or not.

Deuteronomy 11:2-7 says, "Today remember that your children were NOT the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God; His majesty, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm; the signs He performed and the things He did in the heart of Egypt, both to pharaoh king of Egypt and to His whole country; what He did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how He overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting rain on them  It was NOT your children who saw what He did for you in the desert until you arrived at this place and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth, right in the middle of all Israel and swallowed them up with their households, their tents and every living thing that belonged to them, but it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done." 

We assume that our kids know stuff, don't we?  We assume they will turn to Jesus during their difficult times, because they know He is faithful.  We assume that they know of His power and strength to supply their every need.  We assume that church attendance and Sunday school is enough to provide them with everything they need for their spiritual growth.  Yet, Scripture states we are to remember that it is OUR responsibility as parents to teach our kids, because they haven't "seen" God, as we have "seen" God.  They haven't "experienced" His power, as we have "experienced" it.   They haven't "heard" Him gently speak, as we have "heard" from Him.  

I'm not just talking about your "little" children, either.  Our kids are our kids...regardless of their age. They NEVER become too old to hear about God's faithfulness in our lives, and the Word of God is never without effect in theirs.

So, my encouragement to you is to speak LIFE into your kids today.  He has been good to you.  He has been faithful to you.  He has been your Provider, your Sustainer, your Hope.

Remember to tell them that.

Thank You, Jesus for this reminder to speak LIFE into my kids, regardless of their reactions.  May I remember...and then act.