Second of a two part series on parental discipleship<\/p>\n\n\n\n
by Marcelo A. Tolopilo \u00a9<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we saw in our last article, the world through its values and culture and often through its laws and decrees attempts to\u00a0 separate children from the leadership of their parents. Scary as it may sound, if the forces of secularism at work in our world could pass a series of decrees barring us from mentoring our children and grandchildren they would. What would we do then?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My friends, we would continue on this same proven road of discipleship. We would look to God\u2019s precious word in faith, pour it into our souls, allow it to nourish our spirits and kindle anew our love for God. From this inward treasure we would teach God\u2019s ways to our children and grandchildren in the ebb and flow of life. This is God\u2019s will for our families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\u2019s summons on our lives to disciple our kids is clear and uncompromising. And that, my friends, is the voice we must heed no matter how loudly or menacingly the world screams in our ear. Let\u2019s take a brief look at our summons to discipleship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\u2019s clarion call to <\/strong>parents and grandparents, <\/strong>Deuteuronomy 6:1-9<\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nowhere is this loving duty of parents better expressed than in Deuteronomy 6:1-9. No doubt this is a familiar text to you, but please allow me to briefly extract the simple charge the Lord lays out for parents and grandparents in this familiar passage. First God through Moses reveals to us \u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n The substance of our calling<\/strong>, which is God\u2019s Law<\/strong>, His word. This is the emphasis of verses 1-3<\/strong>. The Lord wants His people to understand the incomparable, and everlasting value of His word which is the substance of our discipleship. Note that in verse one God calls His word the \u201ccommandment,\u201d \u201cstatutes,\u201d \u201cjudgments\u201d<\/em><\/strong> (all synonyms for scripture). God holds up His Law as if it were a multisided gem that shines its light of understanding into our lives through its many facets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The substance of our teaching as well as the authority to teach our children does not rest on the opinions or wisdom of men, but on the eternal unchanging veracity and value of God\u2019s truth. Secondly, the Lord through His servant Moses shows us \u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n The transforming power of our calling<\/strong>.<\/strong> In God\u2019s design for discipleship His aim is not only to transform our kids, but you and me as well. In fact, as a logical priority God wants to change us first in order to make us change agents in the lives of our children. Please notice that we are instructed, commanded to take the substance of our calling, \u201cThese words<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/strong> God\u2019s words, His Law, and place it where? On our hearts! \u201cThese words, which I am commanding you today, shall be <\/em><\/strong>on your heart<\/em><\/strong>\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(v.6).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The term \u201cheart\u201d in Hebrew \u201clevav\u201d is used to refer to the entire immaterial person. The real you! The heart is the seat of our reason (where we think), our passions (where we feel) as well as the throne of our volition (where we will to do). In other words, your heart is who you really are. In this discipleship process then, God instructs us to flood our hearts with the light of His life changing truth, allowing it to shine into every corner of our souls and shape the way we think, feel, act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more my friends the most important transformation the Lord wants to kindle in us as we disciple our children is a revived and dynamic, scripture-fueled love for Himself! \u201cYou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(v5), which is ignited and fed by\u201cThese words\u201d<\/em><\/strong>(v6), God\u2019s words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Living out our calling<\/strong>. From the developing and richly cultivated soil of our heart God calls us to lead and nurture our families spiritually. God beckons us to continually live out our evolving transformation before our children in the ebb and flow of life where they can see it and follow in our footsteps. \u201cYou shall teach them<\/em><\/strong> [God\u2019s ways]diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(Deuteronomy 6:7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n What a privilege and joy it is to lead our children and grandchildren in God\u2019s proven paths. It is a journey that transforms us and prepares our family to live a godward life in a world that needs the Lord so desperately. Our great missionary task begins at home. May the Lord encourage and strengthen you in this lifelong endeavor, and may He make your family a beacon of gospel light to our world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Second of a two part series on parental discipleship by Marcelo A. Tolopilo \u00a9 As we saw in our last article, the world through its values and culture and often through its laws and decrees attempts to\u00a0 separate children from the leadership of their parents. Scary as it may sound, if the forces of secularism at work in our world … <\/p>\n