Raising A Generation that knows God

      I was sitting in a hairdressing salon the other day and an argument ensued on why many Christian children, especially teenagers are immoral, do not respect their elders and do not want to hear about God. The discussion was quite interesting with everyone laying the blame on parents, teachers and even the religious teachers. This argument set me thinking as I have witnessed continually delinquent children growing up to become delinquent adults and parents themselves! God knows that training a child is much more than taking care of their physical needs. 

      The growth of a child into a successful human being that would give his/her parents rest is dependent on how much of God's Word is sown inside of them. The Bible tells us: "Remember with love all these rules that I give to you today. Teach them and explain them every day to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Repeat them when you lie down. Repeat them when you get up. Tie them like signs on your hands and round your heads. Write them over the doors of your houses and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, EASY). 

      As children of God, we are commanded to teach and explain God's Word to our children every day. Please understand that the command did not say we should teach our spouses or neighbours, but our children! This means the teaching of God's Word to the children is primarily the work of the parents. This can only be properly done when the parents themselves know the Word and are conscious of the command to teach their children daily! However, parents can only pass on what they know about God and His Word to their children. And when they fail to pass on this crucial teaching to their children, their family and society suffer for it. 

      This is not new, as we saw a similar scenario in the Bible. We were told: "And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel" (Judges 2:7, NLT). These people taught their children about God and the many great miracles He did for them. However, an interruption came: "After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10, NLT). 

      The questions that readily come to mind are, who were their parents? Did they not hear about God and The wonderful works that He did for them? From this point on, we saw Israel go into terrible idolatry followed by intense suffering! When they cry in repentance, the Lord raises a Judge for them, and they enjoy great prosperity, which in turn leads them to idolatry, then suffering, then crying! It was a terrible cycle of prosperity, idolatry and calamity. 

      Incidentally today, this cycle had not stopped. When people forget their God, they go through the same cycle of prosperity, idolatry and calamity! We moan about the wickedness of the leaders. We forget that many of these leaders are Christians, from Christian homes with parents! What were they taught? Sadly, there are so many waiting in the wings with the mindset to plunder the commonwealth once they get to the seat of authority. They too have parents and are coming from Christian homes! 

      Beloved, in your little corner, what are you teaching your children? You that claim to know God and His ways, have you been able to teach your children the same? Can people see your children and know that they have sat and are sitting at the feet of the Master? Or you are raising hooligans, atheists and haters of God? Your teenagers make snide remarks about God and His servants and you laugh it off because you believe the same. Sadly, they will grow and go into society; there they will model all that you had poured into their lives! It is not enough to quote: "...But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15b, NLT). You must teach them every waking moment they are with you; using every tool available to you. No wonder we were told: "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it" (Proverbs 22:6, NLT). 

      What you want your children to model outside and tomorrow, start teaching them within and NOW. And the Lord will bless their path! May the LORD grant you the Grace to evaluate yourself truthfully and to do the needful, so you can raise a generation that knows God, in Jesus Christ name, Amen! God Bless you!!!