We must pass it on!

“Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates”.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

We cannot hold God’s commands to ourselves. We have to pass it on to our children, them to theirs and on and on it goes, so we do not risk raising a generation of pagans.

God’s commands are very clear and very important in our everyday lives. They point us to Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life, and leads us to everlasting joy, peace and happiness. These will ease off all the tension, anxiety, and fear that seems to engulf the world.

It might seem challenging sometimes especially since the world is getting more secular by the day, but we must try to make it our everyday goal-our priority. As parents, grandparents, godparents, guardians, God gave us that very important role to play in our children’s lives. We have to use this opportunity wisely and create that great impact that they will never forget. Their growth stages might be different, but it is the same teaching – God’s commands are the same through all of life’s stages.

We ought to talk the talk, but more than talking, walk the walk. Our actions must match what we teach since children learn a lot from observing what we (parents) do. All these should be done in love. Anything outside of love, will lead to the opposite of what we are trying to achieve (there will be a disconnection). I was a child once, and most of the things I learned was from observing my parents. It all came natural, not forceful because they first established that personal relationship with God within themselves. They didn’t have to be perfect (nobody is perfect).

If we read verse 5, God said:

“Love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”.

Deut. 6:5

Once we have that individual love for God, everything comes natural.

As humans, we tend to get easily distracted and forget, especially now with all the technological advancement. So, whatever it takes to remember Gods commands should be done. It starts first by praying, reading and meditating on the word of God with the family. Repeat it if you have to, post it on mirrors if that’s what it takes( not making it look so weird), use bible apps on your phones, and so on.

In my household, we have created a calendar with scheduled times (we have skipped some days, but we’ll keep working on it) for each member to lead in bible study. Everyone brings their own inputs. We make it fun for the children sometimes by acting it out (demonstration). I have also posted some bible verses on the bathroom mirror not only for them, but also for us. Sometimes when we are rushing out in the morning, we repeat some verses we have memorized or repeat the verse from the previous day. Anything is better than nothing, right?

So, anything it takes for us to always remember God’s commands should be done. God’s words is evident in our everyday lives. So, let us do our parts in living out the word of God and passing it on to the next generations in other to create more light in this dark age.

Remember, we do not have to be perfect because nobody is perfect, as long as we are doing our best.

Children will have questions, so try to the best of your ability to answer their questions (we cannot know everything) and be honest about it. Better still, research the answer together in the bible-that’s what I do.

May God help us all to know his commands, teach it to our children with love and patience, and carry it with us wherever we go.

Ngozi