Previous Reflections
REFLECTIONS
March 10th, 2019These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Deuteronomy 6:1-2
God’s Family Values
Church Youth Days display the energy and spiritual depth of young people at the beginning of their journeys through life. They tell their stories of love for Jesus and their dreams for a better world. They share what they learned about God’s hope for mankind and things they’ve seen that are not as they should be. The church is a setting for learning. But the best lessons they’ll receive are rooted in the family values they learn at home.
The term “family values” sounds old fashioned versus those today that sound much like the time when judges ruled. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. (Judges 21:25) But God asks us to love him and to teach his values to our families. Nowhere in the Bible is it stated more clearly than sixth chapter of Deuteronomy.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
It’s refreshing to find families that know to Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Those values teach about loving your neighbor as much as yourself, and that individual liberties and freedom don’t trump the well being of those around us. They tell stories of God’s unfailing love, of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, and of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide us in service to God.
Experience is the best teacher some believe. But those of us who live in a land with large, flourishing cities [we] did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things [we] did not provide, wells [we] did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves [we] did not plant — then when [we] eat and are satisfied, [we are] careful that [we] do not forget the Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)
God’s family values. May we teach our children. Better yet. May they see us live them.
You are the light of the world,
Richard +
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