"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 are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home ans 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 door frames of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9
In this portion of Scripture God through Moses instructs the people of Israel on how to raise Home Run Kids.
First, make intentional time, V. 7
I found time to enjoy doing. teach my boys to play baseball and I had time to attend their games.I always seem to find time to do the things that matter most to me.
It takes time to to raise kids!
To make time to be with them enough you will have to borrow time from something else you enjoy doing.
You will have time for hobbies when your kids are gone. While you have them, make enough time to be with them.
God commands you to make time to have spiritual formation time with your kide.
Second, make in time to talk, V. 7b
Again, intentional talk takes time!
1) Talk with them!
2) Talk to them!
3) Talk to God with
them!
4) Talk
about them!
5) Talk when:
·
You
sit – Time to reinstate the dinner table
Schedule “dates” with
your kids
·
You
walk – Take advantage of travel time
·
You
rise – Take advantage of morning time
·
You
lie down – Take advantage of bed time
God commands you to talk to your kids about Him. And He also expects you to teach them to talk to God as well.
Third, make intentional truth, V. 7
Due to their fallen nature, your kids (like you) do not come by truth naturally. If left to themselves they will be led away and deceived.
1) Talk about the
source of truth
God's Word is the only source of all that is true and right. Teach your kids that whatever the Bible says is true and anything that disputes the Bible is wrong.
2) Three big
truths to teach:
- Creation – we are made by God
- Christ – we are saved by God’s love
- Community – we are led and united by the Holy Spirit
Raising Home Run Kids is not easy and it requires intentional effort every day. It must begin by teaching your kid how to connect with God at Home Plate by taking the time, having the talks and teaching the important truths.
Are you ready to step up to the plate?