This week, our darling Cy came home with us after Sunday’s service to spend two days delighting us with his creativity, artistic ability, and sheer genius. He never ceases to amaze Ann and me.
As a young child, life is before him. His world offers him a new adventure every morning. He intuitively knows that each day will garner him new knowledge. He will gain by sharing in some new experience, whether at school or with grandparents. His excitement for life overwhelms time, until hours simply become moments that mark the ecstasy of discovery. Behind his radiant eyes, which dance like stars in anticipation of hearing the Creator’s voice, is a mind that is formed and fashioned for learning and living the grace-filled life of God’s abundant favor.
Needless to say, I was amazed when, while driving down the boulevard, Cy (who just turned four years of age) began to cheerfully recite from memory the name of every state and its capital city. He announced boldly and proficiently, Sacramento, California through Olympia, Washington. I was amazed and immediately praised him for his brilliance. He suddenly stopped and took me by my arm and said, “Pappi, I can do something else.” He then began to recite the names of all the planets in our solar system. I pulled in my driveway…amazed.
When I recovered from Cy’s barrage of brilliance, I asked him to give me some names of the Books of the Bible. He said, “I don’t know them.” My joyous demeanor was at once struck with solemnity. I was convicted.
Could it be that our sons and daughters are learning to proficiently recite the fundamentals of science and social studies, but are not learning to recite Scripture? Have they learned the order of our orbit, and failed to learn the navigational system for their immortal souls?
As parents and grandparents, let us rise to the challenge of training our children in the words and will of God. I am provoked, as never before, to raise up a bulwark of safety in Christ for our children’s spiritual well being. May we be earnest in our desire to see our children know the words of God. Just as the early years of the Hebrew child was spent in the school of bet sepher where God's Word was taught, so must our children learn their own personal Shema.
For too long, our culture has convinced us that Barney and the gang can keep our kids attention and keep them entertained. As a result, our children have learned the names of every Disney character there is, but they struggle to know the Words of the most important figure in their life, Jesus!
That’s why I am absolutely excited about our children learning in their own personal “midrash.” Our Champions Life Groups not only provide those ministry moments of courageous fellowship for the parents, our Champions Life Groups are designed with our next generation in mind… we are giving them their own Book of Acts midrash, which is “house of study.”
Parents, be sure to work with your children during the week as they learn their Pearls. They are going to be reciting the words of God. It’s going to be fun and fantastic. They are going to earn rewards and be celebrated, and you are going to receive the most valuable award offered in this life – a child who will know the power, authority and favor of your God! God’s favor will dance over you, because you have fulfilled His heart’s desire –you “trained up your child in the way they should go.” God’s blessings flow through discipleship.
Join me and pledge with Joshua of old, “as for me and my house,” we are going to see triumph reign in our children’s lives through Jesus Christ.
