What did your parents pass down to you? What have you or will you pass down to your kids? I’m grateful for parents who taught me some important things as I was raised. My love of sports, books and mac & cheese were all impressed on me as a kid. It was a good childhood.
My faith was my parents’ before it was my own. They took me to church, emphasized the values and teachings of Christianity and practiced them so I had good examples to follow. I hope to do the same with my little girl.
As one generation raises up the next generation, not everything gets passed along. My dad taught me how to set up a VCR. I don’t think that’s something I’ll do with my daughter.
In Deuteronomy, the focus turns to this topic. God’s people have already received the Ten Commandments. They’ve already agreed to obey them. But what about the future? Moses, speaking on God’s behalf, makes it clear.
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 on 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
There are some things that will come to an end the moment our lives end. But some things deserve to live on beyond our own days. Deuteronomy reminds us that the Word of the Lord is bigger than our own personal commitments to follow and obey. What are you doing to make sure the most important things last beyond your life?
-Pastor Billy Byler