The Bible is full with instruction for God's children to reach out to the people of this earth with the Gospel. But what is more important than this type of evangelism?
Charles Spurgeon has done it again! Caught my eye with one of his morning and evening devotionals.
One can be involved in much evangelism - which if honouring to the Lord is not in and of itself wrong. But here follows a more important ministry that must not be neglected. I will add my thoughts to it after.
"Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation."
Joel 1:3
In this simple way, by God's grace, a living testimony for truth is always to be kept alive in the land—the beloved of the Lord are to hand down their witness for the gospel, and the covenant to their heirs, and these again to their next descendants. This is our first duty, we are to begin at the family hearth: he is a bad preacher who does not commence his ministry at home. The heathen are to be sought by all means, and the highways and hedges are to be searched, but home has a prior claim, and woe unto those who reverse the order of the Lord's arrangements. To teach our children is a personal duty; we cannot delegate it to Sunday school teachers, or other friendly aids; these can assist us, but cannot deliver us from the sacred obligation; proxies and sponsors are wicked devices in this case: mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, command their households in the fear of God, and talk with their offspring concerning the wondrous works of the Most High. Parental teaching is a natural duty—who so fit to look to the child's well-being as those who are the authors of his actual being? To neglect the instruction of our offspring is worse than brutish. Family religion is necessary for the nation, for the family itself, and for the church of God. By a thousand plots Popery is covertly advancing in our land, and one of the most effectual means for resisting its inroads is left almost neglected, namely, the instruction of children in the faith. Would that parents would awaken to a sense of the importance of this matter. It is a pleasant duty to talk of Jesus to our sons and daughters, and the more so because it has often proved to be an accepted work, for God has saved the children through the parents' prayers and admonitions. May every house into which this volume shall come honour the Lord and receive his smile.
You can find this and many other devotionals from Spurgeon here:
Some thoughts
It never ceases to amaze me how much of a blessing children are. I began the first deeper daily morning devotionals when three of my children were quite young. It took a while, but as I started to put more time and effort into these. Behind the scenes, I began to realise a beautiful reality about it that came at quite a shock.
When teaching young children from the Word or related texts, it's important to establish that they understand things. Especially specific words that are not well known. So you begin to explain everything in a child-like way.
"Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3
When doing the devotionals, I realise it would humble me to the text. Causing me to really get to a very basic understanding of the text. Meeting the requirements the text places on those who might find grace from the Lord. "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5. So I have found what a great grace it really is study the text in my own private times with the Lord. For my own benefit. Then bringing the text to the children in the most simplest of ways.
If you have children at home, it is so worth the investment - to diligently seeking the Lord this way. "He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
I pray you will find great blessing in spending time pouring out your life into your children.
That every parent would know the truth found in this text:
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 4:1
How do you like to spend devotional times, teaching your children the truths of God's Word? Comment below explaining about what you do.
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