Thursday, September 17, 2015

How To Protect Our Children

You probably know this scene. The Jews were to swipe the blood of a lamb upon their door post so that the angel of death would pass over their household.
Today's scripture reminds us of that period of time, yet holds value for us.
"Instruct me, O Jehovah,  in your way." Psalm 27:11.
At each Israelite Passover, important lessons would be emphasized, passed on by father to son. One was that Jehovah could protect his worshippers.
The children learned that he is not some vague, abstract deity. Jehovah is a real, living God who is interested in his people and who acts in their behalf. He proved this at the time he protected the Israelite firstborn "when he plagued the Egyptians." Exodus 12:27.
Today, Christian parents do not yearly recount the Passover and it's meaning to their children.  But do we teach our children that God protects his people? Are they convinced of his realness? Are we? And that he is still a Protector of his people? Isaiah 12:2.
Do we need to learn that anew?
And if we are solidly convinced, how do we convey this to our children? Is it an enjoyable conversation between us and them?
If it is, imagine how this would affect the family’s spiritual values and thus their future wellbeing.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Praise Who


"You young men and young women, Old men and young together.  Let them praise the name of Jehovah, For his name alone is unreachably high. His majesty is above earth and heaven." Psalm 148:12, 13.

But what if we feel not inclined? ... Maybe the following words you can bear in mind.

"Therefore, let those of us who are mature be of this mental attitude, and if you are mentally inclined otherwise in any respect, God will reveal the above attitude to you. At any rate, to the extent we have made progress, let us go on walking orderly in this same course." Philippians 3:15, 16.