I remember when our boys were growing up we tried to emphasize the importance of knowing the Scriptures. Teresa prepared posters that hung in their bedrooms and we would recite various verses each night as part of our bed time routine.
When the boys were in elementary school they rode to school with their mom. She was the school counselor at the elementary school they attended. I remember one year she printed lots of index cards with the Scripture reference on one side and the verse on the other. They would ask one another to recite various verses. These times are still remembered today.
There are a couple of verses that come to mind here. Psalms 119:11 is a favorite passage. “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Another passage is found in Ephesians 6. Verse 11 reads, “Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” And the passage continues to describe the armor of GOD. With one exception all the pieces of armor described are defensive in nature. The only offensive weapon, the last one listed, is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD.
Now here is the point. How will our children be able to defend against the “wiles of the devil” if they are not equipped? Their defenses against him, namely, the truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, are all rooted in the word. And their only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the word. So how will our children be prepared to face the temptations from the evil one, if they don’t have the word hidden in their hearts?
2 Timothy 2:15 is a familiar passage wherein we read, “Study to show yourself approved unto GOD…rightly dividing the word of truth.” And later in the context in verse 25-26, “that they may come to know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil…”
The importance of knowing the Scriptures cannot be overemphasized. It is our only hope to defeat the enemy. It has been said one ought to be able to recite a Scripture for each year they have been a Christian. For many of us that could be 40-50 years. I wonder how many can do that?
Most of today’s children are growing up in the smart phone generation. They have access to the scriptures at their fingertips. But they still must have some knowledge of where to find the passage.
What an awesome responsibility placed on the parents today. I hope the parents today realize the importance of instilling in their children a love of GOD and a love of His word.
I will close today with one more thought. One of the more familiar passages in the Old Testament is found in Deuteronomy 6. Here in verse 7, the parents are encouraged to teach the word diligently to their children. Talk about the word when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you get up. Teaching the word to your children should be a common everyday occurrence.
But don’t miss this important point. Verse 6 is directed at the parents. “And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart.” Before the parents can teach them to the children they must know them.
Parents and children (and grandparents too), let us all become better students of the word. Let us realize it is our only hope of winning the battle with Satan for our souls.