Word for the day by Christian Education Program

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Making of the faithful


Pradeep John
Connecticut Mar Thoma Congregation

"When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.”
 
The context of this passage is a divine command to Joshua to prepare a monument with stones from the midst of Jordan. These stones were a memorial to remind the people of Israel and their future generations that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the people crossed safely to the Promised Land. Jews were great believers in teaching their children about God and how God has a special relation with the people of Israel.  Like Moses told them “In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.”(Exo 6:21-22)
At some point of our lives we all have received some form of memento, certificate of recognition or appreciation, trophies or medals of victories. Also most of us like to display our past achievements and speak about it especially to our children. In the same way God expects that we tell our children how He has lead us in our lives. We have to bear a testimony before our children of how God brought us to where we are. Our lives speak better than our words. God expects us to teach the children regularly about His love, mercy, forgiveness and His statutes. The testimonies of God are what connect each succeeding generation of believers to His promises. Every record of what God has done in generations past is a promise of what He will do again in our lives because God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
We have the obligation to bring our children to church and Sunday school regularly. We should also teach our children about our Mar Thoma church and its doctrines. How the past and present leaders of our Mar Thoma church stood strong in faith and conviction so that the church would come into being and be a blessing to us. Failure to remember the works and blessings of God is a spiritual failure. It erodes the foundation of faith and our relationship with God. “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.” (Deut 6:6-7).
So let us make every effort and take every opportunity to talk about Jesus to our children and more importantly pray to God about our children because only God can change and direct the hearts of our children towards Him.

PRAYER

Gracious and Loving Father, grant us the wisdom to speak to our children about You and to thankfully remember all Your benefits towards us. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

  

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