Monday, February 22, 2010

Passing on the Faith

In Deuteronomy 6:1-9, God commands parents to pass His Word on to their children. And He reminds us as parents, teachers, and ministry leaders that we need to know God’s Word ourselves before we can effectively share it with others. What can we do to internalize God’s Word and then grow in it?
1. Get to know the Son of God. Realize that the object of your faith should be Jesus Christ. Don’t put your faith in a pastor or a teacher or ______. (You fill in the blank.)
2. Get to know the Word of God. Learn and study it so you really come to know God’s truth. Ask God for wisdom before reading the Bible, so His Word will be revealed to you as you read.
3. Get serious about strengthening your faith in Jesus. If you don’t exercise your faith by applying God’s truth to your life, you won’t grow.
4. Read the following Scripture passages and determine what principles of faith they are describing: Matthew 17:19-20; Mark 11:22-24; Romans 10:17; I Corinthians 2:4-5; Galatians 2:20; and I Peter 1:3-7.

True faith in Jesus Christ is active and is continually at work in our lives. As we develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God calls us to:
Fear the Lord all the days of our lives — Deuteronomy 6:2
Love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength — Deuteronomy 6:5
Establish habits and traditions for recalling and retelling the ways God has worked in our own lives and in the lives of our ancestors — Deuteronomy 6:7-9
Live lives of gratitude, remembering that where we live, our talents, our families, all we have, are gifts from God — not the result of our own efforts — Deuteronomy 6:10-12

As you read God’s Word, determine how these verses apply to your own life. Ask yourself, “What do I need to do to learn to trust God more?”

Then thank God for all He’s given you and your family. Praise Him each day for the opportunities before you. Share His greatness with those around you including your students, family, and friends. Remember, you may be the only Bible some people will ever read!

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