THE REFUGE
DEVOTIONAL
“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” Psalm 78:4 ESV
We live in a day when spiritual ignorance is draped over much of the church like a black veil. Though they have eyes, they cannot see; though they have ears, they cannot hear; so they run to and fro doing what seems right in their own eyes. They base their theology merely upon experience rather than being rooted and grounded in doctrinal truths that are understood by disciplined study. Universally speaking, the churches today have become a social gathering rather than a God given stewardship for diligent discipleship. It seems as if a greater emphasis is put upon unscriptural altar calls that lead to the baptism of unregenerate souls rather than wielding the sword of God’s holy law. For it is the law that grips the soul of an individual, showing him his deprivation of truth concerning God’s justice, wrath, and His violent hatred toward sin. It is the law that awakens the heart to the reality of sin and then leads them to the foot of the cross to see Christ as a sacrifice for sin. Paul himself said, “I would not have come to know sin except through the law.” Unfortunately, this has produced nominal Christianity, a weak church, and has fractured the home in such a way that the younger generations do not know the simplicity of Sunday school lessons. As a result, atheism flaunts itself in our streets blaspheming the name of God.
Asaph begins the teaching of this Psalm with a plea for the unfaithful nation to seek the understanding of God’s holy law. God gave it to Israel with instructions to be faithfully taught to the succeeding generations. The Lord appointed the law in Israel, which he commanded the fathers to teach to their children, so that the next generation might know them and teach them to their children. The father of every home had an important command, and that was to rear his children in godliness. He was to cultivate his home in such a way that his children would set their hope in The Lord understanding the warnings handed to them in the scriptures. The parents were to keep God’s moral commandments as a means of worship before their children, not only instructing them, but becoming a living example of what obedience truly is. This type of instruction was God’s answer for the future generations to have the knowledge to walk in faithfulness to His word, and it is still the answer for us today.
May we as leaders of our households, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent from our sins and take our God given responsibility in teaching our children the word of God. May we seek to learn every Sunday school story in the Bible in such a way that when we teach it to our children, with prayer, it will come alive inside of their hearts and minds. Remember, that in every Christians home the word of God is to be valued above all other things, for it is by this we stand or we fall. This will teach the children that each day starts with God in holy prayer and the reading of scripture, and each day ends before God in self examination and repentance. To continue to neglect these first responsibilities in our home is to abandon the commandment of God. As a result, the next generation will reap the harvest of our disobedience and a continued effect of divine judgment that will erode the minds of our future leaders.