God’s Word: Your Family’s Foundation

“Every generation has its defining challenge. Ours is the systematic annihilation of the biblical family.” — Doug Phillips

We see such enormous destruction in the families of our nation today. The Scriptures tell us that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. There is no doubt in my mind that he is systematic in trying to annihilate the biblical family. The only place we have to stand is on the authority of the Scriptures. When we know, live and speak His Word, the enemy must flee. He must bow down to the King of Kings.

The greatest legacy we can leave our children for the battlefields that will be theirs is to teach them the Scriptures daily.

Deuteronomy instructs, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (6:6-9).

Proverbs 4:23 also teaches, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” God is very clear to tell us the primary things that should be influencing our hearts — His commandments, His ways and His laws. We can teach and impress them on our children’s hearts only if they are truly the primary focus of our own hearts.

So, moms and dads, are you spending time in the Word of God? Do you wake up early, stay up late or set aside a few minutes in the middle of the day to soak in the Word? Are you accountable to anybody? Involved in a small group? Whatever it takes do not neglect the Scriptures. We cannot give to our children what we do not ourselves possess.

We are commanded to impress upon and teach the Scriptures to our children. We are to talk about the Word when we sit down. Do you spend time talking about the word of God when you sit with your children at the dinner table? By their beds? On the floor? While they play with their Legos or toy sets? These are the places where we must discuss and rehearse the power of God’s Word.

We are to talk about God’s commands when we walk along the road. In modern language, that would be while we ride in the minivan, or SUV, running errands, going to the grocery, to the library, to sports events or to the mall. We are to use that time to constantly teach our children. Invest in worship tapes, or in other great Bible lessons that you can listen to in the car. Teach your children to ask questions constantly about who God is and how He relates to their everyday lives.

We are to teach God’s command when we lie down, and when we rise up. The last thing our children should hear before bed, besides “I love you,” is verses from Scripture. The first thing our children should hear in the morning, besides “I love you,” is more verses from Scripture. The Word of God should be on our walls, our white boards, and on our refrigerators. The Word of God should be on post-it notes on the dash boards of our cars. Our children will know that the Word of God is our number one priority when we exalt the Scriptures in these ways.

The systematic annihilation of the biblical family will stop with me and with you, one home at a time.