Living in a Foreign World 5

 Laying a solid foundation for our kids.

Today we will be building a house on rock. We will be creating a foundation of faith for children. How do we do this? We should start the way we, as children of God, should start anything with Prayer. Even if you are not a new parent with a young child, which would be the best time, you can still start with prayer. Ask God to open your hearts and free your minds to receive wisdom from above that you can then pass on to your children.

How do we do this? This, laying of a foundation in God for our children to follow?

The Cornerstone: Yeshua, or Jesus Christ of course.

Age-appropriate stories about Jesus’s life, love, and teachings can introduce children to him as their foundation.

The Bricks: God's Word

Bible stories, age-appropriate devotionals, and memorizing scripture verses can make God’s word a part of their daily lives.

The Mortar: Prayer

First, explain to them that Jesus, if you want to teach them His real name is Yeshua, we translated it as Jesus, but HE is all they need. Start with something simple like this.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18

Teach them what Jesus Himself taught us.

“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus HAS to be the cornerstone. He even called Himself this.

“Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:

"'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord's doing,

and it is marvelous in our eyes?” Matthew 21:42

The Word tells us plainly, that we must teach our children the Word of God. We need to teach them the Ten Commandments as an example.

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:7

About the ways of God.

"Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD." Psalm 34:11

God calls for Parents to correct them when needed. Yes, that includes Corporal punishment.

"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." Proverbs 22:15

Proverbs 29:15

"The rod and reproof give wisdom,

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."

You see, true education should always be from the home. We live in crazy and confusing times. Parents, you are raising your children. They will go out into the world and learn things about the world. They must have a strong foundation so that they are not led astray. So that they will not be led into sins.

"Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

You can even teach them that God also disciplines those He loves.

“My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline

or be weary of his reproof,

for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12

This is not to say that it is okay to beat your child. It is not saying that it is okay for husbands to abuse their wives. God IS Love. God wants us to love our families the way God loves us. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Teach them how to pray. Explain the “Our Father Prayer.”

"Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:9-13

After this manner pray. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." You are to recognize God. Acknowledge He is the God of gods, Lord of lords. Honor his Godliness. Do not just use him as a symbol or an icon of religion. Recognize that He is God. That you are talking to him as you would your earthly father.

"Your kingdom comes, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." In other words, recognize that God's will is the most important. Not what you feel like. Or the way you think things should be, but God's will. All is His, both here and in Heaven. He has a plan and a purpose for you and your life.

"Give us this day our daily bread," Meet our daily needs. Ask God, of whom Jesus just told us "Your Father knoweth what things ye need before ye ask him." So just ask Him. He already has a plan. He doesn't need your help.

"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Ask for forgiveness of your daily sins. Yes, you still sin daily. Ask Him to forgive you. While you ask Him to forgive you, forgive anyone in your life who may need forgiveness. If they ask for it or not. Remember what Jesus said while dying on the Cross?

"And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments." Luke 23:34

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Help us to recognize the snares of the devil. Especially today. Show them that the sad truth is, that sometimes the devil will use compassion and a false love to glorify sin. Teach us the ways we should go. Be with us and keep us safe. Not only from the world but in some cases, from ourselves as well.

This is the “Our Father Prayer” explained. Not just praying in vain repetitions, but following the pattern of prayer that Jesus taught us.

Pray together. Have Bible studies in your home. Go to church. Explain why something is a sin or something is right and good with the Bible. Lead by example. Remember, your kids will see what you do before they will hear what you say. Teach them it is NEVER ok to accept sin. Most definitely not celebrate it. Teach them that although we live in this foreign and crazy world, we are not a part of it. Our home is in Heaven and this is where we will go one day to be with God Himself. Our Abba Father.

Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be, say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!