As parents, there are many times when we ‘say’ the reason we reached a decision to do something in particular...was based on ‘the kids’. Doing what the kids wanted or needed at the time was the determining factor as to why we chose one thing over another. It might be as simple as deciding on what restaurant we went to, or which TV show we chose to watch one evening. Other choices carried much more weight...like maybe choosing to work out marital differences and ‘staying together...for the kids’.

Why there is a growing part of the population today where couples are making the decision to ‘not have kids’...because...they don’t want to bring children into a world where so much darkness and evil and hate exists. So, in a twisted way of thinking I suppose...they’re still ‘doing it for the kids’.

As you probably know already, it can be easy for many parents to justify the long hours they may put in on their jobs/professions to earn the money they do because...as we like to say...’we’re doing it for the kids’.

We tell ourselves we want them to have all the ‘nice things’...clothes, toys, homes, college education, etc. I don’t know if people actually say this in ‘real life’, but I’ve heard it mentioned in fictional settings..(tv/movies, books) where the father tells his child...”Someday this will be all yours, son”...as he looks over the land or ranch that he has sweated and toiled over to build.

We sure love our kids though...do we not? So let me ask you this: IF...we truly do love our children and want nothing but the ‘best’ for them, what single thing could we possibly do that would ensure, according to God’s word, that they would indeed...have everything they could ever imagine they would need in order to  have the most blessed, beneficial, productive and long life possible? (give it a moment before you answer that)

If....you raised your hand and were eager to say: “Take them to church!”...then picture me planting my face in my palm as I shake my head back and forth muttering...’No, No, No!’.

That...is NOT...the correct answer. May I point you to what God had to say about this?

I believe the first time we hear these words uttered is found in Deut. 6. “The Lord our God is one...and you shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (4-5). Jesus would later affirm this great commandment along with including that part about ‘and...loving your neighbor as yourself (or as Christ loved us) – Matt. 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28; John 13:34-35.

Now take a quick moment and read Deut. 6:1-3 and 7-9 as the people were admonished to keep all of God’s commandments that He had delivered to them at Mt. Sinai. Did you catch that part where he said to ‘fear the Lord and keep His commandments...“so you and your son and your grandson...all the days of your life...and that your days may be prolonged’? And how were they encouraged to begin doing this, in vs 6-9? Now, take a moment and go mark Deut. 10:12-13.

Since we are there in this book which actually means ‘the law’, take a look at Deut. 4:40 and 5:29. Are you beginning to pick up on a repeated ‘theme’ here?

May I simplify all this for us? God is telling His people...IF...you want things to go well for you (and your kids), ‘fear me and do what I say’. And guess what...God has never changed that ‘recipe’ for a blessed life.

When people came asking Jesus about inheriting eternal life, He pointed them to the law. Jesus told His disciples...”IF you love Me...keep my commandments.” When asked by the ‘experts’ what was the most important commandment...Jesus flat out told them...”Love God with ALL your heart”. Sounds so simple and to the point, does it not?

I’m not sure if you were aware of this, but after God delivered His law (Ten Commandments) to Moses who read them to the people, they all chimed in saying: ”Yes...all the words which the Lord has said we will do...we will do them and be obedient.” (Ex. 24:3,7)

Fast forward about 40 years when they are still in the wilderness (due to rebellion and disobedience), the law was read to that next generation who would go in and possess this land God had waiting on them, and they too...affirmed that ‘all they had heard...they would do’ (Deut. 5:27).

Do you know what God had to say about His people when ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:1,14)? He pointed out how His people have a way of ‘honoring God with their lips...while their hearts are far from Him’. And Jesus was actually quoting the prophet Isaiah who had the same thing to say about God’s people... centuries earlier (Matt. 15:7-9)

James would later inform us with a piece of knowledge that I think slips by us more often than we care to admit: If we are just a ‘hearer of the word, and not a doer...we deceive ourselves’ (James 1:22). This is how we end up ‘walking in a form of godliness...always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth’ (2 Tim. 3:5,7)

Do you recall the illustration Jesus used to explain which house stood and which house collapsed when the floods came and beat against both houses? Take a look at Matt 7:24-27.

And when those very active, professing 'believers' in Matt. 7:22...who were doing all kinds of great things for God...and ‘in His name’...heard those chilling words to ‘depart from Him’...because they continued to...(do what?). Sin. They continued to practice sin (23), which is what ‘breaking the commandments’ of God is; it is sin. - 1 John 3:4. And what did Jesus say in John 5:14?- “Go, and sin no more or something worse will happen to you.”

Friends...the single, most important thing any parent or individual could ever do to ensure God’s best blessings come upon them and their children...would be to love Him with ALL your heart. And I’m convinced...that so many of us have failed to truly grasp, understand, and then live out that one single truth. I hope you join me tomorrow as we continue on with this study.