This week, I’ve been reading the book Child Guidance where the author, Ellen White, talks about teaching children reverence for the things of God. It’s been very convicting because I realize that in order for me to teach Imanuel how to be reverent, I have to be reverent. There are several things that she mentions we should teach our children to reverence – God’s name, God’s Word, God’s day – but the two that struck me the most were:
1. God’s ministers (and I doubt this excludes if you’re married to one) and
2. God’s house (or any physical building/room where He is worshipped)
1. “They [children] are seldom instructed that the minister is God’s ambassador, that the message he brings is one of God’s appointed agencies in the salvation of souls, and that to all who have the privilege brought within their reach, it will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death.”
“Parents, be careful what example and what ideas you give your children…. In regard to the service of the sanctuary, if the speaker has a blemish, be afraid to mention it. Talk only of the good work he is doing, of the good ideas he presented, which you should heed as coming through God’s agent. It may be readily seen why children are so little impressed with the ministry of the Word, and why they have so little reverence for the house of God.”
2. “Parents, elevate the standard of Christianity in the minds of your children; …teach them to have the highest reverence for the house of God and to understand that when they enter the Lord’s house, it should be with hearts that are softened and subdued by such thoughts as these: “God is here; this is His house. I must have pure thoughts and the holiest motives. I must have no pride, envy, jealousy, evil surmising, hatred, or deception in my heart; for I am coming into the presence of the holy God. This is the place where God meets with and blesses His people. The high and holy One who inhabiteth eternity looks upon me, searches my heart, and reads the most secret thoughts and acts of my life.”
I pray that this will be my experience starting from tomorrow’s worship service – that I will give God the highest reverence for His appointed ministers, for His house, and teach my children to do the same.
Oooh, thanks for sharing this, Judy. The topic did quite honestly make my xanga interest radar antennae go “OOOOOOH!” I am v. proud of you for being such a conscientious parent and for always striving to set a living example for Ramosito instead of just vainly hoping he’ll just “get it” one day.I feel that I have somewhat of a qualified experience in speaking on the topic of reverence. Ever hear the saying “Catholics make great Adventists”? The reverence that 20 years of Catholicism and 12 years of formal Catholic ed taught me is that approaching the throne and the word and even the ministers of God should be done with great care and reverence. Too much reverence makes God lofty and unaccessible, but taking His sanctuary for granted also compromises the holiness of His dwelling place. I still have certain “reverence reflexes” when it comes to entering a holy place (I wanted to genuflect before I got in the pew today before a baptism — go figure) and while my kids may not, hopefully, I’ll be able to impart to them the kind of reverence I learned for being in God’s house.
yes, thanks =) this has been such a huge burden on my and hyun’s heart every week.
I know that this is ~ 3 weeks and entries late, but I still wanted to wish IA a very late Happy B-day!!! It looks as though y’all had a great time ^_^ I hope and pray that y’all have another fantastic blessed year. Michelle
Israel has facial hair. Weird.He’s trying to look more mature, huh? 😉
I think it was a phase…he shaved it off for this past Sabbath…
Don’t make me post on the facial hair…