Wednesday, October 23, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Deuteronomy 6:4–9

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (NRSV)

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Reflection

This is an extremely difficult Bible passage and reflection for me. In this devotion “we are focusing on the theme of the good work of spiritual formation that is ours to do as children of God.” The reading talks about the commandments that we should pass on to our children. Verse seven tells me to “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” (NIV).

I tried and I failed. I am not alone. What has happened to our children that more and more seem to be turning their backs on God? We brought our children to church and Sunday school. We had home devotions, prayers at meals and bedtime, family hymn singing, Advent wreaths and calendars, Christmas pageants, Easter celebrations. We talked about God’s love, forgiveness, and continued presence in our lives, but for a great many of them, it didn’t stick. We watch our children and grandchildren leading lives far removed from depending on God. What more could I have done? I don’t know. But God can continue the work and guide me.

I do know that I can only change this through prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit. I think that this may have been a problem that has existed forever; that’s why Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” That sounds like a promise.

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Prayer
Dear Lord, our children belong to you and are in your hands. You have a plan — let me have faith. Amen.

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Written by Linda Gibboney, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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