God of GenerationsNäide

Spiritual Allies

“Talk about [these commandments] when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” —Deuteronomy 6:7, NIV

As the Israelites stood on the plains of Moab preparing to enter the promised land, Moses reminded them to teach their children an important commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV). Since the Israelites lived in a culture rooted in tribal and family units, the whole tribe was to teach the kids—not just the parents.

We can learn from God’s command. It’s important that we teach our children about God, as Scripture commands in Deuteronomy 6. It can also be helpful to have spiritual allies in our children’s lives.

God designed us to connect with one another. We even see encouragement in Scripture for believers to “spur one another on” (Hebrews 10:24, NIV). We can reach out to our family of believers and ask them to join us in our journey of raising kids and teaching them how to love and honor God. Leveraging the influence of others can offer our children extra support and give them another person to seek advice from should they choose.

Perhaps God has already put someone in your life who can be a spiritual ally. Perhaps it’s your church family or a friend. Your relationship with your children and your efforts to guide them are important. And the most important? Teaching them about our amazing God and all He’s done throughout generations.

Lucas Leys

Who can be spiritual allies in your children’s lives? What can you do today to teach your children how to love God?

God of generations, guide me toward spiritual allies and help me find opportunities every day to teach my children about you. Amen.