RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
1. Children are a heritage from the Lord
Ps. 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
King Solomon acknowledges that children are a heritage from the Lord, i.e. children are given to us by God for our possession.
Gen. 33:5low… So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
Josh. 24:3-4 3Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac. 4To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess,but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
Parents are therefore indebted to God for giving them children as their possession.
2. God seeks godly offspring from men
Mal. 2:15up But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. … …
The importance of spiritual education for our children cannot be overemphasised. Spiritual or religious education concerns our children’s spiritual life.
Children should be taught about God from young such that they will grow up to be godly children and ultimately be saved.
Prv. 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Parents must not neglect the religious education of our children. We must put effort to educate them and implant the words of God into their hearts.
Deu. 11:18-19 18Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
2Tim. 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Through the teachings of the Bible, our children will receive the wisdom from God, to observe His commandments, remember His words, so that whatever they do is in accordance with His will and their hearts filled with God’s grace to attain perfection.
2Tim. 3:16-17 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
3. Duty of Parents
Prv. 29:17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
Responsible parents must do their duty to teach their children the word of God at home so that the children will learn about the Bible from young and grow up in the love and Word of Christ.
Eph. 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Parents must teach and guide their children to be able to achieve holiness, and become a righteous person.
Prv. 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.
Prv. 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Heb. 12:7-8 7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Not only to teach our children according to the teachings of Jesus Christ in words, but as parents we must lead by example to teach them with our deeds as well. We ourselves must set good examples in godliness, to serve God fervently and draw near to God at all times.
2Tim. 1:5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
Summary
The Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples to let the little children to come to Him.
Matt. 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Those who are submissive to discipline will yield fruits of righteousness.
Heb. 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Understanding the Bible will enable our children to know the most honourable and greatest Master of the universe, and be God fearing.
Prv. 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
May all parents do their duty in bringing up their children who will be godly according to God’s will.
All glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Amen.