Doctrine, Diligence, and Discipline

Yesterday at Southeastern Dr. Al Mohler from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY came and spoke at chapel. The title of his talk was "How Not to Raise a Pagan," and he looked at Deuteronomy 6. The three main points he pulled from the passage were doctrine, diligence, and discipline. It is important to be teaching our children doctrine, truths about God from His Word. We must be diligent in our teaching and make the most of every opportunity that we have. Verses 6-7 says "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Clearly, diligence is important. Finally, discipline. We as parents need to teach our children what God's standards are so they know why they are receiving discipline. The talk was great, and if you have time I HIGHLY recommend listening to it! Just click here.

All of this echos what I desire to do for my daughter. I want to be a parent who is teaching my daughter about the Lord. Another point that Dr. Mohler made was that we are always teaching our children something. They are learning from us and from our example. We must be mindful of that fact, and also careful what we are teaching them. I want to teach my daughter to be a woman who trusts the Lord in times of difficulty, to be a lady of grace, and peace. I want Karis to be a lady who clings to the Gospel, so I must be a mommy who shows and teaches her the Gospel. What a responsibility! What a challenge! Only by God's grace will Blake and I be able to raise her and teach her. I pray that she will be a lady of the Lord!

"Hear, O Isreal; The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way,
and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Deuteronomy 6:4-7