A Legacy of Faith
Sunday, June 16, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:6–9
John Paton’s decision to leave Scotland and go to the New Hebrides Islands as a missionary was not made lightly. The inhabitants of most of the islands were cannibals, and several Europeans had already been killed there. But Paton believed he had a responsibility to go and take them the gospel. His faith was greatly influenced by his father who went alone to pray three times each day and had family prayers twice each day.
Many years later Paton wrote about the day he left for the mission field. “My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsel and tears and heavenly conversation on that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been but yesterday; and tears are on my cheeks as freely now as then, whenever memory steals me away to the scene. His tears fell fast when our eyes met each other in looks for which all speech was vain! He grasped my hand firmly for a minute in silence, and then solemnly said: ‘God bless you, my son! Your father’s God prosper you, and keep you from all evil!’”
Parents and especially fathers have a great obligation from God to teach their children to love and obey Him. There is nothing more important we can do for the future than to pass on our faith to the next generation.
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:6–9
John Paton’s decision to leave Scotland and go to the New Hebrides Islands as a missionary was not made lightly. The inhabitants of most of the islands were cannibals, and several Europeans had already been killed there. But Paton believed he had a responsibility to go and take them the gospel. His faith was greatly influenced by his father who went alone to pray three times each day and had family prayers twice each day.
Many years later Paton wrote about the day he left for the mission field. “My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsel and tears and heavenly conversation on that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been but yesterday; and tears are on my cheeks as freely now as then, whenever memory steals me away to the scene. His tears fell fast when our eyes met each other in looks for which all speech was vain! He grasped my hand firmly for a minute in silence, and then solemnly said: ‘God bless you, my son! Your father’s God prosper you, and keep you from all evil!’”
Parents and especially fathers have a great obligation from God to teach their children to love and obey Him. There is nothing more important we can do for the future than to pass on our faith to the next generation.
Today's Growth Principle:
If God is not real to us, our children will find it hard to truly believe and trust in Him.
If God is not real to us, our children will find it hard to truly believe and trust in Him.
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