THE BEST TEACHER

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth"
(3 John 4).

Do you think you are incapable of teaching your children? Dear mother, you are the best teacher in the world. God ordained you to teach and He gave you this ability. You begin teaching your children from the moment they are born. You do it naturally. In their first few years you teach them everything about life—how to talk, walk, etiquette, to understand God's world, and all the basic foundations of life. And you are still the best teacher for the rest of their lives.

God uses different words to describe the mother's teaching.

Torah

God reminds children, "Do not forsake your mother's teaching" (Proverbs 1:8 NASB). Whose teaching? The school teacher's? The Sunday school teacher's? No, the Bible says it's the mother's teaching. This is the teaching God does not want your children to forsake.

Again, in Proverbs 6:20-22 NASB children are commanded, "Do not forsake the teaching of our mother; bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you." This is the most powerful and influential teaching I have read about.

The word "teaching" is torah and means "instruction, doctrine, direction, a precept. The first five books of the Bible eventually became known as the Torah. It was God's instructions of how He wanted His people to live. God wants mothers to teach and show their children "the way of life," the way He wants them to live (Proverbs 6:23). Every day you show your children God's way or your own way, but you are teaching, and your influence will imprint upon your children for life.

Ezekiel 16:44 says, "As is the mother, so is her daughter" for good or for bad!

Yada

When God commands His people to teach their children and their children's children in Deuteronomy 4:9, the word "teach" is yada. The same word is used for sexual intercourse. It's not a casual teaching, but teaching that enables them to know and understand God's ways. It's not something that is only in their head, but what they experience. That's the kind of teaching mothers do--experiential life teaching! And that's the teaching that works.

Shanan

The Hebrew word in Deuteronomy 6:7 where we are commanded to diligently teach our children is shanan which means to "whet as in sharpening a knife or sword, to pierce or prick." It is something that goes right into them and influences them for life. It speaks to their conscience. It keeps them from being dulled and dumbed down. Our teaching should make them sharp to hear God's voice. We don't do this in set lessons, but all throughout the day. It is the way of homeschooling. Fathers and mothers are commanded to teach their children when they lie down, rise up, and when they sit in their house. And who is predominately at home with the children? You are, mother.

Lamad

Deuteronomy 11:19 NASB says, "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up." This Scripture seems exactly the same as Deuteronomy 6:7, but God uses a different word for "teach" this time. It is lamad and means "to cause to learn, train, educate." It's not only receiving facts, but learning with understanding, which is skilful teaching. A big difference.

The word lamad is also translated "expert" and "skilful."

This Hebrew word is also used with learning to fear of the Lord, the most important teaching you can give your children. They will rarely get this from anybody else but you! Read the importance God puts on learning to fear Him.

Deuteronomy 4:10, "I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth."

Deuteronomy 14:23, "That thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always."

Deuteronomy 31:12-13, "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children (the little ones), and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: and that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God."

Zahar

This teaching word from Exodus 18:20 means "to shine, to enlighten, and also to give warning." It is translated "shine" in Daniel 12:3, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." True teaching will make the faces of our children shine. What an amazing career we have.

Yarah

This is an interesting one. Not only does it mean to teach, but to shoot an arrow. It is translated "archers" five times and "shoot" 20 times. Mother, as you daily instruct your children, you are sharpening your arrows and getting them ready to shoot from the bow. Isn't that exciting?

You can do it, mother. You are the best teacher! There is no one as good as you. You have been ordained for the task!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Thank you, Father, that as a mother you have also ordained me to teach the children you have given to me. I thank you for the opportunity of teaching them how to live your kingdom life in all the situations we face each day. Thank you for the privilege of teaching them to walk in the fear of the Lord. Please strengthen me each new day with your vision, your ideas, and your creativity. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I love teaching my children and I am the best teacher they could ever have.

FURTHER STUDY:

Check out these Scriptures which use the Hebrew word, lamad.

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5, 14; 5:1, 31; 6:1; 17:19; 18:19; 20:18; 31:19, 22; Judges 3:2; 2 Samuel 1:18; 22:35; 1 Chronicles 5:18; 25:7; 2 Chronicles 17;7; Ezra 7:10; Psalm 18:34; 25:4;4-5, 9; 34:11; 51:13; 71:17; 94:10, 12; 106:5; 119:7, 12, 26, 64, 66, 68, 71, 73, 99, 108, 124, 135, 171; 132:12; 143:10; 144:1; Song of Solomon 3:8; 8:2; Ecclesiastes 12:9; Isaiah 1:17; 2:4; 26:9-10; 29:13, 24; 40:14; 48:17; Jeremiah 9:20; 10:2; 23:33; 31:34 and Micah 4:3.

WHAT KIND OF HOME?

Part 5

"But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?"
(2 Chronicles 2:6).

Both David and Solomon were determined to do three things:

1) Build a house to honor the name of the Lord, which we have already discussed in Parts 1 - 4.

2. To dedicate the house to the Lord so it would be set apart for Him, and

3. To make a place to offer sacrifices to the Lord.

I know you are seeking to build a home to honor the awesome name of our God. I know you want to daily consecrate your home to the Lord. But, are you making your home a place to offer sacrifices to Him?

"What on earth are you saying?" you question. "We don't offer morning and evening sacrifices today like they did in Old Testament times!" You are right. However, everything that happened in the Old Testament was a prototype and pattern for us today (1 Corinthians 10:11). God laid down a precedent for us when He established the plan for the tabernacle. It wasn't just a good idea. It was actually a type of the heavenly pattern (Hebrews 8:1-5; 9:24).

Of course, we don't build a physical altar today, nor offer physical sacrifices. But, God still wants us to make a time and place where we offer worship and praise to Him. He wants us to sacrifice time in our day to pray together as a family. He wants us to take time as a family to listen to His voice speaking to us through His Word.

Psalm 69:30-31, says, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord BETTER than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs."

Psalm 92:1-2 says, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: to show forth thy loving-kindness IN THE MORNING, and thy faithfulness EVERY NIGHT."

Psalm 107:21-22 says, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing."

Psalm 116:17 says, "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord."

Hebrews 13;15 says, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Each family has a different way of conducting Family Worship. That's good, because every family is unique. In our home we begin by my husband, Colin reading God's Word. We usually read God's Word from The Daily Light on the Daily Path which we find a great blessing. It has Scriptures on a certain theme for every morning and every evening for the whole year. Each one of us then thank the Lord for His goodness and pray for specific needs in the family and of course for the nation. Every family should be daily praying for our nation. We also love to pray for Israel, the persecuted church, and for other needy countries of the world. Each member of the family prays, right down to the little one who is just beginning to talk. And then we sing, either a hymn or two, or a worship song.

I know it takes sacrifice to establish this time every morning and evening to worship and offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord God. But, what else are you establishing your home for? Is it a home to offer to the Lord, or a place for your own plans and purposes?

Solomon stated emphatically, "Who am I to build a house for him, EXCEPT as a place to make offerings before him?" (2 Chronicles 2:6). The NET translates it, "Who am I that I should build him a temple! It will really be ONLY A PLACE TO OFFER SACRIFICES BEFORE HIM." If we do not establish our home as a place to meet with God and offer sacrifices to Him, what is our home?

This is not a haphazard thing. It is something we make happen. We decide on a time every morning and evening to gather as a family to meet with God. We decide on the place we will meet together and we don't let anything else take its place.

Will you have the same passion Solomon had as you build your house for God?

Love from Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Oh God, you the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are the Potentate of the universe. Save me from failing to honor you in the home I am building to you. Please show me the way and how to establish this time each day to offer sacrifices to you. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I have no other desire for my home, EXCEPT to make it a place where we meet with God.

THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH

If you would like to order this book, which is such a great help in establishing Family Devotions, go to www.aboverubies.org or clink on this link:  http://bit.ly/DailyLightDailyPath 

WHAT KIND OF HOME?

Part 4

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently led those that are with young" (Isaiah 40:11).

Let's talk now about one of the most loved names of God.

Jehovah-Ra'ah--the Lord my Shepherd

How wonderful that God reveals Himself to us by different names. If we only knew Him by one name, we would not understand the complete fullness of who He is. We live in awe of our righteous, holy God who must judge all sin. But, then He reveals Himself to us as the Shepherd, the one who bends down to tend our needs (Psalm 113:5-9) and who protects us and gather us up in His arms (Isaiah 40:11). This name speaks of the intimate relationship we can experience with Him, for the word "shepherd" also means "to be a friend, a companion, to keep company with." A Bedouin shepherd in Israel testified that even if he were blindfolded he would know each one of his sheep by feeling their faces. Our Shepherd wants to have an intimate and tender relationship with us. The psalmist calls God, "MY Shepherd," and repeatedly the Great Shepherd of the sheep calls us "MY flock."

As we build a home to the name of our gentle and tender Shepherd, we will teach our children that He wants to be their personal Savior and Shepherd. We will be careful not to do anything in our home that will grieve our Shepherd who wants to be intimately involved in everything we do.

Our Shepherd has a great shepherding heart and He wants us to shepherd our little flock in the same way He shepherds His flock. Shepherding is an enormous undertaking and from the Scriptures and the Hebrew meanings of the word "shepherd" we find that it includes the following tender and powerful ministries. You will see that a shepherd must be both brave and tender. Let God teach you as you read them.

It means befriending with an intimate relationship, binding and bandaging up the hurt and broken, bravely fighting off all enemies, bringing back the straying and wandering ones, carrying the lambs close to your heart, comforting, encouraging the weary, eliminating fear in the dark and anxious times, feeding, gathering in your arms and to your heart, gently leading, guarding and watching over your flock, guiding your flock on the "right track," healing the sickly, increasing the flock, keeping them safe, leading to rest and rich green pastures, nourishing, persevering until you find the lost, preparing a table, protecting, providing, rescuing when they turn to by-paths, restoring (renewing, reviving, and refreshing), ruling with wisdom and discretion, sacrificing and laying down your life for your flock, saving your flock, searching and seeking the lost ones, strengthening the weak, and tenderly folding your flock. My, what an amazing mission you have as a shepherdess.

Embrace this beautiful role. It is not insignificant. I would suggest you read the above paragraph over and over. It is too much to comprehend in one reading. Did you know that shepherding is talked about in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation? God chose two of the greatest leaders of all time from shepherding the sheep, Moses and King David (Exodus 3:1-10 and Psalm 78:70-72). God looks for parents who will shepherd after His own heart (Jeremiah 3:15). And because our little flock is really His flock, He requires them at our hand (Ezekiel 34:10). He wants us to diligently know the state of our little flock (Proverbs 27:23).

How can we be the shepherdess He wants us to be? We certainly can't do it in our own strength and wisdom, but be encouraged for Micah 5:4 tells us that Jesus Christ will "stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God." If that is how He shepherds, that's the only way we can do it, too. You can do it in HIS strength.

Jehovah-Shammah--The Lord is There

We now look at the last redemptive name of God, another precious name. We find this amazing prophetic promise in Ezekiel 48:35, "And the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there." The temple was destroyed, Judah had been taken as captives to Babylon, and only a small remnant remained in the land. There did not seem any hope for the restoration of Israel or the temple. But God's promise comes to give hope. Again He says in Ezekiel 43:7 that this will be the "place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever."

The understanding of this name is the holy and glorious presence of God. It is God in the midst! What could be more powerful? In the Old Testament God dwelt in a temporary tabernacle and then the temple. God said, "I have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle" (2 Samuel 7:6). But, when Jesus died upon the cross, the thick veil protecting the Holy of Holies was torn apart and now He wants to abide in your heart. He also loves to dwell in your home, because He is a dwelling God.

He wants to live and walk with you in your home. He wants to fill every room of your home. Because your body is the dwelling place of His Holy Spirit, every task you do is sacred. Mothering is a holy career. Nothing is mundane. When you are changing a diaper, scrubbing the floor, doing endless dishes and laundry, and tending to the myriads of needs of your little ones, God is with you. Every little thing you do is sacred and holy because God is with you.

God also wants you to reveal to your children the awesome understanding of Jehovah-Shammah. As you are home with your children and available to them, you show to your children this quality of the character of God. Your children learn that "God is always there," just as you are always available and there for them.

Love from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"Oh Great Jehovah Shammah, help me to realize that life is not all about doing, but to BE THERE and available to my children is a powerful way of showing my children your character. Help me to be a Rock and Fortress to my children. Amen."

 AFFIRMATION:

I will be both a brave and tender shepherd to my flock.

FURTHER SCRIPTURES ABOUT HOLDING UP THE BANNER:

Numbers 1:52; 2:2, 17, 34; Psalm 20:5; 60:4; Song of Solomon 2:4; 6:4, 10 and Isaiah 62:10.

 TO CHECK THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT SHEPHERDING, GO TO:

 http://aboverubies.org/shepherdingscriptures

READ FURTHER ARTICLES ABOUT SHEPHERDING:

 http://aboverubies.org/mushies

 http://aboverubies.org/foldyourflock

 http://aboverubies.org/shepherdingflock

WHAT KIND OF HOME?

Part 3

"They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee" (Psalm 9:10).

Are you increasing your vision to build a home to the name of the Lord?

Jehovah-Shalom--The Lord my Peace

Because the Israelites did evil in the site of the Lord, He allowed the Midianites to come against them and they became their slaves for seven years. They destroyed the fruit of their land, confiscated their livestock, and left them with nothing to eat. In their despair the Israelites cried out to the Lord and He heard their cry.

God came to a man named Gideon and commanded him to rescue Israel from the Midianites. Gideon felt too helpless and weak in his own strength and wanted proof that it was really God speaking to him.

"Please don't leave until I bring you an offering of food," he asked the angel of God. Gideon prepared a young kid and unleavened cakes. When he came back and put them on the rock, the angelic visitor touched them with the tip of his staff and fire sprang up for the rock and consumed everything. Gideon was full of fear that he had seen the Angel of the Lord face to face. But, "The Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee, fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-Shalom" (Judges 6:22-24).

Are you building a home of peace to Jehovah Shalom? Turn your home into a home of rest instead of restlessness. Upsets will constantly happen in your family life to disturb your peace. Don't allow any of these things to do get on top of you. Look up to the Lord instead. My favorite "Scripture is found in Isaiah 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." God is bigger than any trauma that happens in your life. When you look to Him and confess your trust in Him He will sustain you. Your circumstances may not change, but peace will reign in your heart and home.

Once again, we see the theme of obedience coming through in this point too. God says in Isaiah 48:18, "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."

Jehovah Shalom wants His people to "dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places" (Isaiah 32:18). Not only when everything is going well, but "even if the forest should be destroyed and the city torn down" (Verse 19 NLT). This is the kind of peace we can have when we trust in His name, peace when everything is falling down around us.

Jehovah-Tsidkenu--The Lord my Righteousness

We read in Jeremiah 23:5-6 that God's name is, "The Lord our righteousness." One day the city of Jerusalem will also be called by this name (Jeremiah 33:16). If the Holy God is dwelling in our homes, they should also be called, "The Lord our Righteousness."

As we build to this name of God, we will constantly seek to banish evil and uphold righteousness in our home. Although God is a God of love and compassion, He cannot be God unless He is righteous. He demands exactness in weights and measures (Leviticus 19:35-37 and Deuteronomy 25:15). Anything less than perfection comes short of His holiness (Romans 6:23). Of course, we can never come near God's righteousness. That's why we need the blood of Jesus.

However, although we cannot be righteous, except through the righteous life of Christ who lives in us, we should have the same essence about us that God does. He hates evil and loves righteousness and He wants us to do the same. Psalm 97:10 says, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil."

Romans 12:9 says, "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." To "abhor" means "to shudder with horror, to utterly detest." Is this how we feel about sin? Is this how we feel about evil in our home? Is this how we feel about the evil that is happening in the nation? How does this attitude determine our actions?

It is a powerful thing to build a righteous home. It is not easy. Evil finds a way to sneak into your home. Be watchful as you build your home to the wonderful name of God, "The Lord my Righteousness." As more and more families build righteous homes, the more we become a nation of righteousness. Above everything else, it is righteousness that lifts up a nation. Proverbs 13:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh God of righteousness, please teach me how to build a righteous home. Please expose all evil in my home, even hidden sin. Please bring everything to the light so we can build in righteousness. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

"Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song."

~ B. B. McKinney 

Read also Psalm 11:7; 33:5; 34:14; 45:7; 101:3; Proverbs 8:13; Amos 5:14-15; Ephesians 5:11 and Hebrews 1:9.