How do you make scripture real for kids? I mean change your life, change your behavior, Jesus is my Savior kind of real? How do you get your kids to apply the scripture they’ve memorized to their life?
What does it take to see the fruit of scripture memory?
The truth is there is absolutely nothing we can do as parents to make kids apply scripture to their actions, good fruit in anyone’s life is an act of the Holy Spirit, and only the Holy Spirit.
For our part all we can do is instruct our children in love and let them see the love in action in our own lives. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 states:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. “
The most important thing we can impress upon our children is our love for God, and we show our love for God by loving others.
Kids will never live out the scripture they learn in their lives if they don’t see us living it out in our lives. That means showing grace, being kind, and growing in Christ.
This also means being honest with our kids when we introduce a new scripture. If the scripture is about faith share a time with your kids where you needed help with your faith, if it’s about forgiveness share a memory with your kids about when you had a hard time forgiving.
If you want kids to apply scripture to their life show them how you apply it to yours. Don’t be afraid to admit to the times in your life when you messed up. Remind them you need God’s grace too.
I wish there was a formula or 5 easy steps, but when it comes to teaching your kids about the Lord, formulas and 5 easy steps don’t work. We do well when we teach our children scripture. We do better when they see us live that scripture out in our own lives.
The fruit will come, but it will be the work of God in their life not our own.
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