Teens A to Z – The Bible

As we begin looking at the importance of the Word of God in our homes, let’s first consider some familiar typologies for the Word of God. The Bible is compared to a sword in Ephesians 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The Word of God is a weapon that has been given to us to defend our homes. As fathers, we are not left helpless in guiding our young people as they face this ever-changing wicked world. We can equip and train them in the right use of the Sword of the Lord.

The Bible is also compared to a twoedged sword and a probing instrument in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Most have heard reference to this verse. The Bible is a living and powerful book which is such an encouragement to those rearing children. The Word of God is alive, and it is relevant to any time or season of our lives. It is sharper than any twoedged sword, indicating that this Bible can penetrate the heart more than the body. How far will this Bible probe? All the way to the soul and spirit and to the joints and marrow, which means the inmost recesses of the mind.

The Bible is also mentioned as a crushing hammer in Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”

A woman had often been urged by Christians to receive the Lord. In spite of their persistent efforts, she continued to harden her heart. One day she threw, into the blazing fireplace, a Bible and several tracts someone had given her. One of the leaflets fell out of the flames so she cast it in again. A second time it slipped down and once more she put it back in. Again her evil intentions were frustrated. The third time, however, part of it became scorched. That night, when the fire had died down, she picked up the portion that remained and exclaimed, “Surely the devil must be in that paper for it will not burn!” Out of curiosity she began to read the partially destroyed tract. Because it was a message on salvation it brought deep conviction to her heart. Finally, through that half-charred leaflet, she was led to Christ!

The Word of God can mold and make a young, immature boy into a strong, bold, reliable man. It reminds me of a blacksmith that would take a useless piece of metal or iron and mold it into something useful. This is the power of the Word of God. Our homes should be saturated with it, and we must strive to implement the Bible into every area of our homes and lives.

Referring to Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers,” let me give an illustration from a pastor from years gone by:

The other day I received a communication from a lawyer, who says that a very large owner has discovered that a very small piece of property belongs to him and not to the small proprietor in whose possession it has for a very long time remained. The matter seemed a trifling one. We had a conference, and there came the steward with the lawyers, and he was furnished with maps, and, putting on his spectacles, examined them with great care. Why? It was a small matter to him, but because he was a steward he was expected to be faithful. And when he found that this small piece of ground belonged to his lord he was determined to have it. So let me say, as stewards of the gospel of God, we must never give up one verse, one doctrine, one word of the truth of God. Let us be faithful to that which has been committed to us; it is not ours to alter. We have but to declare that which we have received.

Titus 1 lists the qualifications of a pastor. One of those qualifications is to be faithful to the Word of God. You will notice in this text that he is taught the Word. The application is very good for parents of young people. It is important that we, as parents, are students of the Word of God. As we grow in our knowledge of the Word of God, then can we implement it into the lives of our own children. Here are three important areas that we should assimilate the Word of God in our lives.

1. We should Study the Word of God

As parents and authority in the lives of our young people, we need to be students ourselves of the Word of God. A “do as I say and not as I do” attitude will ruin a young person in this area of the learning of the Word of God. Our young people should see us reading, studying and memorizing the Word of God.

Consider this verse in Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Notice that the Scriptures are given to us for learning. What have you learned from the Word of God over the past few weeks? Remember that 1 Timothy 3:16 tells us all Scripture is profitable and is for our instruction.

What are some of your favorite passages? Have you learned from the Word of God? According to the text, we can learn so that we can have hope. This world does not offer much hope but, praise the Lord, I can go to His Word and find hope for today.

2. We should “Soak Up” the Word of God

 What exactly does this mean in the life of a young person? As a parent, I should be listening, reading, memorizing and assimilating the Word of God into my life. In other words, my whole life should be permeated with the Word of God. When someone is in love with sports, it is easy to tell and it is easy to tell when someone is in love with politics. In the same manner, it should be easy for our young people to see that we are in love with the Word of God because wherever we are, the Word of God must be evident there.

3. We should Share the Word of God

How often do you share Christ with others? This is a critical part of our life being saturated with the Word of God. When our life is filled up with God, it will overflow into our conversations with others. We will be looking for the lost and asking the Holy Spirit to lead us into conversations with them. We will be sharing Christ with our young people, and we will always be looking for opportunities to share Biblical principles for them to live by.

How are you undertaking the task of assimilating the Word of God into your life? God desires us to be faithful in heeding and keeping the Word of God. Make sure that you are setting aside daily times of personally reading and studying the Bible. Then, take that knowledge and give it to your children. As we started out the article, we thought on what the Word of God is to us. It is a sword, a twoedged sword, a probing instrument, and a hammer. We have been given some mighty tools to help us in our child-rearing. Don’t let your tools and weapons lay unused and gather rust. Take full advantage of the Word of God.