The Law and The Christian Home

Deut 32:46-47  Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.

As a mother, this review of the books of the Law has great challenged me!  The law may have been cherished by King David and he meditated on it day and night, but as a "new covenant" believer, I have so often considered the law obsolete and of little value to my life compared to other sections of the Bible.  During these first lectures, God has directed me to begin considering how to teach the critical elements of the law to my children.  I have been reading through the law, and applying the principle of paradigm to examine how the laws apply to every day events in our home.  We don't often find someone digging a pit that an ox falls into, but we often have a thoughtlessly forgotten pile of toys that may cause injury to one walking through the room.  We don't often have duels that end in one losing an eye, but we can learn that when you injury another, intentionally or not, you are to stay with them and care for them until they are recovered. 

My children's response to God's law has been astounding!  Something different comes over their young hearts when I quote God's law in giving out verdicts and penalties.  They are far more receptive and accepting of the consequences.

Previously, when faced with unique one time offenses, I often felt lost, not sure how to discipline since we didn't have a specific "law" against such a thing.  But understanding paradigm has given me much more authority to judge and punish!  No longer do I worry about technicalities.  I can often quickly recall a specific law which generally speaks to the situation and it gives me wisdom on how to proceed.

I have already begun to instruct other moms on how they can look to the law for wisdom in parenting.  And here we thought all the secrets to parenting were contained only in Proverbs.