You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:7

In March 2009, President Obama said longer school days and shorter summer vacations might be the key to helping America improve our standing among the world's educated nations.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan agrees with the President.

Recently Duncan said, since America is no longer agrarian the children are no longer needed on family farms. He also noted "poor children, whose parents cannot afford private summer school or tutors, tend to forget what they learned in the previous school year over the summer break."

There may well be some truth in what they say.

On the other hand, anyone who has ever been in school for any length of time has had the opportunity of learning under great teachers and those who were less motivating.

I don't know if spending more time with a mediocre teacher who is teaching a mediocre curriculum is going to elevate America's standings in the global arena.

Although it may sound foolish in its simplicity, an excellent education is the result of excellent teachers enthusiastically imparting superior subject matter to students who have been motivated at home.

Which is exactly the point of our text from Deuteronomy. The all-knowing Lord told His people to educate their children on the really important things of life. From break until end of day they were to share the story of God's love.

The Lord knew that while our children may learn many other things, they will never learn anything more important than the tale of God's sacrifice.

This is a command from God which still has not changed.

If our children learn nothing else from us, they need to know that the Father has sent His Son to seek and save the lost sinners of this world.

There is no lesson which will ever be as needed, as important, as long lasting as the one which says, "For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (KJV)

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord for giving me a teacher, a parent, someone who imparted the story of salvation to me, my thanks. Now, in my time, may I pass the message of salvation to those who come after me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Nahum 1-3    Acts 23:1-15

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