Life's Curriculum
Life's Curriculum
In Foundational Anchors of L.E.D.
I wrote of the foundational anchors in God's curriculum for life. In this article I'd like to give a brief outline to the full steps of this "curriculum" and some practical ways it can be applied to our children's lives.
2 Peter 1:4-12 is where we find this "curriculum" and it begins by telling us that by exceeding great and precious promises we might be partakers of the divine nature and escape escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. God wants us to be holy as He is holy and promises us that it is possible through His divine power - His grace. Corruption comes through lusts, even our lusts. But giving all diligence to doing these things, we will never fall.
The steps we are told that we must give all diligence to are first:
Faith - Complete trust in God.
PLUS Virtue - Godly character, moral excellence.
PLUS Knowledge - The TRUTH/facts - about God's world.
PLUS Temperance/Self Control - Allowing the Spirit (through my spirit) to rule my soul and body - (actions, words, thoughts, motives/attitudes.)
PLUS Patience - Accepting the fact that even when I'm feeling pressure or stress, God's timing isn't always the same as my timing.
PLUS Godliness - Having God's view of the world and walking that out in my daily life.
PLUS Brotherly Kindness - Treating others (particularly family members) with the respect and helpfulness I'd like to receive.
PLUS Charity - Giving to others of myself - my time, talents, and belongings.
Although academic learning has its place in the above training, it is neither the goal nor the focus of what Yahweh says we are to give all diligence to. Knowledge for knowledge's sake will only "puff up", bring a self-righteous spirit of pride. God's curriculum for Life equips us for every good work. You won't find this curriculum taught in an institutional school setting. Even though a "Christian" school may try to include some of it, it probably is not the thing being "given all diligence" -it probably hasn't taken presidence over academic learning. Only parents, the ones ordained by God to train their children, with their children continually in the home "as they rise up, sit down, go along the wayside, ..." can give all diligence to teaching this Life's curriculum by God.
Rom. 12:3, 10:17, 2 Tim. 3:16, James 1:22, 2:17.
In
Our children demonstrate faith in their lives by reading, memorizing and meditating on the Word; then allowing their actions to demonstrate their belief in what they've read.
Phil. 4:8. Meditate on virtuous, praiseworthy things.
Know & understand the characteristics of Christ and the actions, words, thoughts, motives/attitudes (fruit) they produce. Then
apply them to your life. Walk in them.
Our children memorize character quality definitions. We discuss the opposite (negative) quality (which is sometimes easier to recognize. We read and discuss verses about those (godly) character traits and biographical sketches (both biblical and historical) of how someone demonstrated that character trait (the fruit of that character in their life). Discuss what fruits will be evident in their lives when they have virtue.
1 Cor. 8:1. Knowledge puffs up - unless it's anchored by faith and virtue.
Pro. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Pro. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
We follow God's pattern for building their knowledge on the Fear of the Lord - Wisdom - Understanding - and Knowledge. Our children study to know God's ways and workings in the earth. They weigh all new information against the Truth of the Word.
Rom. 6:13, 12:1-2. Yield yourself to God for righteousness, not to sin for unrighteousness; present your body a living sacrifice.
Our children show that the spirit, not the soul or flesh, is in control by demonstrating personal discipline in doing what they should
do, not what they feel like doing. Household chores are a perfect area for this to be acted on, in addition to specific academic and other assignments.
Rom. 5:3, James 1:3-4, Heb. 10:36, Heb. 6:15. Trials work patience in you, after you have patiently awaited you will receive the promise, and be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Our children give patience its perfect work in their lives by using their time constructively while waiting for mom's help and individualized teaching time; or by teaching a younger sibling a new task and keeping the mind, attitude, and love of Christ while doing it.
1 John 2:15, Eph. 5:15-17, John 17:15-19. If you love the world, God's love isn't in you, keep the evil of this world from defiling you, walk in wisdom knowing what God's will is, that you would be sanctified even as you live in this evil world.
Our children demonstrate Godliness when they daily walk in wisdom, knowing the difference between how God looks at a situation and how the world looks at a situation and acting accordingly. As the story goes, bank tellers are trained in spotting couterfeit money not by handling conterfeits but by constant studying of the real; then recognizing anything that doesn't feel like the real thing. So our children should be trained, not by exposing them to all the false teachings of the world, but by them being so immersed in the "real" - knowing God, His character, and His Word so well - that they will recognize anything that doesn't line up with His Truth and reject it.
Mt. 19:19, 1 John 4:20,11. You can't love God if you don't love your brother, God loved us so we ought to love one another.
Our children demonstrate brotherly kindness by helping their siblings by teaching new skills or reading to younger, or giving dictation lessons or helping with drill work, or giving a hand with chore work.
1 Cor. 16:14, 1 Pet. 4:8 Do all things with charity. Above all things have fervant charity among yourselves, it covers a multitude of sins.
Our children can show charity by not only their attitudes but also by making and giving of useful, thoughtful projects/gifts to one another, other family and brethern, and the needy.
Foundational Anchors of L.E.D.
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