Jeremiah 8: 21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;
I mourn, and horror grips me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people?
Elijah was a Gileadite. His assignment was healing of the nation. His assignment was getting the people back in relationship to the Father. His assignment was getting people back in right relationship in family, child to father and father to child.
The key to national success is outlined in Deuteronomy in the Shema. Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Elijah was working to get it back in order. Elijah is still working to get us back in order. It is first the father and then the mother and fully the extended family and community’s responsibility to give guidance according to the scriptures to our children. Too often we give this up to the pastors and youth leaders and video lessons from bible teachings. Dad, it is first your responsibility. You have been designated as the key influencer of that child entrusted to you. Mom, you are next in line. All the rest, you are next. What are you doing about it?
Action: Find some time to interact face up with a child this week. Listen for questions that come up. Give them a scriptural answer. Don’t have one? Get one.
Prayer: Father, I’m struggling. All around me are children looking for hope and answers. Open Your words inside of me. Bring them to my remembrance to give good and useable answers. Help me to be clear and direct and comforting. Help me to speak comfort to Your children. Though they may be into their adult years, Lord, they still need comfort. They still need Your words of life and counsel. Bless. Use me. Talk through me.
Father/Daughter Summit October 3rd Oklahoma City, The Cathedral. http://www.fathers.com/summit
