Oral Tradition

 

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7 KJV)

What’s the best time to teach someone about God? Sitting, walking, at home, away from home, evening, and morning. Any time, any where, to any one – but here it is so important to teach our children. Why?

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. (Psalms 103:17-18 KJV)

We all have an impact on our children, their children, and even to their children, too. Part of what we impart will be oral tradition. It need not stop with our own family. What we impart to friends – and to strangers – has an impact, too, even when the time we spend is short.

What made me think about this was an In Touch article, “At Home With Refugees”, which was introduced in an email:

Scripture endures in oral traditions too

I’ve used the Berean example in several previous posts – where those who heard Paul’s story of God sending His Son to offer eternal life with Him to everyone. That was as hard to believe then as it is today. The Bereans turned to scripture, where they had learned there is truth:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:11-12 KJV)

Our children receive with all readiness of mind. We can give them a head start, just as Paul did, to know what to look for in scriptures as well as in their formal schoolwork. They learn to discern what is truth – and what is a mirror image that is wrong. This is doubly important in a world that accepts evil for good.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21 KJV)

How many of the following descriptions do we find in our own country right now:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV)

No one except God knows the timing, but every one reading this knows these are perilous times. There have been many perilous times in the past, and when those times came people recognized them and many did turn away from such and sought God. He is there, just as I wrote and posted yesterday. Where are we?

We are in a position to share our beliefs, our traditions if you will, with anyone who will listen to us. Who do we know who needs God’s presence? Everyone. Who do we know that need God’s salvation? That’s a smaller group in our lives, but we meet so many people that we will never know for certain.

How can we reach them? With our lives, our love, and our prayers. Keep in mind that God uses people who allow Him to work in their lives. Also keep in mind that if He has a specific purpose, He is able to work within what appears to be unacceptable methods to do so. Read Joseph’s story – wealthy son, despised brother, slave, second ruler in Egypt. Or Jonah – prophet, refugee, preacher, disappointed. Or Esther – slave, queen, brave, provider of safety for her people. Or David – shepherd, young brother, giant killer, escaping a king, becoming a king, adulterer, a man after God’s own heart.

Each of those stories has a connection to God’s providing for mankind from creation, all because we are loved:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Keep oral traditions alive by sending God’s message and sharing God’s word. It’s an awesome combination throughout history.