Reading to Love the Nations
Jesus Loves the Nations
One of the keys themes for any family that hopes to teach their children to love Jesus, is to teach them to love the things that Jesus loves. Jesus loves the nations. He died to purchase a "people for his own possession" that "no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages."
Each and every person around the globe has value in the eyes of Jesus. We as Christian parents should seeks ways to communicate this value to our children as often as we can.
Reading to Love the Nations
Since we are not all able to travel from country to country or even join countless missions trips (especially with young kids), perhaps the easiest way to do expose our children to different people and cultures is to read books to them that transport them there. Every country in the world has books that tell the peoples stories and give the reader a glimpse into daily life.
As our children listen and learn, they will develop an appreciation and love for the people that God has created around the world.
Give your Child the World
This summer we joined a reading club that sought to experience the world together. We followed the guidance of a book written by Jamie Martin entitled, Give Your Child the World.
In this book, Jamie, compiled more than 600 books from around the world, categorized them and gave simple helps that make traveling the world through stories simple.
The summer reading club set aside six weeks to read books from Europe, North America, Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Australia/Oceania/Polar Regions Week. We took the opportunity each week to read a fun book with our children and then pray for that country afterwards. It was beautiful to see our children light up when it was time to read about a new country.
When the six weeks finished, families were encouraged to link-up through read about each other. Here is our submission for the global family link-up.
Heartbeat of our Families
May the heartbeat of each of our families match the heart beating in Psalm 67. Read that Psalm and marvel at a God who loves the nations!
Psalm 67:1-5
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
