Symbols of the Heart
Posted in Daily Focus on Saturday, May 24, 2014
Are there items in your house that have special meaning to your homeschooling family? Surprisingly, the object my adult children remember the most from our homeschooling days was our kitchen table. It was just an old table beat up with scratches and scars, but it represented the heart of our family. As wide as it was long, this sturdy old table was big enough for everyone's schoolwork and craft projects. For 20 years, it supported the life and love of our homeschooling family as it brought us together to play, eat, and learn.
The Christian faith has many symbols, too, but the most meaningful certainly is the cross. Although this torturous tool was used to punish criminals, the cross of Christ stands in stark contrast. Pointing to the One who paid sin's penalty, the cross represents the heart of our Christian faith. With hope and forgiveness extended to all mankind, Jesus willingly sacrificed His life with arms opened wide to provide room for everyone who believes. Today, Christ asks all who believe in Him to do more than wear this symbol of faith around their necks. Each day, we are to declare His love to the world by taking up our cross and following Him (Luke 9:23). In fact, Christ says, "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38).
Do you find it difficult to stand against the tide of anti-Christian sentiment that permeates today's society? As a homeschooling family, you don't need to be embarrassed that you teach your children with a Christian curriculum that teaches creation and the truth of the Scriptures. Take up your cross and be a witness about the heart of Christianity — the cross of Christ. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Lord, help me to do more than wear the symbols of my faith in You. Show me how to boldly speak Your truth in love, so many more people may come to know the power of the cross. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments(6 comments)
APRIL P 05/24/2010 09:52:56
Just wanted to say that when I click on "Forgiving Failure" in my email, it takes me to this article "Symbols of the Heart." So I actually received "Symbols of the Heart" twice, even though one was under the heading "Forgiving Failure." Don't know if this happened to anyone else.
CARL V 05/24/2010 10:43:49
We apologize for our error. The Daily Focus was not sent on Sunday, and we incorrectly sent two emails this morning. You can read Sunday's Daily Focus titled "Forgiving Failure" here: http://www.aophomeschooling.com/blog/daily-focus/forgiving-failure/. Thank you for your understanding.
MAYA T 05/24/2011 08:00:25
This was so very timely today! I so needed this. I have decided to to homeschool my kids. I know I am going to face this adversity. I just haven't as of yet. But at the same time, I do choose to teach them God. With so many anti-Christs already present in the world today, it is my duty to raise them in the way they should go. This is the cross to bear.
TIFFANY W 05/24/2011 08:53:04
I needed this today as well. Just left what could be our final awards ceremony at a public school wondering if I was making the right decision for our five kids. We have encountered adversity from family and friends and just needed the reminder that this is my duty as well. Thanks
JENNIFER B 05/24/2012 06:42:59
Exactly! Faith is so much more than just believing, it is belief in obedient action (Hebrews 11). The cross and the empty tomb make it all possible and should truly motivate us to bold, and loving, action. Let's plant the seeds of the Word, let our lights shine, deligently study the Word, and point others to the eyewitness of those who where there at the cross and empty tomb-every opportunity we can!
MELISSA R 05/24/2012 17:42:47
This was our first year of homeschooling our five children. We pulled our 7th grader out of junior high, plus our 5th grader, 4th grader, 2nd grader, and preschooler. It was a decision that should have been made several years ago, but I fought it with thoughts of "I can't do it." Many strangers that we meet comment the same things that I orginally thought, in that they would love to homeschool but don't feel qualified or have the patience. The decision to homeschool was the best decision that we made as parents and I tell them that alone I really can't do it...but with God, we can.