Pointing Our Kids Toward the “High” Way

The prophet Jeremiah challenged the people of Judah to “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest” (Jer. 31:21).

As a child my family and I would often go visit my grandparents. I distinctly remember that along the route to their house there was a community water tower we would pass. This water tower was painted to look like a giant golf ball set on a tee. It just so happened that the giant golf ball was just about half way between my house and my grandparents house. So, when I saw this landmark, I knew we were almost there.

In Jeremiah 31:21 the prophet speaks of setting up “waymarks” and “high heaps” that can help turn a heart toward the “highway.” When I think of such landmarks along a journey, I think of hope. Even if I was starting to get antsy in the car trip to my grandparents’ house, I would see my landmark and it would settle me down. I knew I was almost there. If I could hang on a little while longer, I’d be at my destination.

What Landmarks Are You Setting Up?

As parents, teachers and ministers in church it is our duty and responsibility to be setting up landmarks for our kids and students. They need to know the “highway” that Jeremiah spoke about. This is the “high” way of living! Will your students look back on your class as a landmark in their life, pointing them toward the “high” way of living? Are you creating an environment each week that gives them a little hope to carry on? That hour or so you get with them can become a refuge from the rest of the world and a place where they find hope and gain encouragement.

Different Needs for Different Ages

You may think that the age group you have simply has no interest in spiritual things. Regardless of what age group you have, though, they are interested. The littles just need a place each week where they can feel accepted and loved. They need to have a place where they can share their hearts and not feel judged, or hurried. Do you make time for your little ones to share their hearts each week? Sometimes this is more important than whatever lesson you may have planned. Sometimes even a little child just needs to talk about their week and have someone pray with them. Just the environment in your class can become that landmark they look for each week to give them hope.

Older children are starting to make life impacting choices. They are choosing friends and choosing a lifestyle. Jeremiah says, “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway.” Is your class setting up a “waymark,” a “high heap” that will point your students toward the “high” way? There are plenty of people who will show your kids the “low” way. How are you challenging them to go up higher? How is your class keeping learners accountable? It’s okay to challenge them to do better. They need it.

This week, let’s give some thought to how our classes can become landmarks in the lives of our students. What can we change? What can we strengthen? Should we start something new? Should we discontinue practices that aren’t drawing students up higher? It is good to take inventory every once in a while to make sure we are pointing our kids toward the “high” way!

Sarah Reeves

You can see all of the articles by Sarah on Sunday School Zone.

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