National Church Council

ANNUAL CHILDREN’S CONVENTION

TOPIC: KNOW YOUR ROOT

TEXT: EXO. 2: 1-12

Today, we will be looking at the topic, “KNOW YOUR ROOT” using Moses as a case study. To know means to be aware or to be conscious of something. Root means your foundation, base, heritage and origin. For someone to know his/her root means that the person should be aware of where he/she comes from.

In our society today people just live their lives the way they like, dress anyhow, talk anyhow claiming it is civilization thereby forgetting that they have an origin with moral standards. 

Moses was a Hebrew born in Egypt (a strange land) just as many of us are born in Lagos though it’s not our native land. He was given an Egyptian name by Pharaoh’s daughter- just like many parents (in Lagos) give their children Yoruba names even when they are not from Yoruba land which makes the children to be less concerned of their origin.

He was raised in disguised by his mother because of Pharaoh’s order to kill all the Hebrew male children. His mother was an outstanding and a very wise woman – Are you an outstanding mother in raising your children with moral and godly standards? Moses’ mother was very observant, wise and sensitive in spirit to know that Moses was a Hebrew child with divine mandate though born in a strange land (parents should be aware that every child given to them by God has a divine mandate which must be well guarded). She dedicated her time to raise him up according to Jewish tradition (his root)) despite the hostile environment. His mother and sister played their roles very well to preserve his life and heritage – what role are you playing to raise your children in God’s way and standard?

As Christian parents living in Lagos, do you teach your children your language, dressing, food and moral values? Do they even have native name?  Moses was raised in such a way that even Pharaoh’s daughter identified him as a Hebrew. Do people identify your children as God’s children whose foundation is in Christ Jesus? Can they boldly say the name of their village/ local government or if asked their answer will be ‘MY MAMA SAY I BE IGBO OR DELTA ETC”

Moses’ mother raised him up to know everything about his root, that is why he was able to fight for their deliverance out of the land of slavery and God used him mightily to lead the Israelites to the promised land – (he first discovered his root through the help of his mother and so identified with them).

Benefits of knowing your root:

God values our origin. Our origin as Christians first of all is from God then earthly.

1. Knowing our roots makes us unique among others.
2. It can save you in times of danger.
3. It helps you to maintain privacy both at home and outside (when you don’t want a visitor to know what you are talking about)   
4. It gives you an identity
5. It helps you to maintain moral standards in an ungodly environment. .
6. It draws you closer to God.

Examples of people that did not forget their root in the bible and what God used them to achieve.

1. Esther and Mordecai did forget their root and God used them to deliver them from slavery – Esth. 4
2. In Gen. 24: 4, Abraham instructed his senior servant to go back to his father’s kindred to get a wife for his son Isaac which he did –many parents allow their children to marry unbelievers even when they are Christian.
3. Our Lord Jesus Christ is referred to as the “ROOT OF JESSE and A NAZARENE” signifying that he had an earthy heritage (Isa. 11: 10; Matt. 2: 23)
4. Paul, according to Philippians 2: 4 – 8, was a Hebrew by origin so even when he was sent as an apostle to the gentiles, he did not forget his origin or compromised his standard of living like many of us will do when we are in the midst of strangers we forget that we are Christian and that we have a godly heritage to preserve

Our dear parents, please speak your language to your children, communicate to them with their mother tongue. Let them know their native way of life it will help to shape their future. Take them to their village to know their ancestral home, this will give them a sense of belonging and shape their way of reasoning and communication. As Christians we should know our identity/root in Christ, so that we will be rooted in Him and behave better. Teach them God’s way of life and Christian morals as well as their cultural values.

Finally our dear esteemed parents, guardians ejoor, bikonu teach us our mother tongue and help us know our root both spiritually and physically. God bless you all in the name of Jesus Christ.