Today, I have two Algebra II classes. The first class has collectively decided to have a bad attitude and all did poorly on the test. One starts blaming the teacher and they all agree. The next class is doing well or striving to do well. They see fellow classmates succeeding so they all want to succeed.
Attitudes and futures are influenced by those we are with everyday. My question today: What influence are you having in your home on others in their spiritual life? Do they just hear the occasional talk of God or do they see faith in action? Is the only positive influence when you show up to church on Sunday mornings? Does your life reflect obedience to God or disobedience? What we do, how we act, and the attitudes we choose will influence them. What we choose to do in our homes has a daily impact on those in and by our homes. How will you choose to impact and influence?
Are you teaching them how to worship, how to pray, how to serve by your actions? Are you teaching them God’s word by discussion and by your walk? Are you even choosing to hold yourself accountable in your own walk so you are a godly influence?
I am going to be blunt. Taking your child to someone else at church every Sunday and Wednesday is not enough of an influence. Important, but not enough. Inviting your neighbor to church is not enough. Important, but not enough. Where we put God in our lives and homes are influencing those around us and the next generation.
We have to stop talking about praying and choose to pray in the moment and together. We have to choose to stop just going to worship and start worshiping in our homes. We have to stop talking about serving and start choosing to serve one another in our homes and together. We have to stop just talking about God’s word and start choosing to live according to it.
Think for a moment about your child or a child you may know. They are bombarded with peer pressure, TV, internet, video games for how many hours in a week? A couple of hours of church cannot compete with the influence of the world and individuals in it. As followers of Christ, whether you are a parent or not, we have got to be a positive influence on those in our homes and neighborhoods. We can no longer be quiet about our God in our homes.
“5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deut 6:5-8 (memorize this scripture. I will keep using it)
1. We must choose to pray together out loud and for one another.
We cannot just recite bedtime prayers. We need to pray out loud with those in our homes. We must encourage them to pray out loud too. Prayers may start short but as you pray together, and for one another, you will be amazed at even the youngest child’s prayer. Even if your teenager resists, they must at least pray a couple of sentences. Eventually they will become more comfortable.
2. We must choose to study God’s word together.
Individually we must do our own study. You can also do one as a family together or each person can discuss what they are learning in their own personal study. Also share what God is doing and how you see him working. It will help your child learn to see God, too.
"7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deut 6:7
3. We must choose to worship together.
Please start your day in your house and car worshiping. Let them see you worship. Most of the time in your church the kids have their own worship and teenagers sit with friends. You must worship together in the home. The young ones will love it. Teenagers may resist but the words will be entering their minds and you will probably see them keeping with the music.
You can also quote scriptures of praise together or just shout out in the car things you are thankful for each day. They need to see you praising God on good and bad days.
"Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." Psalm 100:2
4. We must choose to serve one another and serve others together.
Some things don’t just need to be chores. We need, by example and teaching, to show our children how to serve those in their own family and the importance of it. It is as simple as cleaning up from dinner together or picking up the house together. As a family we need to care for another.
We also need to stop dropping off our children for a service project or going by ourselves to one. We need to serve together. The holidays are a great time to start. You can take a meal to someone or go decorate someone’s house for Christmas who does not have the money or is not physically able. It will bring your family together and demonstrate the importance of caring for others.
"13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14
"35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:35-40
5. We must choose to live according to God’s word.
We can talk and talk about doing what is right, but if we are not demonstrating it…well it is a waste of breath. I might offend you for a moment, but know there our things in my own life I have to change also. We cannot ask our children to show respect and love to others when we ourselves show disrespect and hatred to others. We cannot ask our children not to curse if we choose not to do the same. We cannot ask our children to fill their minds with things of God when we fill our own with too much junk. We cannot ask our children to refrain from sex if as a single parent you do not choose the same. We cannot tell our children not to get drunk if we choose to get drunk. We have to realize the things we do may cause them to stumble. We are responsible for our actions and for training up our children.
"3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:3-6
"9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him." 1 John 2:9-11
"31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
6. We must choose to admit when we stumble.
If and when we do not live according to God’s word, then we must admit it. We may need to seek their forgiveness at times. If our mistakes are in the past, we may need to share the consequences of our own bad choices instead of saying, "because I said so." Imagine the impact if we talk about our mistakes, how God forgave us and what we learned or what we faced because of it.
Homework
1. Reread this again.
2. Confess your own sins as you read it.
3. Be honest about your walk with Christ.
4. Accept His forgiveness.
5. Cry out to Him.
6. Thank Him for those He has given you to influence.
7. Choose to put Christ first in your home.
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