In one of my previous blogs, I wrote about the down side of doing things the wrong way, or more so, not God's way. Today I would like to reflect on how doing what God wants you to do can have the opposite effect.
Twice in one month my niece and nephew have come to spend the weekend with me and both times they have gone to church with us. The church that they sometimes attend is not like our church. We are a very "raise your hands" and "amen" kind of church with clapping, worshiping, and more than the occasional visit to the altar. Not that there is anything wrong with their church, it's just quiet (or dead, as I like to say!) They seem to enjoy our church a lot and clap and sing right along with us.
Chaz is the 9 year old. He loves my son Devin, who was 15 then, so everything Devin does he wants to do. Chaz always sits next to Devin, crosses his legs like Devin, and wants to be wherever he is. What caught my attention was this, as the praise and worship songs came on I looked down at Chaz who was in turn looking up at Devin, who was raising his hand, and Chaz was raising his little hand too! Is it possible that a teenager could be a positive example on a small child? This completely rocked my world! Devin, who the night before had chased them around the house in the dark scaring them, telling ghost stories, and just being involved with them, was teaching this young child how to worship and though Chaz probably didn't realize the concept of why Devin was raising his hand, the act of worship was conveyed to him.
Teenagers are our only hope in a generation that completely lives against everything the Bible says. If a seven year old can worship by watching a 15 year old, think how your home and your children could be affected by the way you are living. They may not understand why they are supposed to live that way, but you have effectively conveyed the message when they mimic the action.
Imagine a world where parents read their Bibles, go to church consistently, and love God with all their hearts, all their minds, and all their strength. Now imagine all the children living that way too!
The Bible says, "Be alert and sober of mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9. Stand firm today in your faith.
Think about it!
Evaluate your lifestyle today. Do you have any good spiritual habits that your kids or family members are seeing? What are you feeding your children about how they are supposed to live? Would you be proud of them if you saw them doing that action in public? Today let God live through you to set the example for your family of believers.
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