It is amazing how we seem to always try to bring everything back around to us. We should obey...so that we please God. We should give....so that we will receive. We should follow God's Laws...so that we will have Eternal Life- right? Wrong! We know this is false yet we seem to live this way and impart this thinking to our children. All of our behavior, obedience, giving, serving, tithing, etc. should all be motivated not from the standpoint of US but as a response to WHAT GOD HAS DONE!!!! It is not about me...it is all about God.
My life is hidden with Christ, in God: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained by the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:20,21
I think it is interesting in this chapter how the author broke up behaviors that we desire from our children into different categories. She lists some desired behaviors as social, some as civic and then some as religious. The idea is put forth that some of these "rules" we teach to our children are simply to help them be law-abiding citizens, or doing the polite thing in public but have no spiritual significance. I would argue that, as a Believer, Christ should pervade absolutely every area of our lives. I don't want my life or my children's lives to be compartmentalized. In fact, I want them to see that the law of the land is what it is because it follows God's royal law of loving our neighbor. If the law of the land ever becomes different than God's law them I am not obeying it merely out of civic obedience but out of a consideration for others above myself. The same with social graces- I do not want my children to learn how to sit to the table or not behave rudely simply because that is the polite and socially acceptable thing to do but realize that we behave in such a way BECAUSE of Christ. It shows great consideration for others which, again, is the law of love. Also, it is showing respect for the parents' authority which is another Bible Truth. However, the motivation I want to instill into my children regarding all of these habits and customs is that we do them not as trained polite behavior but OUT OF A HEART THAT HAS BEEN SO CHANGED BY GOD THAT WE DESIRE TO REFLECT HIS GREAT LOVE IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. Every law and social grace that we esteem can only be truly kept when we are living out God's Word- love your neighbor as yourself. So, from this I have realized that the number one fruit I am looking to instill in my children once they see the Gospel is that we are to prefer others above ourselves. This resolves fighting, this resolves ugly words, this resolves sharing issues, rude behavior, back-talking...everything! Still, they will NEVER be able to prefer another until they have a great revelation of God's love toward them and His grace and love working in their hearts and lives. It is a never-ending circle!
I realize God's beautiful news for me...I am so stirred that I can't help but love and obey Him in response......His love becomes shed abroad in my heart (Romans 8) until I desire to serve others and prefer them above my own self.........all of my behavior comes in line with this sweet truth......I realize in a greater way that it was through God alone that I could live this way....and the cycle continues.
What a wonderful cycle.
My favorite challenging question asked at the end of this chapter was: In what ways do you use the Bible as a rule book instead of as the "good news"?
I am interested to ask my children this morning if they see the Bible as a book of rules or as a story about Jesus and what He has done.............
