"Train up a child in the way he should go,
even when he is old he will not depart from it"
Proverbs 22:6
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Simple Truth -by Leslie Ludy
Being a mother is truly the most intense, exhausting, demanding, exhilarating task I’ve ever undertaken. It’s funny how speaking in front massive crowds or writing a book that I know will be read by thousands suddenly seems like no big deal next to the challenge of training and discipling four mischievous little munchkins with sticky faces! In the process of leading my little ones toward God’s patterns, I’ve been reminded afresh of some very simple Gospel truths – so simple that even preschoolers understand them – yet so simple that many of us overlook them in our daily lives! For example…
Love is not rude…(1 Cor 13:5)
Such a basic truth of the Gospel – even children can grasp the meaning of this principle. And yet, how many of us as Christian adults adopt rudeness toward others in our daily life? We are having a bad day, so we take it out on everyone around us. We are tired or feeling stressed, so we snap at a family member. Someone offends us, so we fire off an email full of harsh criticism in response. We are in a hurry, so we cut in front of someone pretending not to notice them. And it’s especially easy to adopt a rude attitude toward those we live with. But as a Christian man once said – you are only as holy as you are in your home! For many of us, that’s a sobering thought.
Love does not seek it’s own (1 Cor 13:4)
We teach this principle to children, but as adults, it’s easy to breeze right by this simple exhortation. How easily we become caught up in our own interests, our own expectations, and our own agendas! I have been laboring to teach my little ones that God’s love puts others first. God’s love is not caught up in self. God’s love is selfless – constantly seeking to take the lowest place, rather than demanding his own way.
Hudson, my five-year-old is beginning to learn these principles in small ways – letting his younger sister have the first turn on the slide, letting her choose the sippy cup she wants instead of demanding it for himself, or learning to speak kindly instead of rudely when his younger sibling takes the toy he wanted.
As I challenge my children in these areas, I’ve been reminded afresh of the most basic truths of Christian honor – and inspired afresh to showcase that honor even in the simplest areas of my life – by the enabling power of God. What an amazing impact Christians could make upon this world if we consistently lived out the most basic truths of God’s Word!
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Hmmm...the most basic truths of God's Word. Seems so simple but can be so very hard. They go against the grain of our sinful flesh. But that is where Christ wants to set us free! We stand in His strength "by the enabling power of God" and Wow....
I loved this article and it frequently came back to my mind so I wanted to share it with you.
Challenge your children! Challenge yourself!!
Watch out world....here we come!
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