Yet another chapter that has convicted me on so many different levels. As a person who has always sought the praise of others and relied on positive feedback about my "good" performance, it was a challenge to read the section titled "lie to your child to make him good." The statement on pg. 43 "Our children aren't innately good, and we shouldn't tell them that they are. But they are loved and if they truly believe that, his love will transform them," really summed up the idea that we should be constantly encouraging praise for God's grace, rather than for our goodness. I think as parents a huge challenge to us is modeling this in our own lives. It is so easy to live our lives seeking out "good girl" praises- recognition from our husbands for cleaning the house, praise from other moms for good couponing skills ;), or even telling yourself how much more "put together" your marriage or life is compared to others. Am I alone on this one? How often do we fail to recognize stimulate praise for God's grace in our own lives and instead focus on our own goodness? I was really convicted in realizing that this book has good "ideas" but unless our kiddos see us modeling
So thankful for this statement: "When we have Christian righteousness, God looks upon us and our believing children as being perfectly obedient, no matter how we fail." How awesome is our God that we aren't expected to be perfect. I know this chapter brought me to my knees, thanking God that my relationship with him isn't contingent on my obedience, but on Jesus' obedience at the cross.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Bigger Picture
"The law of God, although beneficial and beautiful, cannot advance us on our way to righteousness because we cannot obey it. Although the law demands perfection in only two areas, none of us, no, none of us fully complies."
If only I realized this younger! Legalism served me well for two reasons.. at least for awhile. I am somewhat a perfectionist and a people pleaser, so growing up being a "rule follower" was easy! I had a good heart and loved the Lord, but to me if I just followed the "law" perfectly, my life would be perfect. I felt like life was an equation...(if I follow the Bible perfectly) I would be somehow in control and I loved control. It made me feel safe.
The sad part of that is I felt if I did wrong that I was condemned by God and that his love could be conditional. Also, it is kind of hard to need a Savior if you feel you could do things perfectly and be in control.
The law is important and has it's place...obviously we all want our children to have morals and values and the law is there to help us and protect us from harm. Obeying the law isn't God being mean and there to torture us...it is there to guide us and to protect us. But that is only part of the story. Grace is huge and I can't wait to implement that part with my son. The part where we aren't perfect, and don't need to be perfect. The part where we are loved unconditionally and have a Savior who we get our strength from. The part where life isn't ever going to be perfect but he have someone who is in control and whose story IS perfect and we are a part of his love and plan. The Lord helps us in our weak areas and helps us obey the law, and at the same time he showers us with grace.
Love it!
If only I realized this younger! Legalism served me well for two reasons.. at least for awhile. I am somewhat a perfectionist and a people pleaser, so growing up being a "rule follower" was easy! I had a good heart and loved the Lord, but to me if I just followed the "law" perfectly, my life would be perfect. I felt like life was an equation...(if I follow the Bible perfectly) I would be somehow in control and I loved control. It made me feel safe.
The sad part of that is I felt if I did wrong that I was condemned by God and that his love could be conditional. Also, it is kind of hard to need a Savior if you feel you could do things perfectly and be in control.
The law is important and has it's place...obviously we all want our children to have morals and values and the law is there to help us and protect us from harm. Obeying the law isn't God being mean and there to torture us...it is there to guide us and to protect us. But that is only part of the story. Grace is huge and I can't wait to implement that part with my son. The part where we aren't perfect, and don't need to be perfect. The part where we are loved unconditionally and have a Savior who we get our strength from. The part where life isn't ever going to be perfect but he have someone who is in control and whose story IS perfect and we are a part of his love and plan. The Lord helps us in our weak areas and helps us obey the law, and at the same time he showers us with grace.
Love it!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)