Simon Says
- William Vogel
- Apr 16, 2018
- 3 min read
Simon Says, Do What I Do, Not What I Say, while raising your Children. The challenge is the rhetorical versus the actual experience. Sometimes, we as adults are good at telling but so good at doing. I know; I have stood guilty for such actions with my children. Have you ever spoken to your children about trust and do things out of fear? Have you ever spoken of joy and faith out of one side of your mouth, but live in desperation and failure? Have you ever told your children God knows what is best for you and that He has a plan for your life, but when the trial comes you show them panic? Have you ever thought through the fact that God’s plans for us is infinitely better than any plan we have for ourselves? We need to make sure our children learn this truth. Why? Because we all know we will face a trial or circumstance in our lives that we will not like or understand. If you are not currently facing one, there is one just around the corner - LIFE. Children need to know that whatever they face, God is in control of everything, and has power over everything. He fulfills His plan by His power, and always uses His power for their good. When a child trusts Jesus to save them from their sins, and knows that Jesus died, was buried and three days later arose from the dead, they need to know the gospel changes everything Have you given any thought to teaching your children what joy and faith really means to those who know, love, and honor Our Lord and Savior. Joy is trusting totally in God. Joy and Faith work together in Christian living. Teach them that in the worst of circumstances, God is faithful, and because of that they can have joy. In today’s world children are confronted a life of “formulas”. The worlds attempt to answer the difficult questions of the day. The Truth is, The Final answer is God Himself. Watch and see if any of these apply; 1. When you say church is important.... go to church. 2. When you say trust and obey God ..do. 3. When you say something is wrong ... don’t do it. 4. When a vice or something you are doing potentially traps .... stop it. 5 When your conscience is touched ... be guided by it and remember little eyes are watching and listening.... Do what is right. Have you given any thought as to why the young people of today are leaving the church in record numbers, and why so many have given up on Christianity? I think it is combination of the hypocrisy in many of our lives, as well as an education system promoting formulas as solutions for living. Oswald Chamber in his book "Studies In The Sermon On The Mount", says it well. He writes, “Faith is our personal confidence, in God.” Don’t let your children see you turn into pagans in crisis moments. The biggest need for children today is not a matter of intellect, only but of obedience. Not only let children know the Truths of God’s Word, but most of all live what you say. It is hard to always do the right thing, but life can be much harder if you don’t.