Lesson #1 February 19, 2007
Posted by Joe in : General Lessons , trackbackSo what shall I say for the first post? Though we don’t expect millions to ever be reading this blog, you have to know that the first post probably won’t receive the highest page views! Yet, it is the first post. So what shall I say?
First, I would encourage anyone who checks this post to read the ‘About’ page. It will explain in more detail our focus here. Essentially, we want to serve both ourselves and anyone listening by writing down our various lessons in parenthood from a Christ-centered perspective. We know that we learn most by writing it down. We have learned a great deal already as parents, but we know that there is still much more to come!
Second, lesson #1.
The first lesson in parenthood, God-centered parenthood that is, is the great need for us as parents to love the Lord God in such a way that our love for our children looks like hate. It might sound over-simplistic, but this really does cut to the root of parenting. For Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). We know He was using hyperbole (which He frequently does) in order to shock His listeners into hearing, but the truth of the statement should be plain. Nothing less than wholehearted devotion to Jesus will do.
And as regards parenting, we cannot give what we do not possess ourselves. We serve our children well only to the degree that we are entranced with who God has promised to be for us in Jesus. Erin and I will continually come back to this one reality. For often, O so often, the only real problem–the root problem–in shepherding our children is a problem within. If we are really walking intimately with the Lord our God, good parenting will come. If we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, God promises to grant us all these things (Matthew 6:33).
Can we ever move beyond lesson #1? I’m not sure that we can. Sure, we can put some contours on it, give some pratical steps. But this is the lesson that is central, foundation, mandatory, if we are ever able to lead and love our children well.
Of course, it is worth mentioning that such a statement assumes the fact that leading and loving our children involves pointing them to the knowledge and enjoyment of the Lord our God. Such is the reason we exist. And such is the reason they exist. And if we don’t have that one thing, our kids will surely know it!
That being said, let us labor first and foremost to grow in the knowledge of God. Let us serve our children well by seeking the Lord God hard. Indeed, let us love them by making sure that they are never our top priority. For we love them best when we love the Lord most. The more we are entranced with the glory of His Person, the more capable we will be to overflow into their little lives.
More could be said, but I’ll stop here, because more will be said. For this is a lesson that we can’t help but come back to time and again.
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