This morning, instead of merely reading the Bible in front of my kids, before breakfast but after they were dressed and ready for the day, we opened up the Bible together, and we read and discussed it. There was no option given, it was something we were doing. This was influenced by several factors: I noticed that when I’m negative, my boys tend to be negative. When I’m lazy and focused on TV or Video games, my boys are focused on those things. Whatever I lead my boys in nonverbally, they’re led in to. So I decided to start the day by deliberately leading them in Jesus.
I observe people’s kids, being that I’m a preacher, coach, mentor and guide to many of them. I’ve been doing so since 2006, and there’s a common thread I’ve noticed between a kid and their attitude: more is caught than taught. However a parent is (or however hypocritical they seem to be in their kids eyes) effects how the child will act. If a parent screams “no fair” all the time, the child tends to be a victim. If a parent yells all the time, the child tends to be angry. If a parent is negative all the time, so too the child tends to follow suit. This isn’t merely a parent/child relationship, though! This same relationship exists in boss/worker relationships, neighbor relationships, and any other relationship in which someone influences another: we pick up on the attitude of those around us, and tend to bring it home with us!
So what are you leading your family in to? What are you dumping on your followers? For me, I’m going to deliberately choose joy. I’m going to seek Jesus as much as I can, and seek to influence people to fix their eyes on Him, regardless of their circumstances. Otherwise, I’m leading people in to their own destruction, one way or other. Choose Joy. Fix your eyes on Jesus, who, though He is and has always been God, lived as one of us, living as we were always meant to live, choosing the Father, even unto His own death, that we may be partakers in His resurrection, both now (HE IS ALIVE) and in the last day when we will be glorified in Him forever.
1 Timothy 4
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
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