In January I had to leave my family for five weeks in order to travel to Illinois for work. It was the hardest time I've had in a while, but not all in vain. God taught me a lot in my time in that dank, tiny hotel room.
The second big thing that I learned was how much the Holy Spirit is involved in the relationships between His people. I met several brothers and sisters throughout my trip, and it astounded me how easy it was to feel at home with them. I attended a few different churches while I was there, and even though, from a worldly perspective, I had little or nothing in common with the people there, I had an immediate bond with them. Before I was saved, I would have never hung out with people twice my age, or that grew up in the midwest, and liked different music than I did. I never would have gone to lunch with computer programmers or Air Force Commanders, or pastors, or insurance agents. The only thing that I had in common with the people I met was a common relationship with Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The commonality that I held with these brothers and sisters, caused me to love them immediately with a love that I had never even thought possible with my closest friend, before regeneration! A pastor that I met while in St. Louis, Jeremy Jessen, providentially preached a series on the Holy Spirit while I was visiting his church. He talked aout this very issue, and really drove it home for me. I realized that the love for one another that Jesus spoke about in John 13:34 is a work of the Spirit, and without that work, the love for one another cannot possibly manifest. So the Holy Spirit is evident in a believer when the supernatural love for people (with whom there is no reason for earthly love), is seen.
Just my two cents.
SDG
Showing posts with label misc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label misc. Show all posts
Monday, April 4, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Lessons Learned
In January I had to leave my family for five weeks in order to travel to Illinois for work. It was the hardest time I've had in a while, but not all in vain. God taught me a lot in my time in that dank, tiny hotel room.
First, and most important, He taught me the value of quantity time with my wife and children. I was under the false understanding that quality was more important than quantity, when it comes to time with family. Boy, was I wrong! Quality is important, but there is a huge value in just being with loved ones. We don't have to do anything, except live together. Going to the park, McDonald's, Disneyland, or any other big or small event, is just not necessary all the time. Note, I said all the time. It is important to spent time doing things with your family, but scripture tells us, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deut. 6:4-7
Scripture no where teaches that whiz-bang entertainment is necessary for godly, well-adjusted children. We should be teaching them the ways of the LORD in all that we do, and I, for one, think that living a godly life with, and in front of our family is the most important calling a spouse, or parent has. I have enough to worry about in just teaching my children the ways of Christ, and loving my wife like Christ loved the church, without adding a giant dancing mouse into the mix! More later, I've got some wrestling to do, (and possibly a tea party).
First, and most important, He taught me the value of quantity time with my wife and children. I was under the false understanding that quality was more important than quantity, when it comes to time with family. Boy, was I wrong! Quality is important, but there is a huge value in just being with loved ones. We don't have to do anything, except live together. Going to the park, McDonald's, Disneyland, or any other big or small event, is just not necessary all the time. Note, I said all the time. It is important to spent time doing things with your family, but scripture tells us, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deut. 6:4-7
Scripture no where teaches that whiz-bang entertainment is necessary for godly, well-adjusted children. We should be teaching them the ways of the LORD in all that we do, and I, for one, think that living a godly life with, and in front of our family is the most important calling a spouse, or parent has. I have enough to worry about in just teaching my children the ways of Christ, and loving my wife like Christ loved the church, without adding a giant dancing mouse into the mix! More later, I've got some wrestling to do, (and possibly a tea party).
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