Yesterday afternoon, my seventeen year old and I had a deep discussion about theology, relationships with Christ and doctrine. We talked a little about worship and a lot about what the Word of God says. As I got up this morning and rushed to get out the door, my mind was fixed in time on yesterday afternoon at my desk with the Bible open to 1 Corinthians 15.
Did I say the right things?
Did I help him understand the questions he had?
Our conversation was cut short when he received a phone call and he asked could he go with his friend to the fire department…which has quickly became something he enjoys and is eager to learn more about, but I didn’t want to lose this opportunity when he was eager to hear what God says in His Word.
I think those two questions I asked myself will always be what we have when someone asks us about what we believe and why we believe. It is human nature, as we will always feel we fall short trying to explain how big God is in relation to our finite minds. As we were reading scripture together and talking, I kept reminding him of these things…
It’s easy to get caught up in the church, but more importantly we must be caught up in Christ.
Don’t focus on the where you worship, but Who you worship.
Read the Bible, study for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to help you discern what is right and wrong. The Spirit always will bear witness to what is of God.
There will always be fires that you have to put out around you figurative and maybe literally as you learn more at the fire department, but make sure that the fire within you burns intensely for the Lord.
Heaven will be filled with those who trusted in Jesus, not those that trust in a denomination.
It’s not about religion and a way of thinking, but a relationship with the Savior.
Let Jesus be The King of your life. Nothing else comes before Him.
Lastly, I told him that this world has tried so hard to blur the lines between what is of God and what is not of God, so it is so important to study and show yourself approved. When you know God, you know what is of Him and what is not…but when you are unsure, it is easy to be lured in by the enemy. Stay sober and watchful.
Before the phone rang and he would be running downstairs to quickly clean his room so he could leave, I reminded him that I was saved when I was 15 years old, but chose to do things my way most of the time instead of following the Lord. Because of that, I made stupid decisions and walked hard roads that I wouldn’t have had to walk, if I would have let Jesus be The King of my life instead of my own desires.
I spend a lot of time telling my kids of my own failures and mistakes, because I don’t want them to make the same ones, but also reminding them that the same grace that covered mine, is the same one that covers theirs, also.
As I sit in the same place as I was yesterday typing out these words, I am overwhelmed with the goodness of Lord. Sometimes we feel like we need to shove Jesus down the throats of our kids to try and stay one step ahead of the enemy. But, if we keep praying and trusting the Lord, He is faithful to bring them to us hungry with an appetite to hear, learn and grow in Him.
When we focus on the main thing, Jesus and the gospel, which is what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, we can’t go wrong.
