12-10-2016

Good Morning All,

           Romans 3:23; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

       I watched with amusement.  I love my grandchildren with all I have.  Yet watching what was happening reinforced a biblical truth.  My one year old grandson climbed up into a child size rocking chair we have and he began to rock in it.  He had a great time.  The next day we added two more grandchildren.  My two year old granddaughter went to climb into the rocking chair and the one year old went and pulled her away from the chair.  Sitting there watching all this I thought; no parent ever has to teach their child to misbehave, be selfish, or refuse to share.  These actions come naturally; no one needs to be taught these actions.

    This is a real example of what original sin actually is.  It is the entire depravity of our body and life to sin.  Depravity here only means that sin permeates our entire being and every action we take, every thought that we have, every desire we feel is consumed by sin.  In this natural state, we are selfish only concerned with our own wants and wishes.  We view others as means to accomplish our desires and wants.  Our actions are always driven by fulfilling our own wants.  We help others so they help us.  We do good in order to gain for ourselves, whether it is fame, popularity or financial.

     Many are insulted by this truth.  They choose to deny and ignore it.  Yet this truth serves a larger purpose than just showing us our sins; it also shows us how to live.  This truth is why God told Moses to tell the people to always teach your children.  In the New Testament, Paul tells us to teach your children.  We are told to teach because treating others with respect is not something that occurs naturally.  Left to our own development, we will be selfish and uncaring.  We need to teach our children to respect and to love others especially those who are different from us.

    It is not enough for parents to just be nice and assume their children will learn this lesson.  Parents need to actively teach their children to love and to respect others.  Our sinful nature and the total depravity that exists in us can only be defeated by the blood and righteousness of Jesus.  This empowers us to move forward but to move forward we must actively move, in the Spirit, and learn the ways of the Lord.  We must learn and we must teach.  Reminding ourselves and each other what the Lord desires of us.  This is especially true for parents who must teach the children.  Actively teach and do not assume that they are learning the lesson through some absorption method.  They learn when they are spoken to and actively and purposefully taught the truth about Jesus and the path which he walks and which we, as his followers, also walk.

Father in heaven, forgive us when we have failed to teach.  Give us the wisdom and the patience to teach and to live as you desire us to live.  Give us a strong faith to walk the path of your righteousness.  Let us keep your ways that your love may fill the land.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret