I've been musing on this for a long time... There never seems to be a good time to sit down and write out my thoughts... I always tell myself just to write a little bit here and there. Some how it doesn't happen. I don't think that's it's that I'm too busy. But more or less, too occupied. Does that make sense? Anyways, this is something I've been chewing on and have been wanting to share... I'm curious to hear what others think...
Have you ever read the Old Testament laws and scratched your head, moved on and hope that someday you'll have a clue why they had to do all those crazy laws?
The kids and I have been reading through the Bible, most days... We do get behind, but we're trying to do the one year Bible as a family this year. It's been so awesome. I haven't read through the whole bible myself (at least cover to cover, bits and pieces maybe?) so I'm finding it very interesting. Anyways, reading it through as a mother now, I have a very different perspective. As a mom, I find my self giving the kids petty rules.
No walking with your shoes in the house.
No eating between snack/meal times.
No changing clothes more then once a day.
One pair of socks at a time please!!
And so on and so forth. I'm sure I could fill my own books of Momeronmy- Mumbers-Momiticus (cheesey aren't I? ha!) with all the little rules I could make, just to keep things sane around here. Why do I need these rules? A few reasons.
1. Immaturity. My children simply don't know better.
2. The heart. Their little hearts are not set to serve each other or this family. They fight and bicker and one-up each other.... because the heart is not there to serve. To love.
It finally clicked for me, when people say that Jesus came to fulfill the law. Because when the heart is set to serve, to love... the law is simply unnecessary.
This is what David understood when he penned that the Lord didn't want sacrifice, he wanted obedience! He wants our hearts. That is where peace for this world can be found. That is where peace and harmony in our churches can be found. The world is tired of seeing our churches act like our children. They long and hunger for an answer to their chaos... They seem to instinctively know that we should have it, and seriously resent the fact that we aren't acting the way they need us too. Like children frustrated with parents that act like children too.
But it's our hearts. When we have the heart to serve each other in our homes and in our churches, most of our squabbles disappear. Yes, there still will be issues, we're humans after all. But they can be solved peacefully.
We need to change our hearts. Serve our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith. Love those around us. It needs to start somewhere. I hope it starts in my home!
You've hit the nail on the head! Why is something that should be so "simple" and clear, so hard to do?
ReplyDeleteGood blogging - I enjoyed reading it!
That was brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI know it needs to start in our home...I guess it should start with us parents or else how do we expect it from our kids? I feel like a terrible example at times when I see them acting so selfishly...I know I need to change but what else can I do to get my kids to act unselfishly, along with that? any thoughts?
I totally agree. I looked at this article on Rob Bell this week (on a new controversial book her wrote) - and I thought, "man we are wasting so much time bickering between Christians....calling each other heretics and such. Wouldn't it be great if we spent our time being Jesus to others.
ReplyDeleteThat's supposed to be he
ReplyDeleteLisa K, thanks for the comment! I really enjoy your blog too!
ReplyDeleteChristine, I don't really know how to turn the hearts of our children... I remember you saying once how you spent a lot of time in prayer for one of yours... that's probably the most effective eh? But, I've been talking a lot about this to the kids and they understand bits and pieces... I'm amazed at how much they're getting just from reading the word.
Lisa C, what did you think about what they said on the book? I heard that he's stating there's more then one way to heaven... thus, I would say this does need to be called out as a lie. But I haven't read the book or much about it. A friend of mine told me something about it, so I can't say I really have an oppinion at this point. The thing is in the church is we ALL have major flaws and are going to hurt eachother and step on eachothers toes some. That's what working with people is. Often people love the honeymoon stage of church, where everyone seems great and all... then they start bumping into everyone's humanness and it hurts and is frustrating... and offence plants it's lovely seeds and wala... grace eh, like in that course. Anyways, I wanted to post on this at some point, now I've spoiled it!! oh well, haha