Embracing Family: Lessons in Love, Trust, and Forgiveness

Devotional

Day 1: Emulating Childlike Trust in Our Faith Journey

Children possess a pure and honest reliance on their parents and God. Their ability to trust and express themselves freely is something we should strive to emulate in our faith journey. Jesus emphasized the importance of becoming like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, highlighting their humility and trust as key virtues. In Mark 10, Jesus calls us to learn from the pure, honest, and reliant nature of children. Their innate ability to trust and express themselves freely is a model for our faith journey. By embracing these qualities, we can deepen our relationship with God and approach Him with the same openness and sincerity. [20:22]

Matthew 18:3-4 (ESV): "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Reflection: What specific area of your life can you approach with more childlike trust and openness today? How can you express this trust in your relationship with God?

Day 2: Guiding Children with Care and Intention

We have a responsibility to protect our children from the world's evils while actively leading them in the ways of the Lord. This involves modeling faith and integrity, showing them what it means to live a life devoted to God. Jesus' passionate words about causing a child to stumble remind us of the gravity of our role as guides. As parents and guardians, we are called to shield children from harm and guide them with intention. This means not only protecting them from negative influences but also actively leading them in faith. By modeling integrity and transparency, we show them what it means to live a life devoted to God. [27:06]

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV): "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Reflection: How can you intentionally guide a child in your life today, demonstrating faith and integrity in your actions and words?

Day 3: Demonstrating Faith and Humility as Parents

As parents, we must demonstrate what it means to live a life of faith, including being transparent about our struggles. Showing humility and asking for forgiveness when we err teaches our children valuable lessons about grace and redemption. By being open about our own challenges and seeking forgiveness, we model humility and grace. This transparency not only strengthens our relationship with our children but also teaches them about the power of redemption and the importance of living a life of faith. [37:45]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate humility and transparency to your children or those you mentor today? How can this impact their understanding of faith and grace?

Day 4: Honoring Parents as an Act of Worship

Obeying and honoring our parents is a form of worship, reflecting our obedience to God. This extends beyond childhood, challenging us to forgive and honor our parents despite past hurts. Forgiveness frees us from bitterness and aligns us with God's will. Honoring our parents is not just a duty but an act of worship that reflects our obedience to God. This call to honor extends beyond childhood, challenging us to forgive and respect our parents despite any past hurts. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will and experience the freedom that comes from forgiveness. [43:56]

Colossians 3:20 (ESV): "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."

Reflection: Is there a past hurt with your parents that you need to address today? How can you begin to honor them as an act of worship, even in small ways?

Day 5: The Liberating Power of Forgiveness

Forgiving those who have wronged us, including our parents, is a powerful act that brings freedom and peace. It is not about forgetting or condoning past actions but about releasing the hold of bitterness and choosing to trust God in the process. Forgiveness is a powerful act that liberates us from the chains of bitterness and resentment. It allows us to experience peace and align ourselves with God's will. By choosing to forgive, we release the hold of past hurts and trust God to bring healing and restoration. [43:29]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Who in your life do you need to forgive today? How can you take a step towards releasing bitterness and embracing the peace that comes with forgiveness?

Sermon Summary

Taking a deep breath, I reflect on the message shared today about the profound dynamics of family relationships. We explored the importance of learning from children, protecting and leading them, and the responsibilities we hold as children to our parents. In Mark 10, Jesus emphasizes the value of children, urging us to learn from their pure, honest, and reliant nature. Children have an innate ability to trust and express themselves freely, and we are called to emulate these qualities in our faith journey.

We also discussed the critical role of protecting and leading our children. Jesus' passionate words in Matthew 18 highlight the gravity of causing a child to stumble, urging us to guide them with care and intention. This involves not just shielding them from the world's evils but actively leading them in the ways of the Lord. As parents, we must model faith and integrity, showing our children what it means to live a life devoted to God. This includes being transparent about our own struggles and demonstrating humility and forgiveness.

Furthermore, we delved into the responsibility children have towards their parents. Ephesians 6 calls for obedience and honor, not just as a duty but as an act of worship. This extends beyond childhood, challenging adults to honor their parents despite past hurts. Forgiveness, though difficult, is a powerful act that frees us from bitterness and aligns us with God's will.

Ultimately, the family is a complex yet beautiful institution where we learn, grow, and reflect God's love. By embracing our roles within it, we can foster relationships that honor God and enrich our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Learning from Children: Children possess a pure and honest reliance on their parents and God. Their ability to trust and express themselves freely is something we should strive to emulate in our faith journey. Jesus emphasized the importance of becoming like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, highlighting their humility and trust as key virtues. [20:22]
2. Protecting and Leading Children: We have a responsibility to protect our children from the world's evils while actively leading them in the ways of the Lord. This involves modeling faith and integrity, showing them what it means to live a life devoted to God. Jesus' passionate words about causing a child to stumble remind us of the gravity of our role as guides. [27:06]
3. Modeling Faith and Humility: As parents, we must demonstrate what it means to live a life of faith, including being transparent about our struggles. Showing humility and asking for forgiveness when we err teaches our children valuable lessons about grace and redemption. [37:45]
4. Honoring Parents as Worship: Obeying and honoring our parents is a form of worship, reflecting our obedience to God. This extends beyond childhood, challenging us to forgive and honor our parents despite past hurts. Forgiveness frees us from bitterness and aligns us with God's will. [43:56]
5. The Power of Forgiveness: Forgiving those who have wronged us, including our parents, is a powerful act that brings freedom and peace. It is not about forgetting or condoning past actions but about releasing the hold of bitterness and choosing to trust God in the process. [43:29]
** [43:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:25] - Introduction and Announcements
[11:15] - Prayer and Offering
[12:00] - Series on Relationships
[13:17] - Importance of Family
[14:33] - Learning from Children
[17:49] - Jesus' Love for Children
[20:22] - Lessons from Children's Trust
[26:27] - Protecting and Leading Children
[30:05] - Modeling Faith as Parents
[36:48] - Transparency and Humility
[39:32] - Children's Responsibility to Parents
[43:29] - The Power of Forgiveness
[44:09] - Conclusion

Sermon Clips

Jesus loves kids he really really loves kids so much so I love this word because I didn't know it every time I read this I'm like what's indignant mean again right even though I've read this 45 different times indignant by definition is is a feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment he is annoyed he is angry with his disciples saying do not keep those kids from coming to me I'm not too busy for kids I'm not too busy let them come come to me. [00:17:22]

Kids have a honest and pure Reliance on their parents and on God they don't question when something happens and goes sideways where's the first place they run not to a phone not to a TV not to say anything else they come to a parent usually mom but they just run because they're Reliant upon it they love worship they love God why because they trust him. [00:21:56]

We have a responsibility to protect our kids to protect our kids and to lead our kids specifically Matthew chapter 18 if anyone causes one of these little ones these little kids remember this is Matthew 18 he's disciples Jesus he's got little kids with him right in the middle of the circle he doubles down and says this if anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble it would be better for them to have a large Millstone hung around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. [00:26:27]

The world is going to be the world your kids are going to live in the world and experience the world and the world's got some stuff in it that you don't want them to have access to the bus is a wild west I learned a lot on the bus growing up some really helpful things all there's not I also once saw a bus going to school with a little figurine dangling out of the back of the bus it was aolan Dynamite like pretty awesome. [00:28:05]

As a parent when my kids ask for something rarely do I just say no and just completely get rid of their desire because I want to be a good parent Matthew chapter 7 Jesus keys in on this especially goes which of you if your son asks for bread will give him a stone or if he asks for a fish we'll give him a snake if you then though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask them. [00:24:46]

We have a responsibility to lead our kids guys and I'm going to tell you it's far less about domineering and far much more about modeling you're not going to be perfect you are going to get it wrong I get it wrong but we are called to lead our kids and I want to go into this as well can you also model what it looks like to be broken as a parent you kind of wear a cape most of the time you're Superman you're Wonder Woman. [00:36:48]

Some of the most I think powerful lessons are when you're kids see what it looks like to be broken in a healthy way that when you fly off the handle and you get frustrated and you yell and you scream or you do something when you have the humility and the meekness to go back to your kids and say hey I was out of line I screwed up will you forgive me you know what you're teaching your kids in that moment that there's power and courage and humility that there's power in asking for forgiveness. [00:37:45]

We have a responsibility as a kid to our parents Ephesians chapter 6 children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right every parent said amen honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with the promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the earth teenagers in this in the room for a second guys are World Changers you're going to do amazing things with your life. [00:39:32]

Obeying your parents is also worship why verse six obey them not only to win their favor when their eyes is on you but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from your heart serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the lord not people when you obbey your parents it's your way of saying I'm obedient to the person God's put in my life to lead me. [00:40:38]

When you hold on to that root of bitterness and unforgiveness it's not them it's hurting it's you when you can forgive give them and I'm not saying forget I'm not saying you just let bygones be ggon and now we're going to have Christmas ham together you probably still should have some boundaries you probably still should have some healthy things in place but I am saying when you choose to forgive someone who hurt you and wronged you there is a freedom and a peace that is powerful. [00:43:29]

When you can choose to honor your parents knowing what they did knowing how that was wrong but you choose to do why not for them not because they deserve it but because you're saying God I will trust you even in this what a form of worship what a form of honoring the Lord when you honor your father and mother you are honoring the. [00:44:09]

We have a responsibility to learn from kids kids have something to teach us here's how I know that Mark chapter 10 Jesus is in this big group he's teaching and all of a sudden while he's teaching we see here in verse 13 people were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them but the disciples rebuked them all right Jesus has this really big crowd he's teaching to he would go from town to town to town he would heal people he would teach people he would raise literal dead back to life paralyzed it was he was drawing a crowd. [00:14:33]

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