Proverbs 3:1-6
My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. 3Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
After reading and reflecting on my assigned passage from scripture (Proverbs 3: 1-6) and the thematic perspective of "Seeing the Face of Christ in our Families," three thoughts came to mind:
1.) If God loves us as a parent loves a child, then we have nothing to fear. The frustration, disappointment, and occasional anger I may temporarily feel as a result of my children's actions or behavior is quickly overwhelmed by my love for them. If this is how God loves us, then we can anticipate wonderful things in store for us in heaven.
2.) The law explicated in the Old Testament combined with the model put forth by Jesus life and teachings described in the New Testament are a roadmap to joy, not a proscribed restriction on our behavior. We need to follow the map, and open our ears, hearts and minds to mid-course corrections provided by God through the Holy Spirit. Our job as parents is to help teach our kids to read the map and have the wisdom, courage, and humility to stop and ask God for directions when they lose their way.
3.) If Christ comes to us as a child, may we recognize his face in our children and respond accordingly. This applies to our spouses, other family members, friends, and strangers as well.
Scott Simmons
For reflection:
Who was formative in your life, helping you to learn what it means to follow God’s commandments?
How can following the commandments be a source of freedom?
What would need to change, in order for you to trust God more fully?
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