Rules, Religion and A Time To Be Radical!

Are you teaching your children “about” God; or are you demonstrating to them how to “know” God?  If all we give our children is a “rule set” for behavior, we will fail them.

It’s not enough to teach them to go to Church every time the doors open; give a tenth; be active in all church events, don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal! Rules and Religion will never work in our lives or the lives that we touch each day. We have to demonstrate in our own lives the qualities of Jesus, our "Radical" savior:      

      1.  His Servant Heart (“Love Washes Feet”)

John 13:    12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

2.  His  Love for others: 

John 13:    34  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

1 John 4:   20-21 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

3. Forgiveness was not option for Him or us

Matthew 5:24
Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 6:15

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

4. The Sacrifice

      Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

      Philippians 2:5-8  Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery [or something to be held onto] to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

5. He was Fearless  

      Mark 4:40     He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

      Mark 5:36     Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

What if the qualities of Jesus my life goals instead of "life challenge"? The hard core truth is that our children will grow in what we show them, not what we tell them or the rules we create.  What are they seeing in you?   Who is your model? God sent Jesus to be the propitiation for our sin.   Believing and knowing God is life changing, and creates in our hearts a desire to model Jesus.   It is not about "rules" and "religion", it's all about being "radically" committed and surrendered.

"Your worth and purpose in this life do not depend on who you are, on what you have done, or on what has been done to you. Your worth and purpose do not depend on where you have been...Your worth and purpose depend on God and God alone--His will, His calling, His choosing, His love."  - Kay Arthur – His Imprint, My Expression