Just Like You
“My child arrived just the other day. He came to the world in the usual way. But there were planes to catch and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away. And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew he’d say, ‘I’m gonna be like you, Dad. You know I’m gonna be like you.’ “
For us who are older than 40, we will remember this tune sung by Harry Chapin. In fact, it may even haunt some of us. What I mean is that maybe some of us don’t want our kids to grow up just like us; only you can answer that question.
We cannot ignore the fact that little eyes are watching our every move, and things are being imprinted in little minds.
I recently heard a story of a German shepherd that was trained to sniff out land mines. She served in World War II. One day while on patrol doing her duty, a mine exploded and the dog lost both of her hind legs. She survived and learned to get around by pulling herself with her front legs.
What her handler didn’t know was that she was pregnant with nine puppies, which she did deliver. When those puppies developed and grew, none of them would us their back legs to walk, but rather they would drag themselves along with only their front paws. Their mother’s disability had been imprinted on each one of her puppies.
What disabling things are we imprinting on our children or the younger generation that is learning and looking to us for direction?
It’s a scary thought. What am I passing on to those who come behind me? What has affected or imprinted in our own lives? And how we have run this race of life?
Galatians 5:7-9 reads, “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”
You see, we answer for ourselves before God, but we can be thrown off course by others. As a husband, father and pastor, I have many times cast a imprint that I wasn’t proud of and at times wished I could have grabbed it back. But it already was out of my grasp, and the only thing I could do was apologize and pray that no imprinting took place.
As Christ Followers, how do our actions affect others around us in the world we have been placed in? We all have heard how Christians are hypocrites and judgmental; this, at times, is a very true evaluation.
So how do we change this?
We cry out to God and ask for a new heart; we keep our eyes on Christ, who is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). I don’t know about you, but I want to be a good example to my wife, children, church and community, and believe you me, I need a lot of help in this area.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus spells it out really clearly when we lose our good influence and we become a bad example.
Matthew 5:13-16 reads, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus makes it clear that others should see my GOOD works and that I should make sure that God the Father gets the glory. I don’t want to lose my godly influence (saltiness) with my wife, kids, church or community.
I think of a song that says, “The only thing that’s good in me is Jesus.” Boy, I can relate. I need Jesus to come to my rescue!
So I encourage you to understand your need, remember that there are those who are watching from near and far, and be that salt and light to all. Jesus, I want to be like you!
I will end with this quote that we all should live by: “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” — Apostle Paul
Running this race with you, Pastor Dave