A Sermon Walking

January 8, 2012

Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."
John 5:19

What are my actions telling other people about who I am?  About what's important to me?

As my son, Dylan, was saying the blessing before we ate dinner last night, I peeked to see what the rest of my family was doing.  I noticed that Brian was motioning his hands in the "hurry this up" fashion and my daughter, Haylee, was nibbling at her food.  It dawned on me that others, including my kids, are watching us- even when we don't realize it.  A prayer before dinner by an 8 year old boy takes no more than 60 seconds, yet Brian and Haylee couldn't pause for a moment to participate in thanking God for the food they were about to eat. 

I realized how important as parents it is to set a good example with our own actions.  We can tell our kids to obey, to share, to be nice, to be responsible- but if we are not doing these things ourselves then we are not actually teaching them anything at all.  Children will always look up to their parents for guidance in how to handle themselves in different situations.  Even how they treat other people - including their future spouse- will greatly be dependent on how they see us treat people. 

I am also convicted that my kids will only desire to love Jesus and have a close relationship with Him as much as they see me doing so.  If I only go to church on the Sundays when I have nothing else going on or if I only pick up my Bible when I'm taking it to church- then they will learn that God is a secondary priority and is only supposed to fit into our lives when it's convenient. 

I pray: that God will make me a walking sermon.  That my actions will be an example to others and show my sincere heart of love and kindness.  That I will not just "talk the talk" but will also "walk the walk".