Sharing Christ (6 of 7)
Series: Ordering Our Days
Robert Dawson
1 Peter 2:9
Growing up, whenever mom's birthday or mother's day would roll around, I would ask mom what she wanted for her birthday - like I could afford anything she actually wanted or needed. Rather than tell me something I could buy she would say something that sounded so stupid and utterly insane that it made no sense to me as a child. She would say something like, ''All I want for my birthday is for you to clean your room (as if that were ever going to happen), help out around the house, show me and your dad respect and be obedient.''
What kind of present is that? Who wants that other stuff? Give me stuff any day of the week. Respect or a new toy? That's a no brainer for a little boy. I'll take the toy every day of the week. I mean, after all, who needs respect, obedience or love.
We all know that is a child's perspective and a childish perspective. What makes a parent proud and feel loved is not the amount of stuff we can give but the amount of respect we show. What makes a parent feel loved is not how well you perform on stage or the athletic field but whether or not you are obedient to them - because a good parent's rules are not about control but shaping us into the type of men and women that would make them proud. They know that if we become the right kind of person we are going to do the right things.
The same is true of God. He wants us to become the right kind of people. The type of people He wants us to become is a people who are like His Son. Remember what Paul tells us in Romans 8.29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. He wants us to take on the characteristics of Jesus (Fruit of Spirit - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self-control - that is a different sermon). God is pleased with us when our life follows the pattern of Hi ...
Series: Ordering Our Days
Robert Dawson
1 Peter 2:9
Growing up, whenever mom's birthday or mother's day would roll around, I would ask mom what she wanted for her birthday - like I could afford anything she actually wanted or needed. Rather than tell me something I could buy she would say something that sounded so stupid and utterly insane that it made no sense to me as a child. She would say something like, ''All I want for my birthday is for you to clean your room (as if that were ever going to happen), help out around the house, show me and your dad respect and be obedient.''
What kind of present is that? Who wants that other stuff? Give me stuff any day of the week. Respect or a new toy? That's a no brainer for a little boy. I'll take the toy every day of the week. I mean, after all, who needs respect, obedience or love.
We all know that is a child's perspective and a childish perspective. What makes a parent proud and feel loved is not the amount of stuff we can give but the amount of respect we show. What makes a parent feel loved is not how well you perform on stage or the athletic field but whether or not you are obedient to them - because a good parent's rules are not about control but shaping us into the type of men and women that would make them proud. They know that if we become the right kind of person we are going to do the right things.
The same is true of God. He wants us to become the right kind of people. The type of people He wants us to become is a people who are like His Son. Remember what Paul tells us in Romans 8.29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. He wants us to take on the characteristics of Jesus (Fruit of Spirit - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self-control - that is a different sermon). God is pleased with us when our life follows the pattern of Hi ...
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