Coffee and A View - set apart

October 6, 2009 - set apart

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God ---this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

Jenna and I are memorizing these verses...
Meaty sustenance for our daily living.
The very thing we need.

I am challenged by these words, are you?

Studying these verses has led to much conversation about what the world offers and what we expect from God. I am amazed at the depth of my 10 year old who already can recognize the pull of the enemy through things like the television, advertisements, and music.

The enemy is exactly that - the enemy - so we must purposefully strive to steer clear of those forces every day! As Christians it is so easy to give in the subtle things and before we know it we are desensitized and have no clue that what we are doing/watching/reading is totally opposite of what God wants! And we wonder why!

We are very challenged in our relationship with Jacob these days. The world is his biggest attraction. It is heart breaking to watch. We are taking the steps necessary to bring him back onto the right - the better - path, but it is hard. Yet we must continue on. We must! I don't want to be normal, and I don't want my family to be either. Normal is going through the motions of this self-centered world. No, I want to be set apart - to live self LESS. Don't you? I want my children to know of the better things...and to have a heart's desire for the things of God! Don't you?

As a parent we must ask ourselves, what are we willing to do to make sure we are helping our children to "renew their minds" rather than aiding them in conforming to the pattern of this world?

- What are they watching on television?
- What are they listening to on their Ipod? Have you listened to it lately?
- What are they browsing for on the internet? Don't assume they are not curious or that they haven't seen inappropriate material - no matter their age, or the fact they are in a "Christian home" - do not be naive!
- What are they wearing? Is the waistband rolled down to show their flesh? Are the guys pants below their underwear? Is the shirt revealing or too tight? Modesty is such an important characteristic - it lays just part of the foundation for purity!
- What are they reading? Pre-read it! Or at least research it.

That may seem like a lot of checking in to do - but we must! The easy thing to do would be to ignore their tendencies or habits and play it off as if they are going through a stage, it doesn't really matter, or worse - it's normal! As parents we get tired tho, don't we? I know I do. Sometimes it is less painful to just be silent because we don't want the conflict - but a little bit of pain brings glory!!! What is an inconvenience now will bring lives living out love for God!

Just because we raise our children in a Christian home, and attend church 2-3 times a week, and they have Christian friends, and possibly even attend a Christian school, does NOT make them immune to the pulls of the world which are the very devices of the enemy! Do not be ignorant! Get involved in renewing your child's mind - make sure they are seeing the world through God's eyes.
We cannot, simply cannot, assume they are sheltered from the one who is set on destroying them. Be the adult - be the parent - and step into your child's life to know what is going on.

Be set apart.
Live it out.

HE is worth it.

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