That just sounds so harsh and by all means, it might very well be. That is, if you don't understand the context by which those words are written. Our comfort is not guaranteed. We see several examples of this in the bible as Christ followers were persecuted. Paul was thrown in jail. John the Baptist was beheaded. Stephen was stoned.
However, the one thing that the Lord cares about is our character. How will I react under pressure? How will I react when others persecute me? What will I do when nobody is around?
How does this all relate to adoption? Well.....it does because my biggest concern when adopting children is how we can build their character. I don't care to buy them lots of toys. I don't care to take them on extravagant vacations. As a matter of fact, even if we were to end up homeless and living in a homeless shelter....they will have more than they do now! I want to train my children up in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6)....I want them to grow up to be men and women on fire for God. I want them to care more about how they can live for God than to worry about what college they will attend.
We have one precious child living at home with us right now. He has grown up so far to be a child with great character. He wants to do what is right. He wants others around him to do what is right. He chooses to make the right decisions and is even learning to make tough decisions that are unpopular because he knows they are the right decisions. One example is recently his friends were talking about girls and dating. He spoke up and said, "I won't date until I am at least 18 years old and then it will only be to find my wife". He said that to his peers....without even thinking about what they would think of him. I care what his peers think of him because I love him and I do not want him to be teased, like I was growing up. However, on the other hand, I really don't care what his peers think about him because all that matters in the end is what God thinks about him.
We have two precious children in an Eastern European Country that we want to bring home and raise up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). We want them to Love the Lord their God with all their heart, all their soul, all their strength and all their mind (Luke 10:27). That is the most important. They are in an orphanage where the popular thing to do is to pick on the younger children. To tease them. To beat them up. To smoke. To have sex. The easiest thing to do in this situation is for them to "fit in" to avoid the consequences of being teased and more importantly to avoid being beat up. However, as much as I do not want those things to happen to my children, choosing the narrow road and saying "no" to teasing others, sex and smoking is the right decision....even if in the end it means that they might not be so popular! So, my dear children......I don't care about your comfort. I care about your character. I care about your eternity. This is all because I love you. Because God Loves you!
However, the one thing that the Lord cares about is our character. How will I react under pressure? How will I react when others persecute me? What will I do when nobody is around?
How does this all relate to adoption? Well.....it does because my biggest concern when adopting children is how we can build their character. I don't care to buy them lots of toys. I don't care to take them on extravagant vacations. As a matter of fact, even if we were to end up homeless and living in a homeless shelter....they will have more than they do now! I want to train my children up in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6)....I want them to grow up to be men and women on fire for God. I want them to care more about how they can live for God than to worry about what college they will attend.
We have one precious child living at home with us right now. He has grown up so far to be a child with great character. He wants to do what is right. He wants others around him to do what is right. He chooses to make the right decisions and is even learning to make tough decisions that are unpopular because he knows they are the right decisions. One example is recently his friends were talking about girls and dating. He spoke up and said, "I won't date until I am at least 18 years old and then it will only be to find my wife". He said that to his peers....without even thinking about what they would think of him. I care what his peers think of him because I love him and I do not want him to be teased, like I was growing up. However, on the other hand, I really don't care what his peers think about him because all that matters in the end is what God thinks about him.
We have two precious children in an Eastern European Country that we want to bring home and raise up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). We want them to Love the Lord their God with all their heart, all their soul, all their strength and all their mind (Luke 10:27). That is the most important. They are in an orphanage where the popular thing to do is to pick on the younger children. To tease them. To beat them up. To smoke. To have sex. The easiest thing to do in this situation is for them to "fit in" to avoid the consequences of being teased and more importantly to avoid being beat up. However, as much as I do not want those things to happen to my children, choosing the narrow road and saying "no" to teasing others, sex and smoking is the right decision....even if in the end it means that they might not be so popular! So, my dear children......I don't care about your comfort. I care about your character. I care about your eternity. This is all because I love you. Because God Loves you!
No comments:
Post a Comment