Having young adult children is something I really enjoy. I do miss the years when they were little but I love the conversations we are able to have now. I love to hear their thoughts and their perceptions about life, people, circumstances, etc……I often have to remind myself they are only in their early 20’s. They haven’t lived the number of years I have lived and, in some ways, won’t catch up with me in terms of experience….sometimes life teaches you lessons only learned through living.
If there is one thing I really want to “live out loud” with my kids……it’s for them to be very confident in knowing they can take me at my word. In other words, if I tell them I will do something, I don’t want them to wonder if I will do it…….I want them to KNOW IT IS DONE. My parents have modeled this trait for me. I have always been able to take them at their word. As my parents have gotten older it is one of the things I appreciate and value in them so much….. for years I have been able to take their word to the bank!!!
I love the story in scripture found in John 4, starting with verse 43. A royal official in Capernaum had a son who was sick. When the official heard Jesus was in Galilee, he left his home to find Jesus and beg him to come heal his son who was close to death. Jesus makes the statement in verse 48, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders…..You will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus replies in verse 50, “You may go. Your son will live.”
The next sentence is very, very important….starting with verse 50. “The man took Jesus at his word and departed……..While he was still on his way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living…..then he inquired as to the time when his son got better and they said to him, ‘The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.’ Then the father realizes this was the exact time Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and his household believed.”
There are many, many things we can learn from this story…..but the one simple, but very valuable lesson is that the Man/Father/ Royal Official……TOOK JESUS AT HIS WORD……. many times I have to stop, sometimes daily, and ask myself….”Sherry, are you taking God at his word???”
God makes many promises to us and He wants us to take HIm at His word. He wants us to have the confidence of the royal official who turned and walked towards home once Jesus had spoken to him. On the Back 9, I desire to daily take God at HIS WORD and turn and walk…..I want to live this example to our kids….So that they can see in human form what it is like to take someone at their word and trust it….I am not at all saying I want to be God to our kids but I want to mimic Jesus and be depended on by my kids so they can turn and take me at my word…I want to point them to Jesus…who is the ULTIMATE PROMISE KEEPER!
Is there someone in your life who models this trait? Someone who, when they speak, you can turn and walk knowing it is as good as done? Do you take Jesus at His word? HE KEEPS HIS WORD 100% OF THE TIME.