F.A.

I have listened to the F.A. sermon many times now over the years, however this time listening with my whole family I experienced a very different response.  Trying to explain and simplify DJ's message to a 7 year old, 5 year old 2.5 year old, and a 2 week old =) was more difficult than I had imagined (actually Campbell was the only one who I think understood...I mean she didn't ask any questions!!) I only had two plays: 

1. Teach my kids by exposing the F.A. in my own life. Example.... Prayer is a huge discipline in our family (Thanks to my mom). We pray every morning as a family, every time we get in the car, go somewhere, before bed, before hockey, when I am forced to go to Target, walking to school, from school... on and on I try so hard to model that discipline to my kids.  BUT...when I am agitated with the kids, agitated with Kelly, agitated with myself, hurried, tired, or disinterested prayer is the last thing I want to do. How about another example -  We will be walking to school and I will be irritated with the kids for being so slow.  I will be silent as we hurry and one of the kids will say, "Dad aren't we going to pray?" "How about you pray!" is usually my first response. What is scary is I see this same behavior play out in my kids.  Usually they all want to pray....but when they are agitated or irritated prayer is the last thing they want to do.  Kelly and I continued to try and explain F.A. by exposing it in our own lives.  This led to a real fun talk between Kelly and I when we were alone about how deep and alive F.A. is in our lives and marriage.

2. Go to the scriptures!  Much like Steve all I could think about was scripture will listening.   

1 John 2:3-6 - We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

Galatians 5:1- It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Romans 7:14-25a

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?  

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!