Title Let's Learn from Jesus (May 2, 2010)
Contents
Word: John 1:42
Subject: Learn from Jesus
42. They brought him to Jesus, and when he saw him, he said to him, “You are Simon the son of John, and you will call him Cephas.
------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------
As we celebrate Children's Sunday, let's take a look at what kind of parents we should be as saints.
The home is a place that makes people and builds character. Especially in the early years of our children, when the character is most formed, we take on the role of parents. Like Susanna who molded John Wesley, and Monica who molded Augustine, we may or may not be able to mold people of incredible faith and character.
How can we shape the character of our children? Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are influencing our children through our encounters. Then, through what kind of encounters should we shape that character? Today, at this time, we want to get the answer through Jesus.
Jesus met Peter first, believing in his potential. Peter's original name was Simon. But when Jesus met him, he gave him the name 'Peter', which means 'rock'. However, the figure of Peter in the Bible was not the figure of a rock. He had doubts and was rebuked, and he was good at getting excited and outgoing. But, nevertheless, Jesus saw Peter as a rock and believed in the possibility. Later, when Peter was imprisoned three times, he walked the path of an apostle who fully believed in Jesus and showed the image of a disciple of Jesus who was born again like a rock.
What possibilities do you see in your children? Parents who don't see the possibilities sometimes say things they shouldn't say to their children. And these wrong words and actions have a bad and bad effect on children. We need to discover and continue to believe in our children's potential.
God has designated us as successful people and guides the path. He gradually refines us and finally completes us preciously. Therefore, when we find a weak spot, it is right to expect God's plan to train us rather than get frustrated. Parents should be able to bring out their children's potential in this way and also pray that they will see the image of a person of faith in their children.
In particular, the role of parents is even more important when their children have failed. There is no success without failure. When Jesus made a mistake, Jesus believed in Peter's recovery and saw him. We also need to hold onto the string of possibilities for our children without getting immersed in a sense of failure. If you look at the people of God of faith, there is no one who has not experienced failure and setbacks. We should become parents who make their children into people of faith by acting appropriately and wisely in various situations, such as making a valuable product by repeatedly putting a lump of iron in water and fire.
Finally, another important role of parents is that of models.
When we remember Jesus washing the disciples' feet, Jesus humbled himself and became our model. Because Jesus has been seen, we can live a life of service that follows Jesus. In this way, we too should be a model for our children to show how to live by faith.
Being a good parent is never easy. However, if you do your best and become a parent who can fill in what you lack through prayer, you will be able to create children of faith as it is said that children of prayer will never fail. I wish we could all be such parents.