Being a daughter of our parents and our Lord Jesus Christ as we receive Him as our personal Lord and Savior, he said in His word – John 1:12”Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” What must e our attitude before them?
Come and let us ponder on what GOD had said about it.
In accordance to the book I have read by Cathy Bartel, she pointed out some characteristics we must have such as:
D – elight
A – spire
U – nashamed
G – enerous
H – onor
T – hankful
E – ncourage
R – elationship
Delight “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”-Psalm 37:4(NIV)
Delight means giving keen enjoyment. It is wonderful to know that if we are really delighting ourselves to God, He will give what our desire is and moreover, He has also desires and plans for our lives that He will also give unto us (Jer.29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”). Just like our parents, if we are delighting in them they will be pleased and give what we want and even more than what we want!
Aspire”Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” – 1Cor. 11:1
To aspire means to seek, to attain or accomplish a particular goal. As Christians it is very important to aspire following what Jesus Christ have done when He was on earth. Really as person in nature, we cannot perfectly imitate Him as He was holy and righteous but at least we are trying. He will help us to change little by little!(II Cor.5:17) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!)And also, aspiring people such as or moms, sisters, aunt, a teacher, pastor’s wife or a friend that really desires to be changed. Nobody’s perfect but it’s good to admire people who are genuinely showing God’s love to others. And lastly, aspiring also what Apostle Paul had said in II Cor.11:1, because from time to time many eyes are watchers of your life
Unashamed”Many are saying, of me, God will not deliver him. But you are my shield around me, O Lord. You bestow glory in me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy hill.” – Psalm 3:2-4
Unashamed means not ashamed. It is being without guilt, self – consciousness or doubt. We are sinful in nature but GOD loves us that He gave His life for us to cleanse us and take away our sin. It’s very comforting that He’s the one who lift up our head and says, “You are forgiven” (Is.2:18- “Come now let us reason together”, says the Lord.”Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like a wool.”). We are first ashamed of being a sinner but as we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are unashamed, because we know that our God Himself has forgiven us. Being unashamed to our parents and to all people around as if we are doing what is right and knowing that you are taking the path of a godly life.
Generous “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or unde compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” – II Corinthians 9:7
Generous means liberal in giving. God teaches us to be generous in everything. Giving wholeheartedly is very important, it may be small or big, it doesn’t matter as long as our heart is right in giving. Not accepting what we would receive in return. Showing generosity to our parents like simple letters and hug from us, they will be happy. Not only with our parents but to our friends, to our churches(by our offerings) and to our God thru our service and faithfulness to Him.
Honor “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.” – Ephesians 6:1-2
Honor means one whose worth things respect or fame. God will not tell us to honor our parents if it will not benefit us. Parents know what’s the best and right for us but we may also be reminded that it is said that “obey your parents in the Lord”. The word “in the Lord” indicates that you are not required to obey any parent or authority figure who tells you to do something that is against on the word of God. By honoring our parents we are showing the love of God in us.
Thankful “I thank my God every time I remember you.” – Philippians 1:3
Thankful is an expressive of thanks; well pleased; glad. Being thankful in everything even though in unpleasant circumstances is very relieving. It doesn’t mean that in every bad situation we are just thanking God but instead it is because our trust is in our good Father! Appreciation is a part of a godly manner. Appreciating our parents, relatives, friends and every person we are reaching for because they are God’s blessings for us. By being thankful and grateful opens for happiness and friendship.
Encourage “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have sinned from God” – II Corinthians 1:3-4
Encourage means to inspire or hope. God is our own comforter and encourager. He’s also the one looking around us and to our own family, relatives, friends and other people who are at their downs in life. We must always be ready (I Peter 3:15) to give hope. The feeling of encouragement is comforting in the heart. Be an encourager if you want people to seek you out as a friend. (Eph.4:29)
Relationship “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
Relationship means the state of being related or interrelated. Here on earth, we are part of many relationships such as being a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend, best friend, student and the list goes on. But first things first and the most important relationship we must have is the relationship with our heavenly Father. We have that longing to be loved and no one in this world can completely fill that longing except our God. We can do our best to love our parents, relatives and friends but we all fall short. That’s why your first love must be the Lord, because His love never fails and His love also helps cover our failures.
God first loved us. He died for us and what would be our response in everything He has done for us? Are we willing to love Him back and accept Him as our Lord and Savior? Are we longing for the relationship He wants us to have? In everything, your decision holds your life.
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