Carla MacLachlan, author of Parenting Moment by Moment recently posted the following question on facebook: True or False: If you are following Jesus and your child is watching you all day then he is learning what it looks like to follow Jesus?
My response to that statement was “ouch.” Throughout each day there are moments when that statement is true, but there are too many moments throughout the day where the statement is false. I am not always kind, gentle and loving to my family, friends and strangers. My children do not always see Jesus in me (because I am not always abiding in Jesus).
Again, this true or false question really made me take a hard look at myself and I didn’t really like the answer I came up with. How about you? Do your children, friends, family and even strangers see Jesus in you? Can they tell that you are following our leader Jesus Christ? Are you and I truly Christ-like Christians?
God really convicted me about the question, “If my child is watching me all day long is she learning what it looks like to follow Jesus?” My answer was “not nearly enough.” I want to thank Carla for challenging me with this very tough and very necessary question. (This question is actually in her book, Parenting Moment by Moment).
So what does following Jesus look like? Jesus was always obedient to His Father, God. We too are to be obedient to our leader, Jesus. In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Jesus also said that He is the vine and we are the branches (please read John 15:1-14). We are to abide in Christ Jesus. We are to love others as Jesus has loved us. We should reflect our Lord and Savior, who resides in us to those around us.
Your children are watching, learning and following you, their leader. What kind of leader are you? More importantly, who are you following? Who is your leader? Do you follow the leader – the one that really matters? Are you following Jesus Christ our Lord?