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Luke 6:46 & 47
"Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice."

These words hit me hard yesterday during our worship service. How many countless people do I know that call Jesus "Lord", and yet their lives are not bearing the fruit of the Christian life? It's very common in this day and age for people to say, "You can't judge me." when in fact God himself told us to judge a tree by its fruit. And if we, as Christians are living life by the Spirit what fruit should our lives be bearing? Love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Does your life show these fruits? Are you bearing good things? Am I?

As a parent I look at Jesus' words and the weight of them hangs heavy on my shoulders. "Why do you call me Lord, and not do what I say?" How many times have I uttered similar words to my kids? I truly believe that God has put me in charge of them in order to teach them HOW to obey. If they can learn to obey me in simple things like, "Please go make your bed." then they will learn how to obey when they hear God's voice telling them to "Go into all the world and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19) When they fail to obey me, or I have to ask them more than a few times, I worry. I fret. I wonder. I look at the words of Jesus. I see them laced with grace and mercy, but I also see the words of warning. His parables are stories showing the great love of our Father, as well as His judgement on those who do not obey His words.

My children love God. They have all put Him on in baptism. This thrills me to the core of my being, but this alone is not enough. Obedience. If you call him Lord, you must do what he says. This is the heart of my parenting, and I pray that I am able to teach them to obey and live lives that bear fruit for the Kingdom.

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