SeptemberParentDevotion
BiblicalCharacterTrait:Responsibility
“Supposeyoucanbetrustedwithsomethingverylittle.Thenyoucanalsobetrustedwithsomethingvery
large.Butsupposeyouarenothonestwithsomethingverylile.Thenyouwillalsonotbehonestwith
somethingverylarge.
Luke16:10
2Corinthians5:10ForwemustallappearbeforethejudgmentseatofChrist,sothateachofusmay
receivewhatisdueusforthethingsdonewhileinthebody,whethergoodorbad.
Romans14:10You,then,whydoyoujudgeyourbrotherorsister?Orwhydoyoutreatthemwith
contempt?ForwewillallstandbeforeGod’sjudgmentseat.11Itiswritten:“‘AssurelyasIlive,’saysthe
Lord,‘everykneewillbowbeforeme;everytonguewillacknowledgeGod.’”12Sothen,eachofuswillgive
anaccountofourselvestoGod.
Parentingissometimeslikelookinginaveryunflatteringmirrorunderthemostunflatteringlight.Oneof
mydearchildrentoldmerecentlythatIamamuchbetterparentnowthanwhentheywereyounger.
WhenIstaredatthem,horrified,theyreplied,“No,it’sgood,Mom.ItshowsthatyouaremorelikeJesus
now.You’restillgrowingasaChristian.”
WhenIsawthatthismonth’stopicwasresponsibility,myfirstthoughtwasofeveryparent’sstruggleto
teachtheirchildhowtocompletetasksthoroughlyandontime.Ithenthoughtofparentresponsibilityand
theenormityofthattask.AsIpondered,Irealizedthatasbelievingparents,wehaveoneoverarching
responsibility-topointourchildrentoChrist.Asweak,sinfulandbrokenpeople,howareweevergoingto
achievethisgoal?
TheBibleteachesusthatwewilleachonedaystandbeforeChristandgiveaccountforallwedidand
said.Asparents,westandbeforeourchildreneverydayandtheyaretheonestakingwhatwedoandsay
intoaccount.Bothareveryuncomfortableideasandnoneofusliketothinkaboutthem.
Asresponsiblebelievingparents,wehavetoaskourselvesthetoughquestionsofwhatwearepresenting
eachdaytoourchildrenandwhatwewillpresenttoGodoneday.Whataretheprioritiesinour
days?DoesthewordofGodtakeprecedenceinourthoughtsandactions?IsthegraceofChristenoughto
carryusthroughdifficultandhurtfuldays?DoItrustGodwithmydeepestfears?DoIforgivethosewho
injuremeorthoseIlove?DoIallowtheworkofGodtomakememorelikeJesuseachandeveryday?
Thehonestansweris“No,wedonot”alltoooften,butGod’sgraceisgreaterthanourfailures.Peter
deniedChristbutthenproclaimedHimthroughouttheworld.PaulhatedandhuntedChristiansbutthen
lovedandshepherdedthem.JohnwantedtositattherighthandofChristbutthenmadelovethe
watchwordofhisministry.Theyallhada“butthen,”whichwastheworkofChristintheirheartsand
minds.Thatmadeallthedifference.
YouandIgetangry,wegossip,wejudge,wefear,andwedoubt.Fortunately,wehaveaSaviorwhoworks
inourheartsandmindstomakeusmorelikeHimifweallowHim.Wecaneachhavea“butthen”inour
stories.ItisthechangeChristworksinusthatwitnessestoourchildrenandtheworldthatHeisrealand
Heispartofourlives.
Iamanimperfectmother.Isinandmychildrenseeit.However,Iamaforgivenandredeemedmotherand
mychildrenseethataswell.AllIcandowithmyfailuresispointtotheCross.Then,andonlythen,amI
fulfillingmymainresponsibility.
Writtenby:Mrs.TriciaWhitaker