Today’s Scripture Reading (September
17, 2012): Deuteronomy 18
As we raise
our kids, I think we are torn between a great hope and a great fear. We start
off with all of the hopes that our kids will be the ones that will change the
world. We have all of the hopes of the things that our child might become.
Maybe they will be the politician that will finally be able to create world
peace, or maybe the doctor that finds the cure to cancer, or the physicist that
finds a way to go faster than the speed of light, or even the author of the great
novel - or maybe nothing quite that grand. But we all have a great hope – and our
hope is that our children will be influencers. We hope that they will create a
change for the better everywhere that they go.
But the
great hope is directly related to our great fear. The great fear is not that
our kids will not achieve amazing things – deep down I do not think we really
care. Rather, the great fear is that our kids will be followers; that they will
be influenced by those around them – and not for the better. Our great fear is
that they will be negatively influenced by the people around them. It is the
reason why we want to know the friends that they hang out with. When they are
young it is the great hope that drives us. But the older they get, the more the
great fear takes over the driving seat rather than the great hope.
Israel were
God’s children. And in the beginning it is the great hope that reigns. God challenges
Abraham that he will be blessed so that he could bless the world. The idea was
that Israel would have a positive influence on everyone that they came in contact
with. And sometimes that is exactly what happens. But as Israel grew older; the
great fear became the great reality. Rather than being the influencers, they
became the influenced.
So, before
they entered the land that God was going to give to them, Moses once more
addresses the great fear. Do not be influenced by the people that you will find
in your new home. Rather, influence the people of the land for the better.
A lot of the
violence that God seems to perpetrate on the people of Canaan – and a lot of
the violence that we wish we could perpetrate on some of the friends of our
children – is because of the great fear has taken root in our personalities. But
in the end, it will be the great hope that will change the world.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 19
Note: The VantagePoint Sermon "Should I Stay or Should I Go" from the series "The Road" is now available on the VantagePoint Website. Craig Traynor is speaking. You can find it here - http://www.vantagepointcc.org/The_Road___Should_I_Stay_ot_Should_I_Go.htm
Note: The VantagePoint Sermon "Should I Stay or Should I Go" from the series "The Road" is now available on the VantagePoint Website. Craig Traynor is speaking. You can find it here - http://www.vantagepointcc.org/The_Road___Should_I_Stay_ot_Should_I_Go.htm
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