Be Holy in All Your Conduct (Part Two)

Parenting

    So far we have learned that holy and holiness mean set apart, sacred, physically pure, and morally blameless. We have also learned that if we are not holy we will not see God (Ephesians 5:5, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). It is a vital attribute that we must be diligently achieving and maintaining.

    As we dig into what it means to be holy in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15), let’s consider our conduct in home life/parenting.

    Be an example of physical purity. Dress and behave with modesty. Don’t flirt with other men. Don’t lust after celebrities you see on screen. Don’t allow TV shows movies/videos containing immodesty (lack of clothing, fornication/adultery, lust, etc.) into your home (Ephesians 5:1-7, Colossians 3:1-5). How about soap operas? They are all kinds of sin wrapped and twisted around a completely unbelievable yet somehow compelling story line; looking forward to them is the same as looking forward to a fresh bit of gossip (consider Psalm 119:37). Exhibit self-control by avoiding harmful things like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or excessive eating (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

    Be morally blameless. Paul wrote to Titus and gave him this instruction: “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” (Titus 2:6-8). Paul gave this instruction to a preacher but what if we, as Christian parents, lived to the same standard? You can and should – it is what God asks of us when He commands, “Be holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

    Being morally blameless does not mean you are consistently perfect, it means that you live in such a way that one cannot find fault in your words or your conduct. You are not hypocritical, you live with honesty and integrity, honouring God’s word by humbly making every effort to obey it.

    It means:

• You put God first and foremost in your life  (1 Peter 4:1-2)

• You read and obey God’s word, because you find council, instruction, and hope there (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

• When you make a mistake/sin, you apologize and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

• You quickly make the necessary changes so you do not repeat the mistake/sin (Psalm 119:59-60).

• When you are concerned, you pray (Philippians 4:6-7, give your worries to God so you can share your courage with others).

• When you are wronged, you forgive and show mercy (Matthew 5:38-45).

• When someone is hurt, you are compassionate (Luke 10:25-37).

• When you are happy, you praise! (Psalms – all of them! Also consider Mary in Luke 1:45ff and Zacharias in Luke 1:68ff) 

     I just recently began reading this book and I feel this excerpt is appropriate for today's study. Please, in light of what we have studied, consider these thoughts from Harriet Martineau's book, Household Education (published 1849):

    "It is a common saying that every child thinks his father the wisest man in the world. This is very natural; as parents are the children's fountains of knowledge. To them their children come for anything they want to know: and by them they are generally satisfied. But every wise parent has occasion to say, now and then-- "I do not know, my dear." The surprise of the child on first hearing that there is anything that his parents do not know fixes the fact in his mind. When he has once discovered that his parents have something more to learn, he becomes aware--and this also ought to be fixed in his mind--that their education is not finished; and that it is their business, as it is his, to learn something more every day, as long as they live. So much for knowledge. The case ought to be as clear to him in regard to goodness. It is not enough that in church he hears that all men and women are sinners; and that in prayers at home he hears his parents pray that they may become more worthy of the goodness of God, and more like the Christ who is set before them. These things may set him thinking; but there will be, or ought to be, more light every day to clear up his ideas. The same parents who honestly own to their child that they are ignorant of things about which he questions them will own to him that they are not nearly so good as they wish to be. Thus the truth opened to the feeblest and smallest mind that education has still to go on, even when people are so inconceivably old as children are apt to think their parents.

    To us, grown up to this mighty age, there can be no doubt on such a point. We know very well that we are all, through the whole range of society, like a set of ignorant and wayward children, compared with what we are made capable of being."   

    Exhibit God’s qualities to your children! Let your children see you serve God each and every day, through trials and triumphs, through mistakes and growth; let them see God’s love, and your love for God! Let your children see and learn from you what it means to be "holy in all your conduct!"

 

"He has shown you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justly, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God...."

(Micah 6:8 NKJV)  

 

You can do it! So can I!!