“Consistency is Key”— This phrase may be short, but it’s tremendously important and one we’ve all probably heard and maybe even said. As a parent and a teacher, I’ve seen first hand just how true it is; and as a born again believer, even more so. Consistency truly is a crucial key.
When considering the challenges of being a parent, it’s often not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of consistency that causes the most long-term issues. As parents, we tend to say one thing to our children but then do another. Or we see an area that needs improvement in their lives and then introduce a new pattern to help hold them accountable, only to find ourselves not sticking with it for very long.
Although there is an endless depth to our Creator and Savior, and although He works in ways that are far above our own, one thing can be said with certainty. The Lord’s consistency is just that, consistent. He is consistently faithful. He is consistently loving. He is consistently just. He is consistently full of mercy and grace. He is consistently true. And praise God for that! How difficult would it be to try to understand and know, let alone serve and follow, an inconsistent King?
Fellowship with the Lord— One of our major roles as Christian parents is to carefully, correctly, and consistently point our children to the true and living God and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. To do this well, we need to be consistently in the Word, continuously praying on our heart’s knees, keeping fellowship with other believers, and consistently keeping our eyes on Jesus as He daily directs our steps. We also desperately need a love for the truth of God’s Word and Godly discernment to help our children see both the truth of God and the lies of the devil. God’s Word is crystal clear. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” 2 Corinthians 2:11. Lest we forget, an important part of holding to the truth of God’s Word is not being ignorant of the enemy’s lies.
Shining the Truth— We cannot change the hearts and minds of our children, at least not in relation to the eternal and permanent sanctification spoken of by the Lord in the Scriptures. Jesus’ prayer to His Heavenly Father, “Sanctify them by Your Word. Your word is truth” John 17:17. And we should be elated that we can’t! We can, however, set up consistent patterns that will help direct the next generation to the only One who can.
It is true that we will all make mistakes and struggle maintaining steadfast, Godly patterns of obedience. That is why we must first take seriously our own responsibility to personally and daily abide in Christ. (John 15:1-5) From there we must seek to demonstrate clear and consistent devotion to the only One who could justly redeem us from our sin. If we are to shine the light of Christ to help illumine our children’s steps, we must seek to shine with consistency.
No fellowship with the works of darkness— As a child, growing up in an unbelieving home, I can remember always looking forward to Halloween. I never turned down the chance to dress in ghoulish garb, embracing all things macobre. One year I even won a community award for wearing the most gross costume. Even at a very young age, I knew quite well what Halloween represented. While some may not understand the depth of occultism involved, the world readily recognizes the generalized celebration of death and darkness we call Halloween. During the month of October, millions of homes, stores, restaurants, and schools all across the world morph into a cauldron of darkness, fear, and death.
Confusion or Consistency— As mentioned before, born again believers should desire to be clear and consistent in all we say and do, both for our own growth and the spiritual growth of our children. Being consistent in our daily walk with Jesus not only involves the things we do, but also the things we choose not to do. Arguably, one such activity that continues to cause tremendous confusion is Halloween. How utterly confusing it must be for children to be told on Sundays and Wednesdays that sin brought death, Satan is a liar and a murderer, and that we should avoid corruption, deception, and witchcraft, only to then be turned around to celebrate the most dark and deceptive night of the year! Even if we dress our children as angels, they are annually being led from scary house to scarier house and for what purpose? An overflowing bucket of candy? Let’s celebrate all thing wicked for a bucket of candy. What a confusing and deceptive message indeed!
Unlike the deceptive inconsistency found in the human heart, God’s Word is clear, shining bright on the issue of embracing/fellowshipping with the darkness. During the Halloween season, and throughout each year, may we choose to carefully and humbly examine our own hearts and minds, desiring to shine God’s truth and love with complete consistency, both for the sake of our own walk and the footsteps of our children!
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8
“Of old have You laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They shall perish, but You shall endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt You change them, and they shall be changed: but You are the same, and Your years shall have no end. The children of Your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before You.” Psalm 102:25-28
“For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:8-11
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