My neighbour shared with me how once you own a water filter and taste the water that comes from it for a while, you will be discerning to when a restaurant serves you tap water. You can pick out the Chlorine right away because you are so used to distilled water.
The bible tells us to taste and see that the LORD is good. As parents, it is our duty to help our kids to taste Him and to see Him. It is when they do so that they can then discern, when a decision lies ahead of them, what is the right and good decision to make.
When I was younger, although I grew up with loving and strict parents, my understanding of the word was different then. I knew Jesus but I didn’t know Him either. I read about Him, I experienced Him but due to wrong believing, there were aspects of Him I didn’t fully have revelation for. This led me to making a series of wrong decisions that brought about much hurt to both me and people that mattered to me. I also applied the wrong values to how I lived life- although I tried very hard to live by the right values, I couldn’t do so because I was depending on my strength, my will, my own goodness, my own works… I couldn’t break out of old temptations and my bad habits. I felt so condemned and trapped by the vicious cycle of bad decision making.
When I tasted and saw how good Jesus really is, that was when my life turned around. It is a process but very importantly, certain things that had a hold over me, I was able to begin to let go because He became that strength I needed to do so.
Once the ‘kingdom filter’ (as Tim Kimmel puts it) was on, it made a huge difference to the way things are prioritised in my life. How will this glorify Jesus over how will this benefit me monetarily? What is truly needful for my kids’ spiritually and what is good success over how kiasu must I be to make my kids succeed?
The process of letting go, of changing is ongoing but with this filter, I am able to better assess the decisions before me and make the choice that gives Him glory.
Amen thank you