Have you ever felt the rush of doing something forbidden?
Last week, I pulled the “do not remove” sticker off my home gym equipment, and it felt awkwardly good.
Thankfully, I was the consumer and not the criminal, so all is well. Lol. (Though I’m pretty sure no one’s ever been arrested for that particular crime!)
OUR OBSESSION WITH THE FORBIDDEN
This obsession with the forbidden goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. God said, “Don’t,” and suddenly they wanted to even more. With a little encouragement from the enemy, they did.
Kids are very similar. Tell a child “NO,” and something in them wants to do it even more. It’s part of our sin nature, and understanding this changes how we parent.
As Christian parents, our goal is to help our kids live according to both truth and wisdom. This requires making decisions for them sometimes (teaching them what to think), while also guiding them in how to make such wise decisions for themselves (teaching them how to think).
But here’s the key: Our children need something far more than just us.
OUR KIDS NEED JESUS
The best way to help our kids choose right over wrong isn’t for them to become better rule-followers, but for them to receive the very nature of Christ himself through salvation.
When we lead our kids to Jesus, we help them for life. Because they haven’t just learned to become good people, but godly followers of the only perfect one.
Their greatest goal becomes not just character, but Christlikeness, which sets them apart from the world around them.
This starts with us. Like “monkey see, monkey do,” our children imitate our actions more than our intentions. If they see us pushing the lines of the forbidden, they’ll likely do the same. But when they see a self-controlled, spirit-filled parent, the long-term impact is powerful.
OUR ONLY HOPE
The gospel changes everything, including how our kids view boundaries. We don’t live under the thumb of the law, but under the motivation of God’s goodness and grace.
Our lives are not shaped by a “have-to” mentality, but by a “get-to” mentality.
So, if your kids have already come to faith, continue pointing them daily to Jesus and the power of the Gospel for life success.
And if your kids haven’t yet come to Jesus personally, remember their greatest need is not a change of behavior, but a changed heart.
And keep directing their focus to the only one who holds the power to do just that—Jesus.
** If you’re naturally a “rule-follower” like me, and really want to see me pulling off that “do not remove” sticker, check out this video. It’s simply satisfying. (You’ll just have to ignore my heavy breathing as I’d just finished a workout :).
