“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” —Robert Fulghum
I recently heard John Guest speak on being the spiritual leader of your home. It was a great talk. My favorite part was when he talked about the importance of people’s homes. He told stories of how he has been blessed to have spent a lot of time in the homes of Christian families. During the time he would spend in their homes, he would observe and absorb how other Christian families lived. It had a profound impact on the way he would live his life and one day lead his family.
Question #1: Whose home have you spent time in that has impacted the way you live? Have those examples had a positive or a negative impact on your life?
As I look back on my life, I can see a HUGE difference in the example I saw in homes that I was in before I was living for God compared to the examples I get to see in homes now that I am living for God.
The question isn’t, “Am I becoming like the people I am doing life with?” The question is, “What kind of life am I building based on the the people I am doing life with right now? Remember, more is caught than taught. You are becoming like the examples you surround yourself with.
John said that one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is great examples of Godly men and women to look up to. It’s also one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves.
Question #2: What kind of example are you setting for others by the way you live your life?
Most people never think of the impact they are making on others just by allowing them into their lives. If they did, I believe they would live differently.
John talked about turning your home into a church. In other words, viewing your home as a place for people to come to an experience what living for God is all about. What if we viewed our lives through this lens? What if we realized that our lives are examples for the way others should live their lives, for good or bad.
The question isn’t, “are you an example?” The question is, “What kind of example are you going to be?”
Being an example is a big responsibility, but it is a responsibility you don’t have a choice in taking on. By you’re example you’re either making the world a better place or a worse one. The choice is yours. Choose wisely.
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