The
Holy Spirit had been dealing with Way (his nickname) about sharing the love of
God with his son. They went to church
and participated in bible class, etc. but it was time to have a man-talk about
God. They finished their meal and still had
an hour before the movie arrived so they sat outside the theatre, which was in
walking distance of The Habit, and decided to do some “people watching”, one of
their favorite past times. They both
heard a father going off on his son about having to buy shoes for the third
time this year and then the conversation ended because they got in the car and
drove away. Jordan looked at his dad
with tears in his eyes and said, “Dad, I know that dude, he’s in my Spanish
class and sometimes he comes to school bruised up. I feel sorry for so many of my friends
because they don’t have good role models like you and mom. I don’t say it often
but I really appreciate you and mom because you have never treated me like
that. I love you.” Way couldn’t help it, the tears streamed down
his face and he hugged his son right there on that bench in front of the whole
world. He didn’t care that people could
see him crying and embracing his son.
After about 20 seconds, Jordan said in a muffled voice: “Dad, you’re squeezing
me so tight I can hardly breathe.” Way
quickly released him, apologized, wiped his tears with the back of his hand and
then began to share the love of God with his son in way that only the Holy
Spirit could inspire. He began as
follows:
“Jordan,
everything costs something. It cost
something to make those Jordans, to buy them, to eat hamburgers, fries and
chocolate shake, to drive that Hummer, to be a husband, father, dope dealer,
scholar, preacher, sinner, lazy bum. It
doesn’t matter, everything has a price.
Some things cost more than others.
We could have gone to Payless Shoes, but we would have been right back
there a week later. I chose to take you
to the best store in the area because I prefer quality over quantity but
primarily because you deserve the best.
Just as I am your father and want the very best for you, so does God,
your heavenly father. He gave his very
best for us because loves us unconditionally.
You
can’t buy his love, rent it or put it on a card, he gives it freely. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God
sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world
through him. John 3:16-17 (NLT)
God
Shows His Love Through Discipline: When a believer falls, deliberately runs
or walks into sin God shows His love by disciplining them. For the
Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts
(Hebrews
12:6).
When
a parent loves their child(ren) they loving thing to do is to discipline them,
not to ignore it. While the child(ren)
doesn’t understand at the time, the parent is setting boundaries that will be helpful
throughout life. There is a huge
difference in abuse, which is ungodly, sinful and shameful and loving
discipline, they are like night and day.
For example, when you were a toddler, it would have been irresponsible
for us to allow you to touch a hot stove, instead we warned you by pointing to
it and saying ‘No, No, hot’ and consequently you never burned your hand. You would have learned on your own that it
was hot by burning yourself, but we loved you enough to warn and protect
you. God loves us enough to warn and
protect us, but if we ignore His warnings and go against His will, it will “cost
us something.”
Do
you remember earlier today when dude in the Hyundai cut me off? I could have easily rammed the back of that
bucket, crushed it like a tin can, gave him ‘the bird’, drove alongside him and
cussed him out and made him feel like a fake dollar three dollar bill, but at
what cost? Being sued for tearing up is
car, possibly causing serious injuries to him or even death, him shooting at me
or following me. Your pops ain’t no punk, don’t get me wrong; but what would be
the point? Is it worth it to jeopardize
everything I have worked for, the people I love, my relationship God and my
witness just to ‘show people how much of a man I am?’ Son, it doesn’t take a lot of brains, self-control
or integrity to act like an idiot. I
would much rather show you through my actions what type of man I am than to
posture with another man because of testosterone, ego or pride. The flip side is that what would I look like
cussing somebody out and take the chance of somebody posting it on social media
or dude ironically show up at my Men Teaching Men’s group or worship service. I would shame myself but most of all God and
with my ‘luck’ that’s probably the type of punishment I would get because I
know better.” They both had a belly
laugh at the possibility and then Way continued:
In
His Eternal Love
Tan
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