"Do you see that beautiful sunset?"
"God designed you to display His beauty just like that sunset."
"Are you reflecting God's goodness and beauty?"
We all have the option to live as God's beautiful, chosen children. We have the option to choose healing, redemption, and restoration.
So often I choose a different path.
As I sat last night watching my children "perform" with a sunset ocean-filled background I am not sure which was more captivating. But the performance didn't end in beauty and applause rather it climaxed in screaming and pushing. As I grabbed hold of the beautiful landscape and our loving, gracious God my parenting took a turn.
I had spent much of my day wrestling with big "hot topics" which satan has been hard at work using to divide God's people. What does it mean to embrace both the people in our lives and God's living Word?
We have been having intense parenting moments a lot lately. My daughter took delight in throwing them back at me in the aftermath of my correction. I had labeled her actions as greedy just hours before. As she started her defense of her less than beautiful moments God revealed to me the compassion of speaking Truth.
What if I had chosen to never speak of greed? What if I had chosen to do with less so my child could have all she wanted? What if I chose to support her demands of more and more and more? What if I let her believe by my silence that God had designed her for greed rather than generosity?
Suddenly my "hot topic" battles of the day seemed less discouraging. I know God designed each one of us to display His glory just like the sunset backdrop. I cannot love His people without sharing His Truth. To sacrifice Truth under the guise of loving people is the pursuit of idolatry not God. I want to love others enough to be willing to openly share God's design for their life -- a life that holds the potential for all the beauty of majestic ocean sunsets. I am so thankful to serve a God who is transforming me, my children, our family and community with His goodness. He is not a god who says, "Live any way you please." He is a God who designed us to thrive on embracing and living into His Truth - Truth which sets us free.
