ing and that the pleasures of the
flesh, although enjoyable for the
moment, are not long lasting.
The sinful nature that gives in to
“seconds of happiness” is not the
long term solution to true happiness. True and eternal rewards
are the result of walking in the
spirit, not fulfilling the lust of the
flesh and living a principled life.
The same goes with all of the
rest in that passage. The character of “flesh” is as Isaiah referred
to as, “filthy rags” – we are sinners by nature. We must make it
clear that everyone goes through
temptations, but God will not
bring us to temptations that we
can’t handle, and He will always
show us a way out (1Corinthians
10:13). We must reinforce and
let our children know that what
they’re experiencing or feeling is
not uncommon to the “flesh” and
has been going on for all generations since the beginning of time.
Our responsibility involves our
showing and leading by example.
When we do, they will eventually
see and view the characteristic
beauty of spiritual fruit, which is
inherently available for those of
faith, provided by God’s grace...
through our works and belief
system.
ing television. She looked at her
older brother, whom she loved
so much, and asked, “Can you
go and pick up a pizza and soda.
Mommy and daddy are sleeping,
they won’t know. Please?”
The young man had come home,
meeting his curfew, but gave in
to his little sister. He went out on
a mission for the pizza and soda.
The pizza store was within walking distance from his home,
but he opted to take his car.
The sister never saw him alive
again. He was killed on the way
home—from picking up the pizza
and soda—by a drunk driver
who went through a red light and
killed him instantly. The driver
wasn’t hurt and walked away
without a scratch. This person
was an alcoholic who was driving with a suspended license at
the time.
that can come from engaging in
the “self-gratification” of fleshly
acts. And, she frequently uses
the passages in Galatians in
order to drive home her points.
Her testimony is heart-wrenching but, is also a prime example of how sharing can lead to
teaching and being an example
to others.
There may not be an exact right
or wrong way to speak to your
children, but it should always
be bible-based and from the
heart. We can only provide and
lead them to the “narrow path”
and pray for fulfillment in their
lives through God’s grace and
love. The examples we set from
the moment they take their first
breath, is crucial to their overall development-- emotionally,
physically, and spiritually. It is
every parent’s hope, that before
they’re ready to be called home,
The younger sister was beyond their job as provider, mother or
devastated, and for years blamed father, is complete and well done
herself. The parents tried every- in accordance to God’s will and
thing they could to make her purpose. Amen.
realize it was an accident, and
that the drunken person was at “19 When you follow the desires
fault, not her. My friend and her of your sinful nature, the results
husband were filled with a very are very clear: sexual immoralstrong faith; they even forgave ity, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20
the person who killed their young idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarand kind son. A young man’s life reling, jealousy, outbursts of
We also can tell of circumstances was snuffed out, a young man anger, selfish ambition, dissenwhere being led by the flesh can who, having just graduated high sion, division, 21 envy, drunkcause hardship and heartache. school, was filled with dreams enness, wild parties, and other
Sometimes, true life stories can and set to take on the world.
sins like these. Let me tell you
be harsh, but can provide a lastagain, as I have before, that
ing and indelible mark in their The young lady eventually, anyone living that sort of life will
young fertile minds.
through the grace of God, for- not inherit the Kingdom of God.
gave herself. She is now a (Galatians 5:19-21 NLT)
Some years back a good friend’s devoted advocate for teenagchild was killed by a drunken ers teaching them to avoid alco- C D SWANSON, is an author of
driver. Her son, 18 years old at hol as she shares her story with nineteen books, and contributes
the time, came home one Sat- them. She teaches them straight to various online magazines,
urday night to find his younger from the Bible, about the sinful blogs and websites.
sister in the living room watch- nature, and the circumstances