It has been over two years since a young man made the following statement to me about the way he and his wife were raising their children. He said, “We have changed our minds about some things we have restricted our children from doing. We just feel some of the things we didn’t let them do isn’t the way we want to raise them.” This is someone I was really close to, and I was greatly disturbed by his statement because I know the reason this dad relented. He wanted his children to be popular.
Sadly, I see this among the children of my friends. They are abandoning the old ways for the new and improved way of raising children. They have decided that in the restrictions placed on them were unnecessary and terribly unfair. Punishment is unnecessary. Rules are made to be broken. So, they abandon the old ways and allow the devil to draw them into the new and more modern way of looking at life.
They are not the first to travel this road. When the prophet Jeremiah wrote of the destruction of Jerusalem, he faced this same problem. He said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’” (Jeremiah 6:16 ESV). He gave them clear commands that would save them from destruction, and they refused to obey. Jeremiah says that they were “stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly” (Jeremiah 6:28).
After Stephen was stoned, the believers were scattered because of persecution. One of the places they went was to Antioch. There they proclaimed the gospel to Jews who responded. The church in Jerusalem heard the wonderful news, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Luke reports in Acts 11 that when Barnabas arrived, he saw the wonderful things that were happening there. Barnabas encouraged them to remain faithful with “steadfast purpose.” This is where the believers were first called Christians.
The idea of steadfast purpose means a firm, intentional action. One does not serve God accidentally. We can see this in our instructions from Paul about giving. The King James Version of Second Corinthians 9:7 says every man is to give “according as he purposeth in his heart.” He can’t just reach in his pocket and pull out a five-dollar bill and put it in the collection. He is to purpose to give a certain amount. The English Standard Version says “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart.” The heart is what makes it purposeful giving.
In Romans 12, Paul gives a list of marks of a true Christian. When we look at the list, it is obvious that everything is to be done with a purpose. “Let love be genuine, Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Never avenge yourselves. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Each of the commands in Romans 12 has to be purposed. They are not automatic to our nature as human beings. We might abhor evil, but how easy is it to show genuine love to everyone? We all love to be honored, but how easy is it to show honor to others without resentment? Can we say we bless our enemies, those that persecute us? How good are we at returning good for evil? All of the things listed in Paul’s letter are commands, and they must be done with purpose.
My friend made a decision to challenge the old paths. He decided to alter the course of his family by relenting on his demands and expectations for his children. God’s commandments have not changed, but this young man’s expectations have. Paul said, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (First Corinthians 15:58).
If we want to go to heaven, we have to obey God’s instructions. We have to be steadfast in our decisions. We have to serve God with purpose.
Sandra Oliver