Building Traditions

Holiness

Have you ever been in a situation where you think, “There’s no holiness in me whatsoever!”  At that time you are evaluating a thought or action you had.

In reality you were right- there is no holiness in you whatsoever.  Any holiness you or I have is the holiness given to us in Christ Jesus.

So when you think of all that Scripture requires of you:

1. submit to your husband
2. train your children
3. love your enemy
4. flee from evil
5. do not gossip

and many more, you can respond in holiness because of the power of the Gospel.

1 Peter 1:15  “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.

Creation

Help your children understand that everything that they know, believe or argue springs from what they believe about creation.

Consider God’s place in creation today.  Did God simply make things, set them loose and expect them to progress randomly?  Did God create everything, then withdraw His hand and allow things to spin their own way?  Or is He actively involved today in how His creation is used?

Consider music as an example.  If God is sovereignly involved today why do people enjoy different styles of music?  How do I know which style gives Him glory?  Where do I get the ability to perform or appreciate music?  Why is not everyone’s appreciation the same?  (Compare this to the variety in flowers.)

At every point of our lives and in every study we are best served if we believe the Genesis account of creation.  Together, let’s work at learning how to understand the study of creation as the foundation of all learning.

Discipline

As your children get older they are probably concerned about disciplining themselves.  This is a good time to begin telling them about your own struggles – especially struggles with time, money and food.  Also, at this time you can establish ways to help one another and to hold one another accountable. (I’m NOT suggesting that you share all of your sins from any stage of your life.  In my opinion this never needs to be done.)

As you share together how God is building you to be more like Himself, habits can be developed that endure a lifetime.

For example:  If too much time is spent watching TV, playing games or daydreaming, you can work together on a specific schedule and take time to hold your child to that schedule.  Of course, this task will be easier if the child understands that all time is a gift from God and that God gives us gifts for us to give back to Him for His pleasure and delight.

Traditions

I had to reach old age before I realized that traditions can be good.  While traditions must be evaluated to see if they are still worthwhile, they can still serve a purpose of bringing identity to a situation.

We easily understand how music in worship services has become traditional.  So many Scripture verses connect music and worship that we see the tradition as an act of obedience to a holy God.

Not all traditions are as easy to link to purpose, yet they may hold clear purpose for your family.  Think about the traditions you are establishing for your own family.  Enjoy them realizing that as time passes, these traditions may need to change.

Maybe you have or want to begin to build a tradition around something that is very important to you.  For example:

If prayer is very important to you, you may want to add to your tradition of praying before each meal and praying with each child at bedtime a special type of prayer at each holiday.

1. At Thanksgiving – everyone going around the table with a thank-you to God.
2. At Christmas – reciting a poem prayer in unison or reading prayers from Scripture, always adding personal, heart-felt prayer.
3. At Easter – singing a praise-prayer together, then holding hands for a prayer of rejoicing.

Traditions can also be built around Scripture reading or Christian service.  Examine your traditions and enjoy those that have a purpose for your family.

Love –One for another

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  John 13:34-35

An interesting thought that came to me as I have been reading Sam Storm’s book, The Hope of Glory (birthday gift from Dave and Beth) is that as we receive that gift of salvation God plants His love into us.  As we grow in that love for Him and consequently for one another, God shows Himself to the world through us.

With this thought sibling rivalry has just jumped to a whole new level.  Consider this:  Your family is in a public place.  In that place they have opportunity to show Christian love to one another and God promises that “by this all will know that you are MY disciples.”