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BELIEF BEFORE BEHAVIOR
This is a difficult verse, but it speaks volumes about the priority of heart change over behavioral change. John is telling us that belief is the essential act required before behavior will change. When we believe and are "born of God", the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us and empowers us to live a life that is free of habitual sin. That's not to say that we will never commit individual sins, but that we will not be trapped in a pattern of behavior characterized by long term, blatant sin.
This speaks to our relationship with our kids, too. We should be concentrating our efforts towards a change of heart, rather than just trying to modify their behavior. When your child asks why you have a certain rule for your family that other families don't have, you should be willing to explain it in a way that demonstrates the way your heart for God directs your behavior. It is easy to say, "Because I said so!" but that doesn't engage your child's heart, it just asks for a certain behavior.
Heart change drives behavioral change.
This is a difficult verse, but it speaks volumes about the priority of heart change over behavioral change. John is telling us that belief is the essential act required before behavior will change. When we believe and are "born of God", the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us and empowers us to live a life that is free of habitual sin. That's not to say that we will never commit individual sins, but that we will not be trapped in a pattern of behavior characterized by long term, blatant sin.
This speaks to our relationship with our kids, too. We should be concentrating our efforts towards a change of heart, rather than just trying to modify their behavior. When your child asks why you have a certain rule for your family that other families don't have, you should be willing to explain it in a way that demonstrates the way your heart for God directs your behavior. It is easy to say, "Because I said so!" but that doesn't engage your child's heart, it just asks for a certain behavior.
Heart change drives behavioral change.
Scripture
About this Plan
The purpose of this devotional is to see what God's Word has to say about the parenting challenges every parent faces. Each day includes a passage of Scripture and an application of that passage to the trials and triumphs of leading families to maturity in Christ. The devotionals are created by Parenting by Design, a Fort Worth ministry devoted to teaching parents to lead their children the way God lead His children.
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We would like to thank Parenting by Design for providing their daily devotional. For more information about Parenting by Design, please visit: www.parentingbydesign.com
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