Ultimate Ride: It Doesn’t Take Much To Be Happy!
Today we continue our series, The Ultimate Ride: Transforming Your Life and Family. Last week we talked about how to transform your family the wrong way. The week before, we talked about leaving a legacy that will have a generational impact.
Today, our study will actually be quite simple. As we went through the sermon last week, we looked at numerous mistakes that we make in trying to do the “right thing” in our families. We take on the world’s idea of raising a family, the world’s idea on how to live, and we saw the tragic consequences that come from such decisions. I told you that we needed to look at the wrong way to do things before we start talking about the importance of doing things the right way.
Well today, we start talking about the right way to do things. And, the wonderful thing is, that it’s not that hard! It’s actually quite simple. Isn’t that fantastic? Isn’t that a relief that it really isn’t that hard to do the right thing?
Deut. 6:1 “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, 2 that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—“a land flowing with milk and honey.’
There, in fairly simple terms, are the very things that we should do. The right things to do. Starting in verse 2: Fear the Lord, keep his statutes, hear His words, observe them…and He will reward us!
Sounds fairly simple. Not too much there! All we need do is to follow this simple passage and all will be well. Of course, the next question is…don’t we need to know His statutes and His commandments? Sure, but isn’t that why you’re in church? Isn’t that why you’ve chosen to come to this place, to get involved in a Sunday School class, to get involved in ministry? So that we know what it is God wants to teach us.
The great thing is that transforming our lives for God is really not that hard and today I want to share with you just a few things you need to know in order to start the process. To illustrate the point, today I want to bring out a special car to assist me.
The Volkswagen Bug! One of the simplest cars ever built. A car that basically has remained the same from the very first day it was built. Why? Because sometimes it is far easier to do the simple things because they just simply work!
That is so true in the lives of our families! Keep it simple because it works. Do the simple things and God will honor it. It doesn’t take much to have a happy home!
Simple things…the little things make such a difference. Notice a few situations in Scripture where this is proven:
1. A Little Faith Can Move Mountains!
Matt. 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
2. A Little Sin Can Do Great Damage!
1Cor. 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
3. A Little Town Would Produce The Savior of the World!
Mic. 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
THE LITTLE THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
1. BE REAL!
Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
This is a theme that we’ve talked about over and over again. We don’t need to try to be something we’re not! We need to make sure we are transparent in our homes, transparent in our lives.
… I can do this accurately because it is true of me also:
1. You’re not as smart as you think you are!
2. You’re not as ignorant as you think you are!
3. You’re not as important to the world as you think you are!
4. You’re not as insignificant to God as you may think you are!
5. …BUT your kids think you hung the moon!
6. …AND they love it when you are simply “You!”
So,
Laugh at yourself! Laugh with your kids! Laugh with your kids as that laugh at you! Learn from your family. Love them unconditionally. Forgive when forgiveness is needed. Discipline only when discipline is required.
You see people will always be able to see if you’re real. If you’re passionate about your walk with Christ, people will know, your family will know. If it is simply something you do out of necessity or guilt, they’ll know that as well. We must be real in our lives.
Phil. 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
This thing called life is not a DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO life. It must be a FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST life. And what that life must look like is found in the previous chapter:
Phil. 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
2. BE HONEST!
Job 31:6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity.
Prov. 12:17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
Prov. 14:5 A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.
Prov. 14:25 A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
Prov. 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.
3. BE PREPARED
I’m not saying that we must have all the answers. Who does?! It is OK to say that “I don’t have all the answers.” Your children will not disrespect you if you say that you don’t know. It is OK!
Simply respond to them that IF you don’t have all the answers, you will always respond by hitting your knees and show them how to take those questions to the one who does indeed have all the answers – our all-knowing, loving, gracious God!
What I am saying is that you can teach your child a very, very important life-lesson when you react to their spiritual question with, “Well, I don’t know. I’ve never thought about that before. But, hey, I’ve got an idea – let’s go find out the answer together!!”
Now, the ultimate goal is for you to grow spiritually stronger every day, but even the Bible says that you don’t have get save then immediately be a theologian. See I Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
As little babies desire milk, you too desire the pure (or simple) milk of the Word of God. If you do this daily, THIS is what will produce spiritual maturity that will someday allow you to fulfill:
I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
This is the goal, but this will come in time. And it will come in time if you continue to pursue the pure milk of the word. But folks, sometimes the most wisest of answers is “I don’t know.”
“How did God actually, logistically create something from nothing?”
Best answer: “I don’t know how He did it, but I do know about HIM…his heart…his power…and His character…and, therefore, I can trust HIM. And, don’t worry, someday when I see Him, I will ask Him if He’ll give us a lecture on how He pulled that off!”
You see, you don’t have to know everything, but you can focus on knowing and loving the heart of God with all your heart, soul, and mind!
4. BE COMMITTED!
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
I Timothy 4:12-13 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Be commited to the Word of God. Be committed to raising your family in service to God! Be commited to learning more about Him every day! This is how to transform your family in the right way.
5. BE CONNECTED!
Jer. 31:1 “At the same time,” says the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” 2 Thus says the LORD: “The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness—Israel, when I went to give him rest.” 3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. 4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt,
Be connected to God! Know that He is the source of our lives, the source of our strength, the only source for what we truly need in life.
Mark 10:27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Today, I started this message with the simple truth that transforming your life and family is really not that hard. And I end today with that same simple truth. It’s not that hard…it’s really quite easy. Easy because we see that in Christ, all things are possible. We know we can’t do it, only God can! So we must resign ourselves to the fact that without God we are nothing, with Him, we are everything!
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
