THE GOOD FIGHT (3): BEHIND ENEMY LINES
When we look back on our lives we have good memories and we have bad memories.
In
everything we do, all day long, we are in the process of creating
good memories or bad ones.
TENSION:
Someday we will live outside of our parents’ home, and we will remember the time we spent there. Our memories will either be good or bad.
The
way we live while we are under our parents’ roof will determine the
remaining 75 percent of our life. Will it be a springboard to bigger
and better things, or will it be an obstacle we have to work to
overcome?
TRUTH:
2 Samuel 13-15; 18
David’s
oldest son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar. Absalom, Tamar’s
brother, murdered Amnon and escaped from the city. Absalom then
rallied support and returned to the city to challenge his father for
kingship.
Even though Absalom murdered his brother and was coming after David with an army, David pleaded for his soldiers to spare Absalom. David did not want any harm to come to his son. When an accident occurred and Absalom died, David mourned for his son.
APPLICATION:
You have tremendous power over the heart of your parents. What are you going to do with that power?
Your relationship with your parents is partly up to you. You will choose to honor or not honor your parents, and you will see the effects of your choice.
LANDING:
What do you need to do to take the initiative in a relationship with your parents?
What are their interests, and how can you share in things that are special to them? What are the things that are holding you back from pursuing relationship with your parents?
Bottom Line: I have an important role to play in my relationship with my parents.