I’ve always admired people in church who have never had the desire to leave. I wish I could say I was one of them. You always hear about children who go to church because their parents make them, but nobody ever talks about the parents who stay for their children.
I grew up in church all my life until I was eighteen. I went back here and there through the years until I was thirty-one—when my second daughter was born. I knew I wanted her to grow up in church, so I came back.
My life has been more down than up since then. There have been many times when I wanted to give up and just do my own thing, but I wanted my kids to have the best chance of being saved; so I stayed in church for them. Children are always told they can’t ride on the coattails of their parents’ faith, but no one ever tells the parents they have to get it for themselves also.
Since becoming a single mom, my kids and I have never lacked for anything. God has truly provided all our needs. But I can’t keep the faith and fall in love with Jesus based on what He can provide. I must love him for who He is. It would be like a wife loving her husband as long as he meets her needs but walking out as soon as he becomes disabled or unemployed. She has to love him for who he is as a person.
To love God can mean: obeying His commands, believing His word, thanking Him for His gifts, and trusting Him with our future. Matthew 22:37-38 says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
But why should we love God? First and foremost, because He died for our sins! If your parent or spouse loved you enough to die in your place, wouldn’t you love them for their great sacrifice? Wouldn’t you want to live the rest of your life to honor them?
Some others reasons to love God are: He does not reject or condemn us, He forgives us, He hears and answers our prayers, He provides for and protects us, and He promises His children eternal life. One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Not everything that happens to us will be good, but God can work it for our good if we love Him.
Apostolic Momma 