Slow down daddy!

My wife has been at home sick for the past three days. As all of you married guys know, when momma is down the whole house is down. So for the past few days it has been me and my little girl hanging out and riding around town together. My wife thinks I drive too fast and is constantly “reminding” me to slow down. I generally practice the rule of driving with the flow of traffic. This system has served me well, since in my 15 years of driving I have not received a speeding ticket. The funny thing is, my daughter has heard my wife “remind” of the speed limit so many times, she felt it was her job to do while mommy was sick. As I was heading to drop her off at her school, she told me to slow down three times in five minutes. I must admit, this time it brought a smile to my face. While I was not speeding, it was still funny to hear her “reminding” me to slow down.

As we continue on in our journey through Romans, this is our second week of the “Therefore” series. Last week we looked at how our lives should be different because of our theology. Our study of God and relationship with Him should make an impact on how we live. If learning more about Him has not impacted our life, then I would suggest some quiet time to reflect on that relationship some. That relationship was purchased at a very costly price and our lives and actions have to respond to that. Big decisions and little seemingly insignificant decisions should be impacted because of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is the little decisions I want to focus on today.

It was the lesson God taught me through the silly words of my daughter. As silly as I think speed limits are at times, they are still a law set in place by the governing authorities. They are there for our protection and safety and I need to example that to my daughter. While I was not speeding at the time of her “reminders,” I need to teach her that we respect and obey the laws of our country. This is one small thing I can do to show example how a follower of Christ lives in this world.

Another little action we learn this week is nothing new but rather a reminder. Love your neighbor. Too often we get sidetracked by our own lives that we forget those living around us. They have pains and struggles and we are to show them love. I have been convicted lately for reaching my neighbors for Christ. It all begins with building relationships and showing people a love that others do not have. Just doing little things can go along way in reflecting Christ’s love in your community.

The last little thing is the one we have heard since we were young, yet the more people I talk with the more I see that struggle with, daily time with Christ. This world will influence us and it will not be in the direction we want. We must decide that our pursuit of Christ is worth more that the trinkets this world offers. This is tough because the temptations are everywhere and very seldom do they look evil. An hour in front of the TV, time spent on the internet, shopping, movies and the list could go on forever, but they all look rather benign. In reality they are all harmless until they begin to take our time and passion from Christ.

Join me this week as we all try to get the seemingly small and routine parts of our faith back in action. In doing these small things I truly believe we will see lives transformed. It will begin with ours but as we live this out it will make an impact everywhere we go. Maybe, we could all use a three year old “reminding us not to speed!”