Parents, God is Not the On*Star Button

It is impossible for you to try to raise your children in a godly manner.

You can’t do it, but Christ in you – the hope of glory – can (Col. 1:27). Too often, parents attempt to raise their children with godly intentions minus the godly interventions. Instead of relying on our own strengths, we need to learn to abide in Christ.

Presently, many cars come with On-Star capabilities. When in trouble, the driver can push a button, and help comes to him. Once the crisis is averted, the driver dismisses the On-Star helpers and goes about on his own for the rest of the journey.

Many parents approach life the same way. When crisis hits, they hit their knees and beg for divine intervention. Once God helps them out of the situation, they see little use for him anymore. This approach is worse than shameful, it is ignorant. If we think we can make it one step without God, we really don’t comprehend who we are dealing with here.

As Jesus was sharing his final words before the cross with his disciples, he taught the disciples to abide in him, or to remain in him. “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me” (John 15:4-5).

The On-Star approach won’t work. We must be constantly connected to Christ in our daily efforts in order to succeed. Apart from the source of our life, we are unable to do anything.

Jesus also stated, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). In this verse, Jesus reveals our need for prayer and Scripture if we truly want to abide. To remain in Christ means to have constant connection with him. We can abide with Christ when we stop seeing our relationship boiled down to a few rushed minutes in the morning. Abiding is praying without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).

Abiding is also allowing God’s Word abide in us. This type is more than mere biblical knowledge, it is the application of that knowledge (James 1:22). It is allowing God’s Word to transform how we think (Rom. 12:2). Associating with Christ reads his words sporadically. Abiding with Christ memorizes his words so they are near the believer all day long (Ps. 119:9-11).

If you want to succeed at anything you do in life, you must abide. By relying on prayer and the Word, you find yourself constantly going to Christ for his strength and his answers to your situations.

1 thought on “Parents, God is Not the On*Star Button”

  1. Doing a Road Trip series this summer. I was looking for an OnStar graphic to put on the screen while I gave my opening illistration for this weeks message and came across you blog. Most of my ministry is marriage and family so you blog post was a great find. Lines up what what I have been telling parents for years. Good stuff.

    Bard Letsinger
    Lead Pastor, Renegade Church

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