Remember you're individually accountable to God.
| posted 1/30/2009
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Family patterns can have a huge impact on you. Either they fit you as comfortable as old bedroom slippers, or they irritate you like burrs stuck between your toes. In matters of faith, it's tempting to credit (or blame) your parents, whatever your current conditions.
That won't wash, according to Ezekiel. He makes startling statements about individual responsibility before God. Chapter 18 describes several situations: a godly parent whose child does not follow God; a sinful parent whose child turns to God. The chapter goes on to describe changes within a single person: an evil person who turns to God; a good person who turns to sin. This emphasizes that you are capable of breaking out of family molds. You are even capable of breaking your own molds. But God holds you individually accountable for what you do.
Twentysomethings are flying their own wings of independence. You can hope that they follow what you did right and avoid what you did wrong. While family members do indeed suffer for each other's wrongdoings, when it comes to your relationship with God, he looks at your individual faith—or lack of it. (See also Ecclesiastes 11:1-12; Amos 5:6-27; Matthew 14:24-33; 1 Timothy 4:6-16.)
Good Words to Remember:
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. Ezekiel 18:20
Today's Challenge:
Have you conveyed to your child that his or her faith decision is personal?
Copyright 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
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