Recently, my husband and I were driving with four of our grandchildren. While waiting at a particularly long traffic light, Grandma (me) had finally had enough. “Stupid traffic light!” I muttered, none too softly. A while later, we sat at another traffic light. This time I kept my mouth shut. But in the backseat, 2-year-old Nate filled the void, saying, “Stupid traffic light!” He went home knowing a new phrase to say when waiting for traffic lights. (Won’t his mommy and daddy be glad!) He simply heard and repeated what Grandma had said. Grandma has a problem. Grandma spoke out of a grumbling, sinful heart. Imagine for a moment if I had said something like this instead:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “give thanks in all circumstances;” even for long waits at traffic lights, “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Let’s thank Jesus for traffic lights that help keep people safe!
Psalm 118: 24 says, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Let’s sing a song while we wait for the light to change.
Our children, grandchildren, and students are listening. Especially when they are young, they will simply repeat what we say. What will be better for their souls—and our own? To be quick to speak with complaints, frustration, and impatience? Or to speak with the life-giving words of Scripture? In order for the latter to happen, we must be Bible-saturated people who are continually, by the power of the Spirit, being transformed by the Word. We must know the Word and apply the Word to every situation. Here is an important illustration and reminder from Pastor David Michael about raising up the next generation to “drip” Bible.
