God’s Word is amazing. It is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of the soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). God’s Word applies to all aspects of our lives. This letter is an encouragement to us all to see all of life through the lens of God’s Word.
My wife and I enjoy old television shows. For those of you not familiar with black-and-white television, allow me a few minutes to describe three classic television shows from the 1950s and 60s.
“Leave it to Beaver” was a family classic. It aired for 6 seasons. Each episode focused on a situational dilemma as experienced through the eyes of a young boy, Beaver Cleaver. The show dealt with everyday issues and concerns that somehow always got blown way out of proportion. Pride, envy, greed, and deceit were often topics to exploit. Sometimes these traits were lived out by the children, other times by the adults. One of the things I find refreshing about this show is the way Beaver’s father, Ward Cleaver, always took responsibility for leading his family. He did not abdicate his children’s upbringing to others. Ward presented himself as calm and concise when giving instruction. He was consistent and timely when issuing discipline. He was humble and loving when offering forgiveness. The writers of this secular TV show knew how a father was supposed to lead his family. The writers of the Bible did as well…“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). For those of us who are dads, my encouragement is for us to get into the game. Do not shirk our God-appointed responsibility to lead our families. Love our children by raising them to know and love the Lord. Encourage, discipline, instruct, and forgive our families as Christ has done for us. In other words… Lead with love. Love by leading.
“Gunsmoke” was a Western drama set in the 1880s. The lead character was U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon. He protected and served the people of Dodge City, Kansas. Matt was a bigger-than-life character with a soft heart for the people of his city. He was fast with a gun but preferred not to use it. He dealt with all kinds of evil, all the while searching for the best in people. He upheld the laws of the land but administered justice with grace and mercy to those who were willing to admit their failures. The show aired for 20 seasons. I think the show resonated with so many people because they saw in Matt Dillon a true leader. Without mentioning the Bible, the writers of this show portrayed traits in Matt Dillon that make up godly leaders. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). For those of us who are looking to lead our families, learn to humbly count others more important than ourselves. Love and serve others because Jesus first loved us. Administer justice when necessary, but extend grace when it leads others to the Lord. Lead with a soft heart.
“Perry Mason” was a “scandalous” nighttime drama in which a California lawyer solved crimes. The series produced 271 episodes, airing over nine seasons. This show highlights the truth, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The sins of people in the 1950s and 60s were no different than the sins of people today. The show contained all the implied vices of the world, without showing them on screen. In each episode the main character, Perry Mason, defended the vulnerable while coercing the guilty to confess their crimes in a court of law. Perry’s clients always seemed guilty to the rest of the world, but Perry’s superhuman skill was the ability to discern truth. Perry knew truth based upon his beliefs, not based upon interpretation of other people’s evidence. The Bible tells a similar story. “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible equips us, as followers of Jesus, with superhuman abilities to discern truth from fiction, relevance from minutia, and priorities from chaos. With the Bible as our guide, we have the ability to discern truth, regardless of worldly interpretations. Lead with the Word of God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, my encouragement to you is to see the world through a God vision lens. Use His word to correctly discern truth from lies. Lead your families with love and humility. Learn to see God in all situations…even if they are presented in black and white.