My son is studying for a BSc Information Technology degree. I don’t actually see him studying though, so he might be doing it asleep. And I can’t say too much about it, because I didn’t quite like studying myself. 

Sometimes it’s a shock to see myself in our children. By nature, I’m someone who constantly tests and pushes the boundaries. One of our daughters is also not afraid of pushing boundaries. She wants to be at the forefront, trying out new things and ideas. 

Our other daughter works her fingers to the bone. She gives it all she has and works as if the business were her own. She does not shy away from any challenge. She will keep on trying until the problem is solved. And wherever I worked, I did the same. 

It has something to do with genes for sure, but there is more. Children watch you closely and when they are in similar situations, they do what you would’ve done. Especially when they’re unsure, they will fall back on their parents’ default. 

This makes you realise the weight of the responsibility to raise children, because most of the time they follow your lead. Yes, they have their own minds and will decide for themselves what to do, but they will definitely try your way of doing things too. 

I suspect the stronger the relationship, the more they will follow you. 

This is exactly what we should do. Actually, it’s a command: 21This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. 

As children follow parents, we who are Christians must follow Christ. The name really says it all: we get the title Christian if we’re followers of Christ. If you are a Christian and want to live up to the title, you do as Jesus does. 

But how can we follow Jesus if we don’t know where He is? How can we do what Jesus did if we don’t know how He did it? How can Jesus walk in front of us if we don’t have a relationship with Him? 

That’s why it is so important that we discover as much about Jesus and His way of living as possible. And where else, I might say, than in the biography, or actually autobiography, of His life: The Bible. 

I call it autobiography because it’s inspired by the Holy Spirit, and together with God they form the Triune God. It is here, in God’s Word, where we get to know Jesus, where a relationship develops, and where we learn how to follow Jesus. 

You see, following Jesus is a lifelong journey. A trip where tonight we don’t decide we will show up on our own in the braai room or only with our girlfriends at the party. 

We are 24/7 Christians. We must follow Jesus every second of the day. Then we will do what He does everywhere we go. Then we will learn that other people are more important than us and make a difference everywhere we go.  

Scripture
1 Peter 2:21-25 

Reflection
Do you follow Jesus everywhere you go?
Where do you sometimes turn away?
Is your life an example of how Jesus lived? 

Prayer
Jesus, I long to follow You, but sometimes I turn away. Please help me to never lose sight of You. Amen.