With four (wonderful) children, I’m asking myself the question, “What does God want for Susan and Tom and Trina and Brian (Names changed to protect the innocent) for the next fifty years of their lives?

If they ended up living exactly the lives they would if they followed Him perfectly, what would their lives look like? How would God want (ideally) their friends to describe them when they are 40, 50, 60 years old?

(1) Men and women of deep, abiding, persistent faith? For sure.

(2) Committed to following Christ into the lives of their neighbors, friends and strangers? You bet.

(3) Acting justly, loving mercy, walking humbly with their God? (Micah 6:8) Uh huh.

(4) Performing the good works God created for them billions of years ago to walk in ? (Ephesians 2:10) Without question.

(5) “Gratitude on legs:” giving God the credit for every blessing (providing rest) and for every challenge (developing their character and perseverance?) I sense so.

If Jesus had His way 100% in your childrens’ development, what would their lives look like in 50 years?

This question forces me to think about how God thinks, and what He desires to create in His community of followers down here.