Before the blog post … I have EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU!
I’m delighted to introduce my beautiful book cover! I absolutely love it and hope you do, too. I can’t wait to see it wrapped around the words God led me to write.
Bold Vision Books, my fantastic publisher, will release the book in late August 2023!
Watch for A Place at His Table: God’s Daily Gifts to Satisfy Your Heart, a 40-day devotional.
And now, let’s focus on
How Can a Childhood Game Remind Us to Pursue Godly Behavior?
When I read 1 Timothy 6 last week, the childhood game Red Light, Green Light popped into my mind. Paul’s words in this letter instructed the Ephesian church pastor, Timothy, and they teach us today. From this passage we learn to stop and go—stop certain behaviors and go forward with others.
My childhood friends on Summer Hill Drive and I played Red Light, Green Light under the streetlights on warm evenings. We stood in a horizontal line while the leader walked a distance away and counted aloud with her back to us.
We’d run forward as she counted until she said, “Red light.” The object was to assume the role of leader by arriving at her location first. She’d count, “One, two, three, four … red light!” Then she’d spin around to see if anyone was still moving.
When we stopped on the call of “red light,” we stayed secure in our advanced location. If she caught us moving, she sent us back to the starting line. She could count to three or further, so we ran fast and listened carefully.
Stop and go on cue were the winning strategy words.
Our loving parents also spoke in stop and go language to teach us. We made progress toward healthy adulthood when we stopped one behavior, pivoted, and moved toward better conduct.
- “Stop talking on the phone and finish your homework.”
- “Stop running in the house and go clean your room.”
- “Stop watching TV. Go outside to get some sunshine and exercise.”
Even as adults, we sometimes hear directions, such as “Stop eating cholesterol-laden foods and choose more fruits and vegetables.”
How can the childhood game of Red Light, Green Light and the directions we hear from medical professionals remind us of Paul’s teachings?
Although a Christian’s relationship with God remains secure, the Bible teaches us many stop and go lessons.
Although a Christian’s relationship with God remains secure, the Bible teaches us many stop and go lessons. Share on X
One of the blessings of the Christian faith includes the assurance God accepts us based on a personal relationship with Christ, not on our daily performance or lifetime achievements.
Still, because we love God and want to serve Him, we pay attention to the Bible’s stop and go lessons.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
Paul instructed Timothy and urged him to identify and guard against false teaching (1 Timothy 6:3-5) and an unhealthy craving for money (vv. 8-10). He encouraged Timothy and all believers to stop those behaviors—to “flee those things” (v. 11).
Paul’s inspired words tell us to “Fight the good fight of the faith” (v. 12) against those sins.
When we fight against something because of our love for God, we flee. We pivot quickly and run in the opposite direction with a better goal in mind.
After telling Timothy (and us) which behaviors to avoid, Paul gave the green light. His list of behaviors and attributes help us move toward a goal of godliness.
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 ESV
When we pursue a goal, we want to remove hindrances, fix our eyes on the finish line, and use the tools God gives us “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10 ESV).
This week I plan to pray this verse.
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.”
Psalm 25:4 ESV
When I read my Bible, I want to pay close attention to the stop and go instructions I read—the behaviors and attitudes I need to flee and the actions God promises to work into my life. Perhaps you’d like to join me.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3 ESV
Your Turn
Please share your thoughts on how Christians can pursue the qualities listed in verse 11 above. Thank you for contributing your ideas.
Here’s another announcement: Book winners!
As I promised in the last post, I drew names from the readers who left a comment.
Congratulations to these two winners!
Peggy Ellis won a copy of Katherine Pasour’s book, Honoring God with My Body: Journey to Wellness and a Healthy Lifestyle.
Yvonne Morgan won a copy of Destination Hope: A Travel Companion When Life Falls Apart by Marilyn Nutter and April White.
I highly recommend both books, as well as the others I included in the last post.
