Which of the following are similar to the ways you've served Christ in your family? [check all that apply]
• Taught your kids to see God's glory in nature
• Washed the dishes without being asked
• Played a board game with your kids
• Encouraged your wife to finish her master's degree
• Attended a child's open house at school
• Worked fewer hours to be with your family
• Set an example of a godly prayer life for your children
• Held a crying child
• Swung on the tire swing with your daughter
• Told your wife why you're still in love with her
• Told your son he's got what it takes
• Coached soccer
• Let you child correct you now and then
• Fixed the vacuum cleaner
• Taught your sons to ride a bike
• Listened patiently to a complaint of your wife
• Taped your child's artwork to your office wall
• Admitted to your kids that you were wrong
• Told your children how Christ entered your life
• Cleaned up vomit
• Taught your children to love books
• Been romantic without expecting sex
• Told your daughter she's smart/beautiful
• Set standards for your kids and stuck to them
• Dealt graciously with a busybody neighbor
• Peeled carrots
• Watched movies together
Finishing Touch Theme of the Week: How Good Feels Monday, September 20, 2004
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Men of IntegritySeptember/October 2004Finishing TouchTheme of the Week: How Good FeelsMonday, September 2075
Key Bible Verse: Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other (Romans 12:10). Bonus Reading:Romans 12:11–13
My wife and I moved into a house that had an unfinished garage. Every time I went into the garage I saw the bare two-by-four studs and the black felt-like undersiding. After living for 20 years in a house with a finished garage, it was rather depressing to me. Our son came home for a visit and, learning of my feelings, volunteered to install insulation and drywall in the garage.
Dan had never worked with drywall before and had to learn by doing. The finished job, though very acceptable, wasn't quite what one would expect from a professional drywall installer. But I am more pleased than if a professional had done the work. Why? Because the job was done out of love. Dan didn't expect to get anything in return. He wasn't trying to earn favor or manipulate me. He just wanted to show his love.
Now, every time I go into the garage I see the finished walls, but most of all, I see the love that went into them. Dan's motive was more important to me than his performance.
I suspect that the motive for our good deeds is just as important, probably more so, to God than the level of our performance.
—Jerry Bridges in The Discipline of Grace
My Response: One way I could make my love tangible for _____ would be to …
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