TV
Exposure
This week's focus: Strengthening Families and Marriages
I hadn’t noticed the rainbow flag flying predominantly over one of the buildings in our small town until my daughter said, “Dad, look! A Peruvian flag!
I was baffled. The Peruvian flag is red and white, but I didn’t see those colors anywhere.
When I realized she was referring to the rainbow flag, I laughed. We went to Cuzco, Peru, on a family trip earlier this year. The flag of Cuzco is a rainbow — they used it for many years before other social movements adopted it. My daughter’s first exposure to rainbow flags was a Peruvian flag, so she naturally assumed that’s what she was looking at.
Our first exposure to anything tends to set the course for how we frame our world.
If you can get to people early enough, you can shape their minds and heart. Which is why those with diabolical intent want access to our children as early as possible through TV, social media, and, sadly, even our education system.
That said, the most important thing we can do as Christ-followers is do our best to ensure our first exposure for us and our families is Christ-centered.
Whether it’s our first exposure in the morning— is it the word of God or the news and social media?
Our kid’s first exposure to what Sundays are focused on — sports or worship?
Or first exposure to a home environment — is it peace or arguing and discord?
We set the tone and framework for ourselves and our families based on early exposure, so we must be attentive to what we’re being exposed to daily.
Our goal isn’t to live in a Jesus bubble, hidden away from exposure to anything negative. After all, we’re called to be light to the world, a city on a hill that can’t be hidden (Matthew 5:14). But that light is a reflected light. What we’re looking at is what we’ll reflect. Our goal should be to reflect the light of Christ. But that means we must be pointed in the right direction — early and often.
We really can control where our minds go and what we reflect. That’s why the Apostle Paul said: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)
May we be wise and attentive to what we’re allowing ourselves and our families to be exposed to from morning to evening.
May we reflect on what Saint Patrick sought in one of his prayers:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down.
Special thanks to Joël Malm for writing this week’s devotional. (Joelmalm.com)
Psalm 119:37
"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways."
Prayer Points:
Pray: Lord, I want our family’s focus and framework to be You and You alone. Please help me be alert to what I’m exposing myself and my kids to every day. Give me the wisdom and courage to remove what isn’t reflecting You and seek what brings Your light to my life and those around me.
Think: What am I allowing my family to be exposed to that is shaping their mind in a way that isn’t Christ-like? What can I change to expose them more to the light of Christ?
ACT: Next Tuesday, January 16th, is National Religious Freedom Day, the commemoration of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, drafted in 1777 by Thomas Jefferson. Take a moment to fix your eyes on the three short paragraphs of the statute here that acknowledge God as Creator.