Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
(James 1:22, NIV)

Kids in the late nineties threw this phrase around a lot. "I'm keepin' it real." What they meant (besides letting people know in no uncertain terms that they were cool) was that they were staying true to themselves. Keepin' it real is just another way of saying that you're not a fake.

As a Christian, we have the same mandate to "keep it real."

The verse above says that we're not to merely hear the word, but also to apply it to our lives. Think back to the first time you ever got a job. You might have had a manual that told you what to do, but probably you had someone standing over your shoulder explaining procedures to you instead. Either way, the expectation was that you would be able to perform your duties in light of the information you read or heard.

God expects the same thing. Jesus says in Matthew 7:16 that believers will be recognized by their fruit. To "keep it real" then, we've got to have fruit. Fruit could be another way of saying we have evidence of Christ indwelling in our lives.

Parents can begin to instill fruit-bearing truth in their children from an early age. Many times, our own children become our "fruit," as we raise them up in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6).

With that verse in mind, you probably already do a lot of application. When you put into practice handing down the moral principles you already know, you are applying scripture to your lives and to your children's lives. Here are some examples of how you might already be applying this scriptural truth to your lives:

• 0-2 years: Teaching politeness and manners as a way to respect adults. A child who says "please" and "thank you" and "yes, ma'am" will really stand out in a crowd of children who don't respect their elders (Leviticus 19:32). You're instilling a biblical mandate and helping them to live it out each time you insist upon courtesy.

• 2-5 years: Teaching how to share. God's Word says we're to get along peaceably with others (Romans 12:18). Taking turns and learning patience by sharing is not an easy practice for a young child, but you're teaching them a way of life that will serve them well in adulthood. You're teaching them that other people matter, and aren't to be brushed aside simply because it's easier to only think about ourselves.

• 6-10 years: Teaching what it means to be a good friend. Proverbs 17:9 reads, "He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends." Peers at school can magnify even the pettiest of differences into monstrosities, so help your child to navigate these waters without growing bitter. This applies scripture to their lives.

• 11-14 years: Teaching the importance of guarding their heart (Proverbs 4:23). The pre-teen years are full of emotional angst and torment as children shed their childhood shells and the protection it affords. Teaching them appropriate boundaries with the opposite sex will help the transition go smoother, as you're addressing potential problems head-on before they actually become realizations.

• 13-18 years: Teaching persistence and how to give their all to everything. Paul said in Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Several Bible versions say to "work heartily," giving whole-hearted effort instead of half-hearted attempts. Teenagers should learn the difference between living for Jesus versus living for themselves, especially as they begin to spread their wings in college or in the workforce.

This list provides just a few of the things you can teach your children while applying biblical truths. The only way to get good at a something is to practice, so what are you waiting for?

Keep it real.

Jeannie Campbell is a Christ-follower, wife, mother and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, in that order. She got her masters of divinity in psychology and counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and her bachelors in psychology and journalism from The University of Mississippi. She's a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and American Christian Fiction Writers. In her spare time, she writes feature articles for magazines and local newspapers and blog posts for The Character Therapist. Email Jeannie.