July 2008 Archives

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:68

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:3-6

The Gospel of John provides the setting for this final post on life that is truly life. John’s gospel is rich with references to the Trinity. It is rich with Christ. Two themes that we have been exploring are brought to a perfect conclusion by John. We have looked 1) at God’s Word being life and 2) that parents must present life to their children. In the first chapter, John identifies Jesus as the Word of God. Then, in chapter 14, He says that Jesus is life, the life. Christ does not lead toward the illusory life that I Timothy warns us to avoid. No, following Christ leads to life itself, for he is the life.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. I Timothy 6:17-19

Paul makes an interesting distinction here. He urges Timothy to instruct people to “take hold of the life that is truly life.” This exhortation comes right after a warning to those who are rich in this world. Much can be drawn from this passage about the use of wealth, but I want to focus on the distinction Paul makes between “life” and “true life.” Recall that Moses urged the Israelites not to take the word of God as idle words, but as their very life (Deut. 32:47). I believe Paul is making the same distinction here in I Timothy.

For those of you who might be interested I will be hosting a radio program regarding the state of the church today. My guest will be John Crotts, author of Craftsmen, Mighty Men, co-author with Martha Peace of Tying the Knot Tighter and the soon to be released , Your Family in God’s Family.  John  has needed insight to offer in this area. Among other things we will be discussing the family-integrated church movement. You can listen on the internet at www.callingfortruth.org. Click on the listen live button. The program will air Friday, July 25^th, at 1 p.m. eastern time.

Thank you for the excellent questions you sent in response to the Half-way Mark post. We will examine each of them in the coming weeks. Please continue to pray for the blog and for the ministry of Shepherd Press. 

For our new readers, the theme Mini-Post is used to provide updates about the blog or to respond to a story or event that is relevant to families. I would expect to see more Mini-Posts as the election season enters its final stages.

Consider Psalm 78 as it connects to our current series on the Word is Your Life.

O my people, hear my teaching;
       listen to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in parables,
       I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

3 what we have heard and known,
       what our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children;
       we will tell the next generation
       the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
       his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
       and established the law in Israel,
       which he commanded our forefathers
       to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them,
       even the children yet to be born,
       and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God
       and would not forget his deeds
       but would keep his commands.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3

All of us can agree that the challenges of biblical parenting can at times appear overwhelming. Sometimes the responsibilities of parenting can loom so large as to distract us from the promises of God to care for us and the promise that the Scripture provides all that is needed for life and godliness. God calls upon us to be strong and courageous as we take up the challenge of parenting. It is this vital relationship of parents knowing, trusting and finding life from the word of God that is the most significant gift that can be given to children.

They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.— Deuteronomy 32:47

How can you make the Bible real to your children? This is a question many Christian parents ponder. But there is another question that is more important – How do you make the Bible real to yourself?

Even though summer is officially less than a month old, July 15^th is really the halfway point of the season. In less than six weeks the school year will be upon us.  A lot is coming up in the next few months – the Olympics in China, the presidential campaign, and, of course, the new school year.

I want to say thank you again for your participation in the Shepherd Press Blog. Your comments, typified by ones like Michelle and Kristy, are an encouragement.

If you have an area of interest that you would like to see addressed in the blog, let me know, as I am now planning the posts for the fall. Thank you again. May God richly bless your family as you shepherd them towards Home. 

How can a young man keep his way pure?
  By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;
  do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart
  that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9-11

Our children need to be protected by God’s word when they sleep. We know this, at least in part, because Scripture promises it will offer protection while one is sleeping. By implication, those who do not seek the protection the Scriptures offer are vulnerable to spiritual attack during sleep. The question at the end of the last post was How do children acquire this protection? The verses above, from Psalm 119, are a good place to start.

When you walk, they will guide you;

when you sleep, they will watch over you;

when you awake, they will speak to you. Proverbs 6:22

On average we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping. Sleep refreshes our bodies. A good friend of mine, a pediatrician, tells me that when we sleep our metabolism slows down so the maintenance functions of the body can be accomplished. Cell and tissue repair occur during this down time, rather than when the body is active and needing energy to do other things. Sleep is an amazing component of God’s creation of man. It is a daily reminder of our finiteness as creatures. God, our Creator, has no need of sleep and thus is able to constantly care for his people.

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,

  do not let them out of your sight;

  they will be life for you,

an ornament to grace your neck.

Then you will go on your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble;

when you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:21-24

Let’s review  this prayer for going to sleep.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4

The Fourth of July is a combination many things – cookouts, fireworks, concerts, memorials to fallen heroes and to the birth of a nation. Tonight fireworks and explosions will mark celebrations all across the country. We can and should be thankful for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon the United States for the last 232 years. However, it is more important to remember why our country and indeed all countries exist. Our country exists by the sustaining power of Jesus Christ, to the end that God, his Father, will bring salvation to all those whom he has called. America does not exist for her own heritage, nor does she survive by her own will. America exists  and continues to survive because it pleases God for her to do so. We owe our collective breath as Americans to the purposes and pleasures of God. We will not survive one minute longer or shorter than what God sees as fitting. This may rankle the notions of the politically correct, but it is true nonetheless. (Act 17:24-28; Col. 1:15-20; Romans 13)

In the passage above, Paul shows us how to pray for our nation. We are to pray that our leaders will lead in such a way that we, the people of God, may be about the business of bringing honor to the name of Jesus Christ. Paul sent these words to Timothy while living under the tyrannical and decadent rule of the Caesars. Paul was not telling Timothy to lead a populist revolt against unjust leaders. Instead, Paul urged prayers of thanksgiving and intercession be made for them. Why? Because he wanted God’s people to be about God’s work. God’s work was not about saving the Roman empire, any more than God’s work today is about saving the United States.  Paul was a faithful and good Roman citizen who used that citizenship for God’s purposes, just as American Christians should today. But Paul’s focus was on his heavenly citizenship and adding others to the heavenly nation.America has eerily mimicked aspects of the Roman culture of Timothy’s day. As in the Roman world, spiritualism is on the rise. Sexual perversion has become normal and legal. Preaching the Constitution will not turn aside these pagan tides. Preaching the Gospel will.

On this election year Independence Day, don’t get caught up in the fear that each political party has of the other party’s presidential candidate. Teach your children why America really exists as a nation. In this moment of history, those of us who live in the United States have the mandate to declare the glory and message of Jesus Christ to a fallen and lost world.

I lie down and sleep;
       I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. Psalm 3:5

O Lord God, who has given man the night for rest, as you have created a day in which he may employ himself in labor, grant, I pray, that my body may so rest during this night that my mind cease not to be awake to you, nor my heart faint or be overcome with apathy, preventing it from adhering steadfastly to the love of you. While laying aside my cares to relax and relieve my mind, may I not, in the meanwhile, forget you, nor may the remembrance of your goodness and grace, which ought always to be deeply engraved on my mind, escape my memory. In like manner, also, as the body rests may my conscience enjoy rest. Grant, moreover, that in taking sleep I may not give indulgence to the flesh, but only allow  myself as much as the weakness of this natural state requires, to my being able thereafter to be more alert in your service. Be pleased to keep me so chaste and unpolluted, not less in mind that in body, and safe from all dangers, that my sleep itself may turn to the glory of your name. But since this day has not passed away without my having in many ways offended you through my proneness to evil, in like manner as all things are now covered by the darkness of the night, so let everything that is sinful in me lie buried in your mercy. Hear me, O God, Father and Preserver, through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

This prayer is taken from a collection of prayers by John Calvin recorded in The Christian Life, edited by John H. Leith.  The short prayer can have a tremendous impact on families. In the next few posts we will examine this prayer as it applies to young children, teenagers and yes, even to parents. But for now, read it carefully and thoughtfully. Ask God to help this be your prayer as you prepare for a night’s sleep.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.