Few parents readily admit to acting on the motive of selfish ambition–sin deceives us, after all. Notice that Philippians 2:3 contrasts selfish ambition or rivalry with regarding others as more important or significant than yourself: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Parents, do you regard your teenagers as more important than yourself? Before you answer that, let me say that regarding your teenagers as being more important than yourself doesn’t necessarily mean that you follow their wishes. What does it mean? It means that you treat others, including your teenagers, with the respect that Scripture calls for. Your children are a trust, a blessing given to you by God. […]
Monthly Archives: June 2013
Conformed or Transformed There should be a level of apprehension when you go to church. Why? Because God’s intention is that meeting him in corporate worship should do something radical in your life. Worship is not meant to be a comfortable experience. Worship, whether corporate or individual, should leave you a changed person. This is what Paul is getting at in Romans 12:2. Conformity with the world, with regard to worship, means that you go to church for the benefit you will receive. Transformation means that you engage in worship anticipating that the way you think and the things that you value will be changed. This is challenging, but not necessarily comfortable. Take some time to ask God to continue […]
Obedience is not the pathway to acceptance. Do your children believe this? Biblical obedience is first and foremost an act of worship. As sinners in need of the grace of God we know that we can do nothing to earn our standing with God. Biblically, obedience flows from a heart of love for God. This love is in response to the love of God, who first loved us. Worship is the only attitude of the human heart that is a fitting context for obedience. I cannot use my obedience to plea bargain with God, to appease him, or to make myself worthy in his eyes. Only the work of Christ on my behalf can make things right with God. So […]
The Supreme Court cannot remake what God has established. Congress cannot deliver us from sin and greed. The President cannot rescue us from lies and the murder of the unborn. The governed cannot restore purity and fidelity to our families. However, we are not without hope. The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him. The Spirit of Lord can change and dominate the heart of man. Only the Lord can deliver from death. Only the power of God can restore a nation. May we look to God to bring the power of the gospel to a darkened people who have lost their way. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered […]
In two 5-4 decisions, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that person of God and his Scripture are no longer relevant with regard to the institution of marriage. In the place of God, the Court has ruled that the will of men determines what constitutes marriage. The court’s decision is built on a moral foundation less stable than quicksand. Let’s be clear, these verdicts are more about the failure of the church to be salt and light than they are about the failure of the Supreme Court. For at least three generations the church has allowed her children to be taught that God has no part in the educational process. It began by teaching that God has nothing to […]
Being self-aware is essential to living for the glory of God. The Scripture says that all things are to be done for God’s glory. The problem is we are easily self-deceived. This is where self-awareness comes in. How well do we understand ourselves? How can we help our children gain self-awareness? A young child may reason that a cookie will make her happy. The desire for the cookie overrides the command from mom not to have the cookie till after supper. On the surface this appears to be a simple matter of behavior. The desire for the cookie wins out over obedience. However, on the heart-level, complex patterns are at work. We are born with a nature that is at […]
After having an evening to reflect on Nik Wallenda’s stunning wire walk across the Grand Canyon, here are a few points to consider along with the last post. First Point – You are only as safe as God wants you to be. The truth is that whether you are walking on a 2 inch cable 1,500 feet above ground or walking across the street you are equally dependent upon God for safety. I can hear someone saying, “come on, there is a big difference between crossing the Grand Canyon and crossing the street.” No, not really. Each second, heartbeat, and step occurs because of the will of God. Safety is not primarily a matter of location. Safety is connected to […]
I watched Nik Wallenda walk 1,400 feet across the Grand Canyon on television tonight. Wallenda had cameras attached to his body so viewers could see what he was seeing. As one who is not a big fan of heights, looking straight down at the river bed 1,500 feet below, brought new meaning to reality TV. I really had no idea what to expect from this telecast. I cannot comprehend why someone would exchange solid ground for a 2” cable and a 1,500 drop. In any event, I was more than a little surprised to hear Nik Wallenda immediately begin to praise God and ask him to protect him during his walk. But he didn’t stop there. He asked God to […]
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” This Lord’s Day do you find comfort in David’s words? The Holy Spirit did not intend this statement to be a sentimental wall poster. His intention is that God’s people accept this statement at face value. If God is my Shepherd, I lack nothing! Of course, our minds can immediately bolt to many things we think that we lack. But if we to do that, we lose sight of God’s reality. Life on earth is fragile and uncertain. We don’t know if we will live another hour or another half century. We lack nothing in terms of God’s care. The richest treasures of life here cannot begin to compare to the wonder […]
God is in the business of climate change. In fact he has publicly committed himself to regular climate change four times each year. Today is June 21. Depending on where you live it is either the beginning of winter or of summer. The next three months will bring climatic changes caused by heat, cold, drought, and violent storms across the planet. Animals will hibernate and crops will grow. Some will know abundance, others will know famine. Days will simultaneously grow longer and shorter. Three months from now the winds of the equinox will signal the arrival of spring and fall. This is all orchestrated by the Lord of the wind and the waves. God is the ruler of climate change. […]