Your view of obedience controls how you give directions. Strange as it may seem, the way your garbage is taken out can reveal your functional understanding of obedience. The goal is to learn how to give holy, everyday directions that please God and bless your children. Let me begin by asking you two questions: Do you want your children to obey your directions and take out the garbage? You might be thinking, “That’s a strange question; of course I want my children to obey me.” That leads me to the second question. Assuming you want your children to obey you, do you act as if you expect them to take out the garbage? Now you are sure I am asking […]
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Suppose you lived in an area that was in a constant state of urban warfare. It might be guerrilla warfare, or tribal disputes, or ethnic hatred or prolonged civil war. In these types of warfare, Christians are often acceptable targets. For families living in one of these media-neglected war zones, going outside to play can act of reckless endangerment. The instructions you give your children are instructions of life and death. If your kids fail to follow your directions to the letter they may pay with their life. An inviting, innocent looking object lying the ground may be a death trap. Failing to follow the exact path you give them to bring fresh water to your home may result in […]
On the day of the resurrection on the road to Emmaus, two men who had been with Jesus, encountered him as they walked. He kept them from recognizing him. He asked them what they were talking about. The men were incredulous! What else was there to talk about except what had happened since the crucifixion. They spoke of Christ and his power in the past tense. They spoke of their lost hope. They were puzzled at the reports that maybe Jesus was alive. They were evaluating these events from an earthly perspective. They did not believe, they speculated, they wondered. Listen to strong rebuke from Christ: “He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all […]
Think about Saturday, the day after the crucifixion. This day was different. The trial, the crowds, the drama of Christ upon the cross was past. The disciples were overwhelmed. Judas was gone. The eleven and those close to them had spent three years with the most powerful person in all of human history. Try as they might they could not anticipate his next move or deed. Now, his striking presence was gone. It appeared their hopes and dreams had evaporated before their eyes. The Roman leaders were most likely relieved that this whole mess was behind them. But there was the Centurion who knew that a great wrong had been done. And, of course, there was Pilate, perhaps still washing […]
Who is your king? Jesus says that you can only have one. No man can serve two masters. About mid-day on the first Good Friday, Pilate pled with the Jews for the life of Jesus. In John 19:15 we read this interchange: But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Blinded by rage and anger at Jesus, the Jewish leaders spoke from their hearts. Jesus was not their king! What about you? Who is the king of your heart? Before you answer, remember that your heart has already revealed the answer to your children, your spouse, to those who are […]
You will celebrate the resurrection this Sunday. As think about this it is probably something that you hold dear. Jesus died for you. He was resurrected for you. He gave you life. He gave you the opportunity to tell your kids how special he is to you. Do your kids know how special he is to you? Here is a way to let them know. You have caught your middle school child in a lie. You have confronted him with his lie and he has admitted it. Then you tell your child something like this: Justin, I know what it is like to lie. When mommy was a little girl, I used to lie when I didn’t want to get […]
The resurrection is the defining moment in all of human history. Without the resurrection the holy character of God could not have allowed for the earth, for the race of men nor for the redemption of sinners. God is only capable of dealing with what is holy and pure. Without the reality of the resurrection nothing would be holy and pure. When Christ rose from the dead he completed the triumph that made all that we know and love possible. That which was ugly, unholy and worthy of wrath was made new, pure, holy. There could be no doubt – either the wrath of God was satisfied or it was not. Those who reject Christ receive the just payment for […]
Some challenging questions: What do you eagerly desire? Do you desire, above all else, to acquire God’s wisdom, so that you will clearly see the path of obedience set before you? Does living for the glory and honor God consume you? When you see that following Christ will be result in difficulty and pain, do you still desire identification with Christ above all else? What do your children believe that you eagerly desire above all else? On a Thursday evening, some 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ had come to the end of his time on earth. After 33 years of perfect obedience, doing all that his Father had given him to do, eighteen hours of crushing temptation and agony yet […]
We live in a world looking for peace. Whether it is in the play room or at the negotiating table peace is often defined as the absence of conflict. So, terms are sought to minimize or eliminate conflict. But this is a futile pursuit. A mom knows that discord and self-service rules young hearts. The sad reality is that diplomats attempting to negotiate peace treaties ignore this most basic truth. People are born at war with God and with each other (Ephesians 2:1-3). Thus, the goal for achieving peace cannot be the absence of conflict. Rather, for Christians, our goal must be to know Christ in the middle of the conflict. The Bible teaches that we are to return good […]
On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem to cheering crowds. Five days later the crowds screamed for his crucifixion. When Christ met the expectations of the crowd, he was their king. When he did not, they shouted for his death! The lesson is clear if you have the courage to see. You cannot understand the purposes of God by listening to the praises of men, no matter how impressive or lavish that praise may be. Man’s praise is fickle and it affections can change in a heartbeat. Learn the lesson of Palm Sunday. Do not be overcome by the praise of people. Matthew 21:6-9 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and […]