God’s commands are to be taught heart-to-heart. Heart change is the work of the Spirit. Teaching what that change looks like is the job of parents.This means bringing Christ to your children. Paul says that if you do not bring Christ daily, constantly to your children you will provoke them to anger. Look carefully at Ephesians 6:4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. By calling fathers to bring up, or nourish children with the Lord’s instruction he is referring to what he had just taught to the Ephesians. So, failing to follow this instruction will actually provoke our children to anger. This instruction is needed to […]
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The best gifts are the ones that transcend time. These are gifts that cannot be purchased at any price. They not for sale. Yet anyone in possession of them will never be poor. Solomon describes such a gift in Proverbs 4:1-2: Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. The gift of obedience is priceless. Teaching your children that biblical obedience is doing exactly what they are told, right away, with a good attitude is a gift that will serve them for the rest of their life and into eternity. Not too long ago I spoke with a mother whose daughter had […]
MTV continues to push the envelope. On July 16th, the music network is offering a new reality show for its viewers. According to foxnews.com the name of the show is Virgin Territory. According to Fox: “The show follows 15 young adults, all between the ages of 18 to 23, who, for various reasons, are still virgins. During the course of the series, at least some of those featured will lose their virginity. “Some of them are hanging on to their virginity and others are desperately trying to lose it,” a description of the show on MTV’s website explains.” What would have been unthinkable 10 years ago is now served to the living rooms of millions of families […]
America has moved on from the Bible and its views of morality. Three “modern” replacements have been employed to succeed the supposed outdated structure of biblical Christianity. These replacements are: Public Opinion Public opinion has assumed the role of Scripture and the Holy Spirit. When politicians use phrases like the will of the people or the American people want they are typically referring to public opinion polls. Even the terms right and wrong are used subjectively, as in people feel something is right or wrong or this is wrong for America. These terms are seldom used in the absolute sense. Sexual preference or practice has become a matter to be decided by public opinion and personal choice. Biblical standards are […]
There is much concern about the southern border of the United States. Is it secure and safe? Will the border offer protection from disease, drug cartels, terror and economic stress? At the moment these questions are up for debate. But there are borders set by God for his people that are safe and secure. These borders will protect you from the forces of evil. There is no force of man or of this world which can break through them. The security offered by God’s borders for your life will bring comfort to you as you consider the challenges that arise from the uncertainty of national borders. Many Christians live in countries where man-made borders offer little or no […]
The wicked will not win. The headlines tell the story of a godless culture. World events are troubling. The situation with our southern border seems out of control. The political climate is anything but stable. These things may shake our confidence. But, this is only what my eye can see. Praise God there is another set of eyes that sees more than my limited vision. While wickedness appears to be firmly entrenched, the rule of God is never threatened. His goodness knows no end. The time of evil has limits set by the Lord of Lords. The King has triumphed at the cross. The rule of God is secure. He raises up the mighty of this world […]
Parents are you dominated by love or frustration? Do you lead your children or do you push them? Leading is born out of love and pushing is born out of frustration. We tell our children that we demand obedience and speak sharply because we love them and only want the best for them. Children are seldom convinced by this argument. It appears to them as if they are being pushed into doing what mom and dad want. As a Christian, you must first be blown away by what Christ has done for you on the cross. This is expressed by drinking deeply of God’s commands so that your heart is permeated with them. Then, this love for God and his […]
How familiar are you with God’s redemptive thrillers? Perhaps this is not a category of biblical literature that is familiar to you. If this is true, you are missing out on something special. These thrillers actually do exist! They are found in the compelling narratives of the Old Testament. Psalm 78 urges parents and the church not to hide the truth of God from your children. If these narratives are not presented with the drama and action with which the Holy Spirit wrote them, then God’s truth is hidden. You must learn the context of the great stories presented in Scripture. Are you filled with wonder and awe at how God, throughout the Bible, rescued his people […]
God calls you to trust his wisdom and not your own. Anxiety leads to confusion. Trust in God and his ways leads to peace. Like oil and water, trust and anxiety do not mix. There is much in life that can be overwhelming. But God remains in control of his world. As Philippians 4 warns, anxiety will separate you from knowing the peace of God. Our bodies don’t do well with self trust. (See Proverbs 3:7&8) Trusting God and purposely loving him in all that you do brings health to your soul and stability to your walk. Trusting your own understanding leads to a troubled spirit and to a lack of stability. If your mind is centered more on […]
Your children, like you, have a problem with sin. Sin has an immediate negative impact, but even more destructive is sin’s aftermath. Like radiation fallout after a nuclear blast, sin’s fallout can spread and last for years. Condemnation follows sin: First, and most importantly, sin brings the condemnation of God. Then, as others become aware of our sins human condemnation occurs. Finally, a heart burdened by sin begins the ritual of self-condemnation. There is no person on the planet that can escape the consequences of defying God. No one can escape condemnation and the toll it extracts. Its impact may be felt in minutes or it may take years to play out. Condemnation is […]