Category Archives: Consider Your ways

Today Is Only Today, Today??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #562

12 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Born Again, Consider Your ways, The Word Or The World?, Time, Time Is Grace!, TODAY

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #562    Today Is Only Today, Today???

 

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad

in it.”  Psalm 118:24

The “in it” is referring to today!!! This day.  This “day which the LORD hath made” is for me and you—and we can choose whether we will “rejoice” in it, and “be glad” in it!  That’s right, it’s my choice and yours whether we will respond to ‘today’ with joy and delight in the Lord, or doubt what God is doing, pout about it, and drop out of the race that God has “set before us”!

A runner (and I’m certainly not physically one of those—I don’t even run to the mailbox on a good day!!  Ha ha) doesn’t get to pick his lane, his track or the competition; he simply shows up at the meet and prepares himself to run ‘his’ best race!  And that, my friends is what God asks us to do—today!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.”   Hebrews 12:1-2

We are called to “run” our own race—today, by keeping our eyes “fixed” on Jesus—not the track, or the competition, or the length, or the roughness of the track! We are to keep looking to Jesus and the prize of HIS person!  He is the prize, and spending eternity with Him, and reveling in HIS glory.

God hasn’t called us to cry over the race we lost yesterday, or the race we might win tomorrow.  God calls us to run ‘today’; to run our own race; to run that race with our eyes on Jesus not self; to run that race with confidence in the Lord who saves us, who keeps us, and who supplies our every need today.  We serve a God who is faithful today—he may be slow (in our time schedule) but HE is never late. We are to run with the knowledge that Jesus ran HIS race for our salvation, “despising the shame” of the cross, but willing to stay there for you and me!

Peter calls us to remember the One who not only came to save us, by “being the way”, but He also left us an example of total faithfulness and trust in God for our yesterday, our today, and our tomorrow!  What are you ‘fixed’ on today?

“For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did

no sin,

neither was guile found

in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes

ye were healed

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”   1 Peter 2:21:24

This precious Lamb of God who loves us and came to be “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  (See John 1:29), takes away the sin of all who will come to Him in repentance and faith “TODAY”!  For those of us who have already trusted in Him, our todays are to be given to His service—each of them, to do with as HE pleases for our spiritual growth and His eternal glory.  If you don’t know Him, you can come to Him today—for yesterday is gone, and you have no assurance of a tomorrow!  Today is the day—it’s all you have.

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”.  2 Corinthians 6:2

Today! The author of Hebrews reminds us that it is all about ‘today’ (note that in the KJV it is to-day).  What are you doing with your ‘today’?

“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,

To day if ye will hear his voice,

 8 Harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation, in the day of temptation                                in the wilderness…

…12 Take heed, brethren,

lest there be in any of you an evil heart

of unbelief,

 in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily,

 while it is called To day;

lest any of you be hardened

through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ,

 if we hold the beginning of our confidence

stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,

harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation.”  Hebrews 3:7-8 & 12-15

Here we see that God calls us to be sure that we have heard HIS voice!  As I often say, “Saying so, doesn’t’ make it so!”  We must be sure that we have had a “today” when we repented of our own personal sin, believing that Jesus death, burial and resurrection paid for our sin!  It’s why He came, and we can trust our ‘today’ to His faithful and loving sacrifice for ‘my’ sin!

What are you doing with today?  Rejecting Him?  Putting Him off till tomorrow?  Serving Him faithfully and spending your ‘today’ rejoicing in His presence in your life ‘today’? I simply call each of us to examine our ‘today’!  For, as the title says, “Today Is Only Today, Today”!  In Jesus our todays and tomorrows are totally secure, and our yesterdays can be forgiven and removed “as far as the east is from the west”!   (See Psalm 103:12)

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought for the things

of itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”    Matthew 6:33-34

Amen and Amen!!!

Do You Know What You’re Doing??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #561

05 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Approved Unto God, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Cross, Follow Jesus, Forgiveness, Free Indeed?, Gospel, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Know not what they do, Knowing God's Word, Listening To God, Persecution, Perseverance, Power of The Cross, Salvation, SIN, The Word Or The World?, Transformed life, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting Jesus, Who are YOU following?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #561    Do You Know What You’re Doing???

 

We live in a culture of knowledge and education, but sometimes we may have a degree of knowledge but not know what we need to know.  We used to talk about “common sense”, but I have come to say that, in my opinion, “common sense” isn’t very ‘common’ these days.  But even more important than “common sense” we need to have knowledge toward God—God sense—to know Him and His ways is to have true knowledge.  Jesus said something on the cross that haunts my heart and mind, mainly because it seems to be so true today!

“And when they were come to the place,

which is called Calvary,

there they crucified him,

and the malefactors,

one on the right hand,

and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus,

Father, forgive them;

for they know not what they do.

And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding.

And the rulers also with them

derided him, saying,

He saved others;

let him save himself,

if he be Christ,

the chosen of God.

36 And the soldiers also mocked him,

coming to him,

and offering him vinegar,

37 And saying,

If thou be the king of the Jews,

save thyself.”  Luke 23:33-37

I find it most interesting that when you read the entire account of the crucifixion, everyone (except the believers who stayed at the cross) derided, mocked, and chided Jesus for not “saving” Himself.  It’s most interesting that by their own words they acknowledged that they ‘heard’ what He had said, that they ‘understood’ what He claimed of Himself, that they knew who He claimed to be—yet still rejected HIM.  And I’m so glad that HE didn’t ‘save’ Himself, so that HE could ‘SAVE’ us! But the phrase that I want us to take note of today is what still rings true today!

“Father, forgive them;

for they know not what they do”!

It’s important to realize that just having the ‘facts’ isn’t enough.  Just storing up information (even Biblical information) isn’t enough!  We must KNOW truth—JESUS IS The truth:

“And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:32

“Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater

than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

 because they know not him

that sent me.”  John 15:20-21

Jesus IS the test and the evidence of our faith—HE IS the only way to God; whether it is politically correct or not—Jesus IS truth, and without HIM we really “know not” what we do! Daniel talked about the last days in terms that ring so true today—a world stepped in ‘knowledge’, human intelligence and progress (so called) but without God it is to no good end!  Even though so many today are preaching a message of prosperity, Jesus preached a message of persecution and suffering for those who would truly hear HIS voice and trust Him in repentance and faith.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Only one way to God, Jesus, and we must recognize the import of “abiding” in HIM!

“Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

 and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:4-5

Even as Daniel was told hundreds of years earlier:

“But thou, O Daniel,

shut up the words,

and seal the book,

even to the time of the end:

many shall run to and fro,

and knowledge shall be increased…

…9 And he said,

Go thy way, Daniel:

for the words are closed up

and sealed

till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified,

and made white,

and tried;

but the wicked shall do wickedly:

and none of the wicked shall understand;

but the wise shall understand.”    Daniel 12:4 & 9-10

So, the question is, would Jesus pray for us “Father, forgive them, for they ‘know not’ what they do”?  Not because we didn’t hear, but because we refused to truly respond with our heart and mind, and heed what was revealed to us.  Will we be those who “fight against God”, or will we hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Many in Israel heard, and recognized that God could be in this “message of Jesus”, but they truly knew “not what they do”!  How about you?  What/Who do you know?

“And now I say unto you,

Refrain from these men,

and let them alone:

for if this counsel or this work be of men,

it will come to nought:

39 But if it be of God,

ye cannot overthrow it;

lest haply ye be found

even to fight against God.”   Acts 5:38-39

Here we see the religious leader’s response to Peter and John (and the other disciples), and later as Paul stood before a similar group of leaders, they made almost the same determination—they weren’t all ready to condemn Paul, but they refused to believe his message of Jesus! We can expect no different response today.  How about you?

“And there arose a great cry:

and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose,

and strove, saying,

We find no evil in this man:

but if a spirit

or an angel hath spoken to him,

let us not fight against God.”  Acts 23:9

But praise God we have Jesus as our security, and our hope; so, don’t let persecution or ridicule discourage you—we belong to the ONE who has changed us from “enemies” of God, to being His child—a son of God!

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:12-13

All because of Jesus!

“For when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died

for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.” Romans 8:6-11

We can be redeemed by the blood of Jesus, that atoned (paid for) for our sin.  And when we “know” Him, and are “known” by HIM, we can press on in victory!  We can KNOW HIM, and declare with Paul:

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss

for the excellency of the knowledge

of Christ Jesus my Lord:

for whom I have suffered the loss

of all things,

and do count them but dung,

that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him,

not having mine own righteousness,

which is of the law,

but that which is through

the faith of Christ,

the righteousness which is of God

by faith:

10 That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable

 unto his death;”  Philippians 3:8-10

Live, Breathe, Be??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 16

02 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Crucified With Christ, Filled With His Spirit, For Such A Time As This, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, SIN, The Love of God, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 16   Live, Breathe, Be???

 

I have friends, and you probably do too, who have chronic illnesses, in fact I have several friends who have not only chronic illnesses, but genetically based diseases.  That would be a hard thing to deal with, knowing that you could pass on a disease to your children and/or grandchildren, especially since it is out of my/your control.; but there’s something else that we need to consider, for it is even more far-reaching than a chronic disease, and if not treated appropriately, it is truly fatal.  That is “SIN”, and while we all pass it on to our children and our grandchildren, there is something that we can do—something that IS within our control!  And that something is JESUS!  While we may not have a choice about the genetic pool that is passed on to us, we do have a choice about our response to sin, and the choice that we make will affect those around us whether we are related or not!

Scripture clearly tells us that we are all afflicted with the disease of sin!

“As it is written,

There is none righteous,

no,

not one:”  Romans 3:10

That means that sin is the issue—we all have it, but only Jesus can provide the cure (so to speak)!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

All–that means me; and that means you!  Every human being is born into sin (except the God-Man Savior, Jesus), and we can choose to respond to the gospel of Jesus, hear the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, repent and receive the saving grace that He died to provide; or you can choose to pay for you own sin!

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

We are all born in sin, but when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, we don’t have to die in our sin.  Jesus has already done that for us; therefore, Hell doesn’t have to be our future.  We can have life now and forever—abundant life IN Jesus!

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves

and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:7-11

Jesus IS the good shepherd, for HE gave His life for our salvation, all because God loved us.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

What a wonderful verse!  Salvation was, is and ever shall be God’s idea, God pursued us, for salvation is always initiated by God—it’s not our idea!  We can only respond to HIS grace which has been extended to us as His Spirit reveals Him to us.  Have you heard His voice? His knock at your heart’s door?

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

And to be the Redeemer, Jesus gave His own life, of His own will to save us!  God sent Jesus to pay for ‘my’ sin and ‘yours’!

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God

among you by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”   Acts 2:22-24

Not only preached by Peter and the apostles, but also foretold by Jesus Himself.

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:

them also I must bring,

and they shall hear my voice;

and there shall be one fold,

and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me,

because I lay down my life,

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me,

but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received

of my Father.”   John 10:16-18

Jesus came out of love for us and obediently lay down HIS life for me and you!  Praise God for His amazing grace that saves and keeps those who will come to HIM! Oh, to have the words to describe the wondrous grace that He has bestowed on me/us, and to express the gratitude that fills my heart.  And because of that gratitude and recognition of the blessings of God, we ought to behave in accord with what we have received.  I truly believe that one of the problems we face today is an overabundance of people who profess what they don’t possess!  But God knows those who are HIS, and Jesus made it clear that what’s in our hearts will come out—one way or another; sooner or later!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”  2 Timothy 2:19

We can find victory in living when we learn to depend on the direction, provision and instruction of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.

“16 This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…..

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 24-25

How much we miss when we forget that when we belong to Jesus, He provides all we need for faithful, godly living.

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us

all things that pertain

unto life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him

that hath called us to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great

and precious promises:

that by these

ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

 having escaped the corruption

that is in the world through lust.”  2 Peter 1:3

Power to overcome is found in The Spirit and The Word of Him who laid down His life for me and you!  We can live and prevail by His grace, as we die to self and live “in Jesus”!

“For in him

we live,

and move,

and have our being;

as certain also of your own poets have said,

 For we are also his offspring.”  Acts 17:28

“I am crucified with Christ:

 nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

All because Jesus holds it all together—right now, and always.

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself purged our sins,

sat down on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”  Hebrews 1:3

So, a few questions, “In “whom” (or how) do you ‘live, and move, and have your being”?   Have you died to self at the cross, to live by “faith of the Son of God”?  The choice is yours but choose wisely; there is a test at the end!

One last word to challenge our minds!

“And be not drunk

with wine, wherein is excess;

but be filled

with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody

 in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always

for all things

unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves

one to another

in the fear of God.”  Ephesians 5:18-21

Are you “filled with the Spirit” (which means to be pervaded, controlled by) or is something else ‘controlling’ you? (It matters not if it’s drugs, liquor, sex, greed, lying and deceit, power, manipulation, ego, sloth, or ambition).  What are you filling your life with!

A Struggle To Focus??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #559

29 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Armor of God, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Distractions, Encouragement, Filled With His Spirit, Follow Jesus, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Spirit, It's Your Choice, Obedience, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #559     A Struggle To Focus???

 

I just had an issue come up this morning as I was working on this post, and it reminded me of the challenge it is to keep our focus on God and keep our ways right before Him.  So, I’d simply like to share a few things to help us to keep our focus!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

In other words, “Looking unto Jesus” will help us to think right and live a consistent holy life, knowing what our salvation cost our Lord! Just as when we drive, we have to keep our eyes on the road, or we find ourselves veering off the road, we must “fix our eyes” (the NASB version) on Jesus in our daily walk to stay on track (and I’m to run “MY” race not yours or anyone else’s).

I try to begin each day by putting on the “armor of God”, so that I will be prepared for the battles of the day (for we are in a continual battle with the enemy of our soul—and he is an expert at ‘distraction’!). Paul talked about this ‘spiritual warfare’ in several of his letters, and we’ll consider a portion of a couple of them to encourage our hearts as we press on with, through and for JESUS!

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong

in the Lord,

and in the power

of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers,

of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness

in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.”  Ephesians 6:10-13

Paul clearly tells us that we are in this “wrestling” match with our enemy, so we must be aware of the enemy and keep our heart and mind ‘suited’ up in our armor.  Spend some time today rehearsing that armor in verses 14-18—it’s a worthwhile practice to pray it on every day!  We need it!  And there’s another important passage in regard to this ‘spiritual warfare’ we are in, we must actively, diligently and faithfully bring our thoughts captive to “the obedience of Christ”.  And believe me, I have just as much trouble with my thoughts, as you do with yours—because the battle is in the realm of our minds, thoughts and focus!  Our walk in the flesh is determined by our success in the spirit!

“For though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare

are not carnal,

but mighty through God

to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing

that exalteth itself against

the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity

every thought

to the obedience of Christ;”   2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Living a victorious Christian life requires more than spending a couple of hours in ‘church’ one day a week!  It requires a daily, moment by moment walk with Jesus; learning to recognize the “wiles of the devil”, knowing that we can be victorious when we keep our eyes on Jesus; but that takes diligent effort and awareness of God’s presence in every step we take, and keeping right thoughts at every turn.  One key verse that I rehearse regularly, to remind myself to think right is from Philippians 4. (And a right thought life, will manifest itself in our choices—just as a wrong thought life will show up eventually in our actions!)  May these help you today!

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”  Philippians 4:6-8

As Martin Luther was reported to have said:

“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”!

Amen and Amen!!!

Ice Cube Philosophy??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #551

24 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by in Consider Your ways, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Father of lies, IN Jesus!, JESUS, Lies, What's The Word?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #551  Ice Cube Philosophy???

 

I’m sure you’re wondering what “Ice Cube” philosophy is all about, and I’ll be glad to share it with you this morning! I saw a phrase the other day that struck my heart, it said something like, “We can’t raise our children like we were raised, because we live in a different world!”  I must tell you that when I read that it just broke my heart—we have bought the lies of the enemy and have become so entrenched in the culture and philosophy of the world that we are convinced that the “world” we live in is what dictates our life, our belief, and our actions!  That is totally not true, and it surely isn’t a biblical way to look at things and isn’t how we are to order our lives!

This is the very thing that Paul warned the Romans about—and it is what “Ice Cube” philosophy is all about.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

Paul calls believers in Jesus to give ourselves to God as a living sacrifice—Jesus wants us to live for Him, not just to be willing to die for HIM!  He calls us to know the same things that Paul called the Galatians to remember:

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

This takes us right back to Paul’s call to the Roman believers: “be not conformed to this world”! We are not to let the world “squeeze us into its image”, or to fit our post—we aren’t to be like “ice cubes”! Water is poured into any form and frozen in that form, it takes on the form of the mold—regardless of what that mold is.  You can make square cubes, round cubes, animal shaped cubes, or virtually any shape that you can imagine.  But followers of Jesus are clearly called to NOT be ‘frozen’ into the world’s mold! We must never say that our life style, our parenting skills, or our beliefs are “conformed to this world”!!! We are to “withstand in the evil day”!!! And friends, that is where we live– “in the evil day”—; but may we never, never, never give up to that which is trying to prevail over us! Jesus has promised us that the enemy will not prevail against us when we walk with Him, live for Him and obey HIS principles.

But there is a price!  We will be ridiculed, called names and laughed at when we stand for God’s Word and His ways.  Yet HE promises us that His plan will work—it has worked– for God never fails!  Deuteronomy chapter 6 is the most profound outline for parenting ever given (in my humble opinion!).  I will share it with you here, but I’d encourage you to read the entire chapter.   I’ll simply make a few comments on it, and let it speak for itself.  God gave His people a few simple (not easy, but simple) steps to faithful parenting and passing the baton of truth and faith to the next generation.

Love God—first and foremost in all things yourself—

Live, speak, share and proclaim His Word in all—

Do these things before your children at every turn—

Use teachable moments to share YOUR trust in God—

       (Simply put—practice what you preach!)

Then, when time has passed, and you have lived a life

different from the world

your children will ask WHY?—

And then—you have the wonderful opportunity

to share your personal testimony

of what God has done

and is doing

IN you—NOW!

We are NOT to conform to the world, but we are to share truth with our children in a world that is running amuck with the lies of Satan!  Ponder God’s antidote to the world’s lies!

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them

diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

 and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign

upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates…

…17 Ye shall diligently keep

the commandments of the LORD

your God,

and his testimonies,

and his statutes,

which he hath commanded thee.

18 And thou shalt do that

which is right

and good

in the sight of the LORD:

that it may be well with thee,

and that thou mayest go in

and possess the good land

which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,

19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee,

as the LORD hath spoken.

20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in,

to give us the land which he sware

unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us

to do all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.”  Portions of Deuteronomy 6:5-24

Amen and Amen!