Tag Archives: Choose Wisely–there is a test!

Comfortable Or Committed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #374

10 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Comfort, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Crucified With Christ, Do You See What God Sees?, Every Knee Shall Bow, Eyes that SEE HIM, Fickle or Faithful, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Freedom To Or From?, God Who Sees, God's Call, God's Faithfulness, God's glory NOT mine!, God's Time, God's ways are not our ways, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption Through HIS Blood

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Comfortable Or Committed???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #374

A passage that we considered recently is one I want to revisit today, but from a different perspective; as you can tell from our title, I want us to assess our life with Jesus!  What have we set our eyes on?  Are we set on being comfortable or committed to whatever Jesus has called us to.

“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

Jesus has called us to “lay aside” some things, and to “run with patience” the race that He has set before us; keeping our eyes fixed on Him, because He alone can lead us in the right path. He is the only way to God—the only way of salvation!  And apart from Jesus we have no hope, as Jesus tells us, we must be in The Vine and “abide in HIM”!

“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 15:5

We are called to bring forth much fruit, and that can only happen when we abide in The Master, Jesus; for HE is the vine, not us—we are but branches and dependent upon our attachment to the vine—Jesus!  We can do that as we determine to be committed to Jesus regardless of the difficulty or discomfort.  We get into trouble when we choose comfort over commitment; when we choose frivolity over frugality (being wise stewards over all, not just finances); do we exercise impact spending over impulse (again not just talking about money, but time, talents, desires, and focus)!  It’s so easy to get caught up in social media, ad-fed spending, entertainment distractions, any number of things—you can fill in the blank of the things that try to draw us away from our commitment to Jesus!   Let’s consider a couple of passages that give us good guidance and food for thought as believers to continue to abide in The Vine—Jesus!

“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

And Peter’s inspired advice. (And FYI, conversation=lifestyle.)

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

 not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

 Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

 judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope might be in God.”  1 Peter 1:13-21

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

Amen and Amen!!!

No Riches??? Man’s Opinion??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #345

28 Monday Apr 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Advice for the journey, All About Jesus!, Almost But Lost, Born Again, Bow Before our God, In hell it's too late to be a witness?, Jesus' standard?, Lazarus and the rich man., Riches--here or in heaven?, Social media doesn't say it ALL!, Social media isn't the last word!!!!, The greatest evangelist? Dead or alive?, Transformed life, Treasure here or in heaven?, Trendy Or Truth

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No Riches???  Man’s Opinion???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #345

I want to share a familiar passage and story with you today.  In fact I believe it is a true story that Jesus shared, and my main reason is that he never told a parable and named anyone; here Jesus names the beggar, and I think he didn’t name the rich man for people probably would have gasped in horror that this one was in hell?  A common situation would probably exist today if we knew the fate of those the world holds in “high esteem”!  For you see, it doesn’t matter how much or what esteem the world holds us in, if God doesn’t! And unless we have been born again, we have no esteem with God.  But in Jesus, we are the beloved of God, The Holy Spirit our guide, helper and comforter, and heaven our home!  So let’s see what this story reveals about riches, and the change of perspective of one of the characters.  But I’d like to preface it with a call for us to examine our hearts and the speech that comes out of our mouth—be it spoken or “posted on social media”!  It seems that kindness, compassion, and courtesy have gone out of style—and certainly they are greatly absent on social media.  And let me say beforehand that “judge not” here, does not mean to be undiscerning, nor not to make assessments of right or wrong; it does mean that we are not to pass judgment on people’s motives or situations, rather we are to exercise “righteous judgment” (See John 7:24)

“Be ye therefore merciful,

as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not,

and ye shall not be judged:

condemn not,

and ye shall not be condemned:

forgive,

and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give,

and it shall be given unto you;

good measure,

pressed down,

and shaken together,

and running over,

shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete

withal it shall be measured to you again.”   Luke 6:36-38

Two points and we’ll press on, our attitude is to be one of compassion and remember just as we are free to make choices, we are not free to choose the consequence—and as Jesus said here, “with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”!  Or in today’s vernacular, “what goes around, comes around”!  Secondly, my heart is grieved over the meanness that is abundant on social media without measure.

So, let’s go on to see what Jesus said about real riches.  One man had an abundance, the other nothing, nada, zip, zilch; and I want you to notice there is no condemnation on the poor man.  Jesus doesn’t tell us he could have done better; he wasn’t called lazy or any other derogative connotation to this precious man.   Instead he was taken to heaven by the angels, after living a life of hardship for what seems to have been most, if not all, of his adult life.  Yet, he knew God, when the rest of the world were probably accusing him of some kind of sinful life; God said otherwise.  What commentary does God have to make on my life.  Do I want riches that impress the world?  Or do I desire and pursue and life of right standing with my God?

“There was a certain rich man,

which was clothed in purple and fine linen,

and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,

which was laid at his gate,

full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs

which fell from the rich man’s table:

moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass,

that the beggar died,

and was carried by the angels

into Abraham’s bosom:

the rich man also died,

and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes,

being in torments,

and seeth Abraham afar off,

and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said,

Father Abraham, have mercy on me,

and send Lazarus,

that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,

and cool my tongue;

for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said,

Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime

receivedst thy good things,

and likewise Lazarus

evil things:

but now he is comforted,

and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this,

between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:

so that they which would pass

from hence to you cannot;

neither can they pass to us,

that would come from thence.

27 Then he said,

I pray thee therefore, father,

that thou wouldest send him

to my father’s house:

28 For I have five brethren;

that he may testify unto them,

lest they also

come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him,

They have Moses and the prophets;

let them hear them.

30 And he said,

Nay, father Abraham:

but if one went unto them from the dead,

they will repent.

31 And he said unto him,

If they hear not Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded,

though one rose from the dead.”   Luke 16:19-31

I find verse 31 one of the most apropos verses of all scripture!  Here is a man in hell, yet his concern was for his family to avoid his destiny; and note that he knew that they needed repentance, that which he never saw in his own life.  A man who in the world’s eyes had it “all”!  A man who never gave repentance a thought until he was in hell; why not?  I think because the theology of his day said much the same as the notion of our world, if you are affluent, you must be headed to heaven, for you have proven your worth and value to the world; yet without any regard for God, the Gospel, or the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ The Lord, we have no standing before God! But notice what Jesus accounts for us, Abraham told the rich man that if his brethren (just as he had opportunity) would not hear the witness of Moses and the prophets, they wouldn’t believe if “one” (especially Lazarus!) came back from the dead!

I also find a bit of a double nontender here; Jesus was shortly going to be raised from the dead and people refused to believe—still do!  But even more amazing is that Jesus was going to raise one named Lazarus from the dead and most still wouldn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah—most don’t today!  For you see, if we don’t see our sin, and our need for repentance and salvation, why would we come to Jesus!  Oh, my friends, I pray that you will look to the cross and the Savior who gave His life for our salvation.

What riches are you counting on?  God’s riches in Jesus’ sacrifice for us, or something else.  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test, and in hell is too late to choose.

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches

of his grace;” Ephesians 1:6-7

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

 in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches

of his grace;” Colossians 1:6-7

“Charge them that are rich in this world,

that they be not highminded,

nor trust in uncertain riches,

but in the living God,

who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good,

that they be rich in good works,

ready to distribute,

willing to communicate;” 1 Timothy 1:17-18

And one final word from Jesus!  Where are your riches?  Oh, to be found faithful when He comes or calls me to Himself.  Where is your heart?  It will tell in the end, and in your journey!

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

 21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

Amen and Amen!!!

Are You Recognizing Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #330

19 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A Witness--Good or Bad???, All About Jesus!, Come to Jesus, God Knows, God Knows His Own, JESUS, Jesus call, Jesus is able, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Too Late To Call?, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trusting Jesus, Truth, Truth is True, What does worldliness look like?

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Are You Recognizing Truth???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #330

Contrary to popular belief and opinion—truth must be true or it’s not “truth”; and the ultimate standard of truth is the God-man, Jesus Christ The Lord and His Word.

“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

We must know Jesus personally to come to “the Father”!  Without Jesus we can never truly know truth!  Truth isn’t just an idea or an ideal; truth is The person of Jesus Christ come in the flesh to “be” truth and lead men unto truth, grace and the salvation that HE bought and paid for at Calvary with HIS own blood.  If that’s not your truth, you may want to examine what you believe to be true!  As my mother used to say, “You can fool all of the people some of the time; you can fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool God—ever!”  He knows those who are His own—those sheep that Jesus has blood bought, redeemed and is transforming into HIS image.  Paul’s message to his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, verifies this ‘truth’!

“But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker:

of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred,

saying that the resurrection

is past already;

and overthrow the faith of some.

19 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 Timohty 2:16-19

Are you departing from iniquity or reveling in it?  It seems to be the pastime of many who claim the name of Jesus!  If we aren’t walking in His truth, where do you think that puts us?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, remember there is a test!

You can turn away!  You can reject the truth!  You can feign faith!  You can fool those around you, but God knows the truth for HE is truth!  Paul also talks about the deceit of the last days, and my friends, I think this passage is so important to consider, as there are those around us ‘preaching’ a different message.  What message are you following?  Have you compared it to scripture?

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:

only he who now letteth will let,

until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed,

whom the Lord shall consume

with the spirit of his mouth,

and shall destroy

with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming

is after the working of Satan

with all power

and signs

and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness

of unrighteousness in them that perish;

because they received not

the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause

God shall send them

strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure

in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

If you reject Jesus now, you may not have another opportunity to come to Him.  No one is guaranteed tomorrow, and for those who continue to believe the lies of Satan, there is a judgment day coming!  What are you believing?  Have you truly been born again?  Does your life give testimony to Jesus’ truth—or are you going your own way?  Verse 10 above makes it very clear; you can miss your opportunity to be saved!  Don’t sin away your day of grace, or the voice of The Holy Spirit calling you to repentance!  Please come to Jesus today if you haven’t!  God gave us warning all the way back in Genesis!  Please heed the call, if you hear His voice today.

“While it is said,

To day if ye will hear his voice,

harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation.”  Hebrews 3:15

And as it has been said, we can go “back to Genesis” to know God’s truth!  There may not be another opportunity if you miss it today.

“And the LORD said,

My spirit shall not always strive with man,

 for that he also is flesh…”. Genesis 6:3a

And as the author of Hebrews goes on to say…

“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:

9 When your fathers tempted me,

proved me,

and saw my works forty years.

10 Wherefore I was grieved

with that generation, and said,

They do alway err in their heart;

and they have not known my ways.

11 So I sware in my wrath,

They shall not enter into my rest.)”.   Hebrews 4:7-11

And in closing this truth from Jesus—The Truth!!  What will you do with it?  Don’t miss The Master—The Redeemer—but be saved by the blood of Jesus, which “cleanseth us from all sin”!

“Jesus therefore answered and said unto them,

Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:43-44

If you have heard the voice of conviction, please don’t turn away; come unto The One who loves you more than you can even imagine.  Receive The Truth—The Redeemer—The Savior of all who will come to Him—the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin to all who will come to Him in repentance of sin and faith in His finished work of salvation.

Amen and Amen!!!

What Do I Value??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #321

10 Monday Feb 2025

Posted by in A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Holey, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Victorious Living, Walking With Jesus, Walking Worthy, What are you doing with your TIME?, Worldliness, Worship Him!

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What Do I Value???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #321

Value is temporal, fleeting and transient; so what are we to value?  While it sometimes seems trite and tenuous, value is what makes us what we are.  For what I value, I will pursue.  What I pursue, I will conform to!  What I conform to will determine my life style, my activities and my eternal destiny.  Joshua said it best as he was at the end of his life, having led Israel into the “Promised Land”, he called them to “choose you this day”!  And while there are very few Joshua’s in our day, God is calling us to choose; will I heed to His voice, His Word and His Son, our only way to Salvation?  It’s your choice!  Will you choose Jesus and receive eternal life—real life, or will you yield to the world’s lies and follow them to hell?

“Now therefore fear the LORD,

and serve him

in sincerity and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,

choose you this day whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.”  Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua had made his choice long before this, he remained strong in his devotion to Jehovah God and His promises; so he called all Israel to follow God—but he made it clear that it was their choice, and you have the same choice today.  You can choose Jesus or reject Him, it is your choice, but remember you have the God-given right to choose, but when you choose the consequences of your choice will follow—and you can’t pick you own consequences!

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

Do you value the Word of God?  Have you heeded the call of Jesus upon your life, or disregarded His love, and sacrifice for you. Are going headlong down the wrong road.  His sacrifice for sin is available to you, if you’ll see your sin and turn to The Cross!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 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 1:10-13

It’s not religion, or regulations, or even doing good things, You must be “born…of God”, even as Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter three, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”!  Until we come to God in humble repentance of our own sin, and accept the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for all who will come to HIM, we will not have real life.  Jesus made it perfectly clear that HE is God, and He came to die for my sin and yours, so HE is the only way to God—to eternal life—to a home in heaven.  Contrary to popular belief, not everyone goes to heaven!

“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

So, my friends, who are you following?  What path have you valued to the exclusion of Jesus, His Word and His way?  The world says we can have it all, just add Jesus to your list and you’ll be ok.  Even churches are failing to preach repentance and a life of holiness and conformity to Jesus!  How sad it makes me, yet I must proclaim the truth that God has called me to, whether you love it—hate it–accept it—or reject it!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  And even now we are called to pay a price for following the biblical Jesus!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new…

… 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”    Portions of 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

What do you value?  Paul gives us an amazing picture of what ought to be our values, our pursuits, and devotion.  Does your life line up to Jesus’ standard?

“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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man the measure of faith.”                Romans 12:1-3

If you claim the name of Jesus, are you walking His way or your own way?  Do those around you see Jesus or the same worldliness that they see all around them?  Do you shine for Jesus or just the glitter and bling of the world?  There is a difference.  But we must understand, that when we choose to follow godliness, holiness (not a denomination, but a way of life that conforms to God’s Word) and truth, the world won’t like it, and we will pay a price for living God’s way!  Are you willing?

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers

shall wax worse and worse,

deceiving,

and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things

which thou hast learned

and hast been assured of,

knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child

thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise

unto salvation through faith

which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:12-17

“Follow peace with all men,

and holiness,

without which no man shall see the Lord:”  Hebrews 12:14

And in closing, Peter calls us to remember our Lord, the price that He paid for our salvation, and what HE calls us to “be” not just “do”.  Being must precede doing, we must be holy (in Jesus!) before we can (do) behave holily!

“For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God endure grief,

suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if,

when ye be buffeted for your faults,

 ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 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 2:19-25

Will you choose Jesus?  Will you join me in pursuing holiness before our Lord?  And just FYI, I know a lot of people claim verse 24 as a promise of all healing, but if you check its context, it is a reference to our healing from the death sentence of sin.  Read Isaiah 53, particularly verse 5 which is what Peter is quoting; you will find that it is a reference to the price that Jesus would pay for our salvation, not our perpetual healing.  It’s a reference to His blood which cleanses us from all sin!  Will you walk with Him today?  Will you forsake the things of the world that are continually calling us away from Jesus (when the world uses Jesus’ name to condone that which God condemns—check it out in His Word don’t trust to your own wisdom.)

“Let no man deceive himself.

If any man among you seemeth to be wise

in this world,

let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world

is foolishness with God.”  1 Corinthians 3:18-19a

Amen and Amen!!!

Prayers Of Help For Parents??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #276

23 Wednesday Oct 2024

Posted by in Children, Parenting is a lifetime calling!, Parenting matters, Paying attention

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Prayers Of Help For Parents???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #276

When we see all the chaos around us, especially the chaos amongst our young, is there any hope?  Well, my friends, our hope—our only hope—is in Jesus and His Word.  That’s not just a cliché, but the truest of all truth; yet we must realize that it is not an easy solution but one that costs our all in all, and our bowing before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  And that seems to be a foreign idea to most, even many that claim to belong to Jesus!  But may I say, unless we’ve been to Calvary and been washed in the “blood of Jesus” which is the only thing that “cleanseth from all sin”, and Sin is the issue, our hope will wane!  Not a popular topic, but truth none the less.  God has extended His grace, mercy and love to us and sent Jesus to save us from sin!

“For all

have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him

which believeth in Jesus.”             Romans 3:23-26

What does all this mean?  It really isn’t difficult, God offers the sacrifice of His Son as the redemption (an act of atoning for guilt…an act or state of being rescued…) from our sin, to all who will believe; the same message that Jesus gave Nicodemus, the religious leader who needed more than religion!  Jesus told him that he must be “born again” by faith in what Jesus came to do—to die for our sin debt. And the Apostle John describes it in John 1.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 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 1:10-13

Paul gives us an amazing picture of what Jesus does for those who come to Him.  What does all this have to do with parenting?  Good question.  Friends, without Jesus we cannot exercise wisdom, grace and love of a biblical sort to lead our children to the cross.  And without Jesus and His cross of sacrifice our children will be headed straight for hell—not popular but true!  Are we who know Jesus exercising biblical principles in the training, discipline and instruction in righteousness with our children and grandchildren.  Or are we allowing and even promoting the things of the world which are leading them in the wrong direction.  Jesus said there’s a broad way that “leadeth to destruction” or we can choose to lead others to the “straight gate” which leads “to life”!

“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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself

more highly than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

There are a couple of things that I’d like to share in closing, things that aren’t always associated with parenting, and the last that is the ultimate biblical instruction for parenting.  Just remember God is the perfect parent, and we don’t always listen to or heed His directions.  Parenting is dependent on you and God, yet even our best efforts are sometimes received and heeded, sometimes not.  God has given your children free will as He has you!  When in doubt take it to the cross.

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”  Philippians 4:13

“But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father

be glory

for ever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:19-20

And a passage that I believe is the ultimate plumbline on parenting says that you live before your children is way more influential than what you say.  Be sure you are “being” a doer of The Word, and not a “hearer” only (and as a parent a “speaker” only!)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 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,  (what you do)

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.             (what you see)

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house, (how you live at home)

and on thy gates…

…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.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.”   Portions of Deuteronomy 6:4-25

Just remember that this passage starts out telling us that we, as parents must love God first!  It finishes with God’s command to have a testimony to share when our children ask—implying that when we live it in front of them, and hold them to biblical principles, the day will come when they will ask “why”; and when that day comes, we are to be able to share with them not just what God once did in our lives, but what HE is doing right now!!!  May you be blessed in your ministry of influencing others.

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.

Amen & Amen!!!