"These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." Deut 6:6-7
There are unfortunately many times when the unpopularity of the faith finds its most significant expression among our own children. As we teach our kids everything they know about life, from their first steps and words, to avoiding electrical sockets and hot irons to looking both ways when the cross the street, to how to deal with heartbreak, we spend a significant part of our lives preparing them to live theirs. Naturally when we attend worship, we bring them along, send them to their classes, take them to vacation bible school and work side by side with them on church work days or visiting the sick.
Somewhere along the way, however, the world intrudes into this idyllic existence. They discover that there are people out there that are their age that do not necessarily share the same beliefs with which they were raised. They discover that there is music out there that attracts them despite their questionable lyrics. There is alcohol, cigarettes, coarse language, drugs, sex and homosexuality. And because their friends and what those friends think is cool becomes more and more important in their lives, an erosion of everything we have tried to teach them about God and righteousness begins to erode. It is then when the kids begin to question the existence of God, not because He is not real, but because in their minds, He stands against everything that has become increasingly important to them.
Beloved, many parents are experiencing these very things every day. Some even try home schooling in order to limit outside influences but have found that Satan is pervasive, persistent and patient. There are three things we must remember. First, give your children the best biblical and spiritual foundation possible. Ensure that they develop their own relationship with God and that He is much or more a part of their reality as your love for them. From this they will never depart. Second, guard them as much as you can. Watch TV, listen to music, read books and pursue other entertainment and activities with them while teaching them what is acceptable and good and what is not. Third, understand that the world will break in. Just remember your own youth and the first time you tried ________. It is absolutely inevitable. And lastly, stay with your child through their mistakes and experimentation. The purpose is not to approve what they do, but to love them. Constantly encourage them toward the faith and constantly remind them of the spiritual and biblical lessons with which they were raised. Remind them that God is and that He loves them and that you do to.
Heartbreak is an unavoidable hazard of parenting, but we can mitigate the loss of our children to Satan by following these steps. Certainly others involve seeking the counsel of your trusted clergyman, fellowshipping with other parents and families and always, always, always seeking the Lord in prayer. Our children are truly under attack. Let us protect them with the same vigor that we always have against all threats. God will help.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Unpoularity of the Faith (Part II)-7/14/2011
"'Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.' But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property." Matt 19:21-22
People resist or outright reject the faith for a variety of reasons but primary among them is the belief that there is too much to give up. The uninitiated and uninformed feel that the Christian life is too restrictive and does not provide the latitude to indulge in certain popular activities and habits and be true to the faith at the same time. To this the response must be that the same is true with almost anything. We cannot wear pajamas to work. We cannot watch watch personal DVDs during class time at school. We cannot legally drink and drive. We cannot walk into a store and leave with whatever we want without paying. As members of society, we all agree to have certain liberties suspended in order to maintain a life style that is reasonably safe and orderly.
Christianity, among other things, is about safety and orderliness in this life and the next. The rich young ruler came to Jesus looking for heaven. Clearly he recognized the benefits, but the view of salvation's surpassing value was obscured by the vision of giving up earthly things. What good is it to gain (or maintain) the whole world and lose one's very soul? The argument that "he who dies with the most toys wins" is ridiculous and points to our lack of vision and prioritization. The goal of life is to live...eternally!
Beloved, it is incumbent upon us to educate the masses about the benefits of serving God. Restrictions on sexual sin free us from the consequences of diseases, ruined relationships and unwanted children. Restrictions on alcohol usage free us from the disease of alcoholism and the deaths associated with drinking and driving. Prohibitions against lying, cheating and stealing make us better as individuals and contribute to a better society. Attendance at worship contribute to us getting to know our Creator and our fellow man, thus preparing us for the heaven that nearly everyone, regardless of religious participation, desires.
Gal 5:13 states that we have been called to liberty. Let us accept and enjoy the freedom that comes from a relationship with Christ. We may find that the only thing we are truly giving up are the things that contribute to our demise.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
People resist or outright reject the faith for a variety of reasons but primary among them is the belief that there is too much to give up. The uninitiated and uninformed feel that the Christian life is too restrictive and does not provide the latitude to indulge in certain popular activities and habits and be true to the faith at the same time. To this the response must be that the same is true with almost anything. We cannot wear pajamas to work. We cannot watch watch personal DVDs during class time at school. We cannot legally drink and drive. We cannot walk into a store and leave with whatever we want without paying. As members of society, we all agree to have certain liberties suspended in order to maintain a life style that is reasonably safe and orderly.
Christianity, among other things, is about safety and orderliness in this life and the next. The rich young ruler came to Jesus looking for heaven. Clearly he recognized the benefits, but the view of salvation's surpassing value was obscured by the vision of giving up earthly things. What good is it to gain (or maintain) the whole world and lose one's very soul? The argument that "he who dies with the most toys wins" is ridiculous and points to our lack of vision and prioritization. The goal of life is to live...eternally!
Beloved, it is incumbent upon us to educate the masses about the benefits of serving God. Restrictions on sexual sin free us from the consequences of diseases, ruined relationships and unwanted children. Restrictions on alcohol usage free us from the disease of alcoholism and the deaths associated with drinking and driving. Prohibitions against lying, cheating and stealing make us better as individuals and contribute to a better society. Attendance at worship contribute to us getting to know our Creator and our fellow man, thus preparing us for the heaven that nearly everyone, regardless of religious participation, desires.
Gal 5:13 states that we have been called to liberty. Let us accept and enjoy the freedom that comes from a relationship with Christ. We may find that the only thing we are truly giving up are the things that contribute to our demise.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Unpopularity of The Faith (Part I)-7/13/2011
"'Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?' And they took offense at Him." Mark 6:3
No sooner than you turn to God and begin living a life according to His calling will you notice not everyone shares your new found faith nor is overjoyed at your conversion. Initial reactions can go from "Great!" to "Hmmm." Over time this can migrate to everything from ambivalence to hostility. Why? It is because there is a difference between those who serve the Lord and those who do not. 1 Pet 2:9 refers to Christians as a peculiar people. This means that we are a purchased possession of God and have obtained His grace and mercy. Others do not understand this because it is not a part of their lives. Jesus said that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend it. It is not unusual for people to become hostile toward that which they do not understand.
Beloved, if you find yourself at odds with your friends and family over your faith, do not think it strange. Those who knew Jesus, knew his family and watched him grow up had no love for him once his ministry began. He said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and among his own relatives and in his own house" Mark 6:4.
Do not be discouraged when those close to you do not support your faith. Be encouraged that you are both in excellent company and a member of the ultimate family with Almighty God at its head. Rejoice also at the fact that your first opportunity to add to that great family is close at hand. What a blessing it is to lead friends and loved ones to salvation. God would have all to be saved, even those who do not initially share your faith. Though your efforts will not always be successful, know that God knows your efforts and will reward them.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
No sooner than you turn to God and begin living a life according to His calling will you notice not everyone shares your new found faith nor is overjoyed at your conversion. Initial reactions can go from "Great!" to "Hmmm." Over time this can migrate to everything from ambivalence to hostility. Why? It is because there is a difference between those who serve the Lord and those who do not. 1 Pet 2:9 refers to Christians as a peculiar people. This means that we are a purchased possession of God and have obtained His grace and mercy. Others do not understand this because it is not a part of their lives. Jesus said that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend it. It is not unusual for people to become hostile toward that which they do not understand.
Beloved, if you find yourself at odds with your friends and family over your faith, do not think it strange. Those who knew Jesus, knew his family and watched him grow up had no love for him once his ministry began. He said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and among his own relatives and in his own house" Mark 6:4.
Do not be discouraged when those close to you do not support your faith. Be encouraged that you are both in excellent company and a member of the ultimate family with Almighty God at its head. Rejoice also at the fact that your first opportunity to add to that great family is close at hand. What a blessing it is to lead friends and loved ones to salvation. God would have all to be saved, even those who do not initially share your faith. Though your efforts will not always be successful, know that God knows your efforts and will reward them.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tear the Roof Off-7/12/2011
"Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying." Mark 2:4
Human beings are amazingly resourceful and resilient. There are ways found to do just about anything. We investigate, analyze, solve, plan, execute and evaluate. Most every problem that faces us is eventually solved. We then pass along the solution to others and set ourselves to tackle the next obstacle.
As Jesus was in a home sharing wisdom and knowledge, a few friends desired to see him in order to obtain healing for one of their number who was afflicted with a palsy. He was unable to get himself to Jesus. When they arrived and could not gain entrance because of the crowd, they put their heads together and found a way to get to the Lord.
Beloved, we should all use the resourcefulness that God gave us to get to Him. It was all to easy for humankind to leave Him. From that very time He has been making ways for us to be returned, reconciled and reunited. Having been advised that there is a way, we must overcome all obstacles to get to Him. We find ways to accomplish so many things that do not contribute to our salvation. Why not do similarly for that which does?
It also seen in this passage that there was an effort to deliver someone who could not deliver himself. The Christian must be willing to overcome obstacles to getting others to Christ as well. Once we have been saved, it becomes a priority to conduct others to salvation as well. Through their own circumstances, they may be hindered from seeking and gaining him on their own...perhaps as some of us may have been.
Let us tear the roof off if we must, but let nothing stand between us, our duty and our Lord.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Human beings are amazingly resourceful and resilient. There are ways found to do just about anything. We investigate, analyze, solve, plan, execute and evaluate. Most every problem that faces us is eventually solved. We then pass along the solution to others and set ourselves to tackle the next obstacle.
As Jesus was in a home sharing wisdom and knowledge, a few friends desired to see him in order to obtain healing for one of their number who was afflicted with a palsy. He was unable to get himself to Jesus. When they arrived and could not gain entrance because of the crowd, they put their heads together and found a way to get to the Lord.
Beloved, we should all use the resourcefulness that God gave us to get to Him. It was all to easy for humankind to leave Him. From that very time He has been making ways for us to be returned, reconciled and reunited. Having been advised that there is a way, we must overcome all obstacles to get to Him. We find ways to accomplish so many things that do not contribute to our salvation. Why not do similarly for that which does?
It also seen in this passage that there was an effort to deliver someone who could not deliver himself. The Christian must be willing to overcome obstacles to getting others to Christ as well. Once we have been saved, it becomes a priority to conduct others to salvation as well. Through their own circumstances, they may be hindered from seeking and gaining him on their own...perhaps as some of us may have been.
Let us tear the roof off if we must, but let nothing stand between us, our duty and our Lord.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Monday, July 11, 2011
You and the Word-7/11/2011 (rp)
"These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deut 6:6-9
The word of God is to be everything to the Christian. According to Heb 1:1-2, God previously educated us though prophets who spoke to the heads of families who in turn, taught their families. In these last days however, He speaks to us through His word. Make no mistake, the primary way we can get to know our Father and His will for our lives is to consult His word.
Though no book can possibly contain Yahweh, all we need to know about Him is contained therein. That word, devinely inspired by Him, is to not only to become a part of who we are, but to be constantly on our minds and hearts. We are to teach it to our children.
God's people have always pursued a tradition of passing down knowledge and information. Is that tradition still intact with us? Before you say yes, ask yourself when was the last time you sat down and spent time studying His word for yourself. Yes, we go to worship services and attend bible classes but do you "talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up?" When is the last time you actually conducted a study with your family or your friends?
Beloved, learn God's word for yourself. After all, it was provided specifically for you.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
The word of God is to be everything to the Christian. According to Heb 1:1-2, God previously educated us though prophets who spoke to the heads of families who in turn, taught their families. In these last days however, He speaks to us through His word. Make no mistake, the primary way we can get to know our Father and His will for our lives is to consult His word.
Though no book can possibly contain Yahweh, all we need to know about Him is contained therein. That word, devinely inspired by Him, is to not only to become a part of who we are, but to be constantly on our minds and hearts. We are to teach it to our children.
God's people have always pursued a tradition of passing down knowledge and information. Is that tradition still intact with us? Before you say yes, ask yourself when was the last time you sat down and spent time studying His word for yourself. Yes, we go to worship services and attend bible classes but do you "talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up?" When is the last time you actually conducted a study with your family or your friends?
Beloved, learn God's word for yourself. After all, it was provided specifically for you.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Friday, July 8, 2011
Know It For Yourself-7/8/2011 (rp)
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11
In this day and age of skepticism, fact checking has become the national pastime. During the coming election season, cable news networks and internet sites will be buzzing 24 hours a day checking, verifying, rechecking and reverifying claims and statistics by those who are running. It seems that we don't want to take anyone's word for anything and that we want to know it all for ourselves.
Why is this mentality so prevalent regarding all things secular, but so noticeably lacking in the spiritual aspects of our lives. Put another way, why do we not study our bibles (more)? It has become our habit to be lazy when it comes to the word. This leads to biblical illiteracy. The end result is that we rely totally on what we think and what we are told rather than what we can learn for ourselves. In fact, we are more likely to look into the church finances and demand an accounting for every penny, than to spend an hour studying the holy writ of God.
Beloved, Heb 9:27 states, "...it is appointed unto men once to die and then the judgment." Our entire lives will be judged by the things found in the word. Does it not make sense to be as familiar and compliant with the bible as possible?
It is good to have knowledgeable men of God as preachers and teachers, but even they (we) will be judged out of the book. When it comes to your eternal soul, it is best to know it for yourself. Judgment will not be like an IRS audit at which you can call your tax preparer to come and answer questions on your behalf. We will all stand for ourselves. If we are wise, we will stand on the word.
For this reason, Jesus has said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
In this day and age of skepticism, fact checking has become the national pastime. During the coming election season, cable news networks and internet sites will be buzzing 24 hours a day checking, verifying, rechecking and reverifying claims and statistics by those who are running. It seems that we don't want to take anyone's word for anything and that we want to know it all for ourselves.
Why is this mentality so prevalent regarding all things secular, but so noticeably lacking in the spiritual aspects of our lives. Put another way, why do we not study our bibles (more)? It has become our habit to be lazy when it comes to the word. This leads to biblical illiteracy. The end result is that we rely totally on what we think and what we are told rather than what we can learn for ourselves. In fact, we are more likely to look into the church finances and demand an accounting for every penny, than to spend an hour studying the holy writ of God.
Beloved, Heb 9:27 states, "...it is appointed unto men once to die and then the judgment." Our entire lives will be judged by the things found in the word. Does it not make sense to be as familiar and compliant with the bible as possible?
It is good to have knowledgeable men of God as preachers and teachers, but even they (we) will be judged out of the book. When it comes to your eternal soul, it is best to know it for yourself. Judgment will not be like an IRS audit at which you can call your tax preparer to come and answer questions on your behalf. We will all stand for ourselves. If we are wise, we will stand on the word.
For this reason, Jesus has said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Protect Your Birthright-7/7/2011
"But Jacob said, 'First sell me your birthright.' Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” Gen 25:31-32
Esau was the first born of his father, Isaac. The culture in those times gave the first born son certain rights and privileges that superseded that of all of the other children. He would typically become the heir and thus receive the vast majority of his father's possessions upon his death.
Esau had just come from the field where he presumably was working. Due to hunger he described as putting him into proximity of death, Esau willingly sold his birthright to his younger twin brother for a bowl of soup.
Beloved, through baptism, we have been born into the family of God. We have been made joint heirs with Christ, Rom 8:17. This is the most wonderful, yet costly gift we can ever receive. It is available nowhere else. It is of such surpassing value that it will literally determine our eternity.
Esau sold his inheritance for the temporary relief of hunger and pleasure of eating. He is described as having despised his birthright. For how little are we willing to sacrifice our inheritance in our daily lives? For what whim or temporary pleasure are we willing to jeopardize our birthright? We must place it within the safety deposit box of sanctity and literally guard it with our lives because once it is gone,it is gone forever.
Loving Like Jesus
Lee
Esau was the first born of his father, Isaac. The culture in those times gave the first born son certain rights and privileges that superseded that of all of the other children. He would typically become the heir and thus receive the vast majority of his father's possessions upon his death.
Esau had just come from the field where he presumably was working. Due to hunger he described as putting him into proximity of death, Esau willingly sold his birthright to his younger twin brother for a bowl of soup.
Beloved, through baptism, we have been born into the family of God. We have been made joint heirs with Christ, Rom 8:17. This is the most wonderful, yet costly gift we can ever receive. It is available nowhere else. It is of such surpassing value that it will literally determine our eternity.
Esau sold his inheritance for the temporary relief of hunger and pleasure of eating. He is described as having despised his birthright. For how little are we willing to sacrifice our inheritance in our daily lives? For what whim or temporary pleasure are we willing to jeopardize our birthright? We must place it within the safety deposit box of sanctity and literally guard it with our lives because once it is gone,it is gone forever.
Loving Like Jesus
Lee
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