Tag: God

Law and love

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day seven)  

“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land.”

It will be a long road back, but we can do it.  “He is not willing for any to perish.”  We will need to change.  Attitudes.  Ideas.  Where we once thought of His Law as an imposition, a burden, we will now see it as blessing and necessary check on self-will. Where we once resisted His will, we will yield, in our recovery, to a government that rises from His great grace.  We will teach children to respect parents, to never consider themselves “free agents” from this obligation of gratitude.  We will repent from homes with absent fathers–either physically or emotionally– and will ask only from our children that which we also are willing to live and do.

The Bible doesn’t say God is Law.  It says God is Love.  But, maybe to God, these are the same thing.

Favor With God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day four)  When Jesus remained back at the Temple and His parents finally missed Him, they searched and found Him in the middle of the teachers.  Jesus’ response was “Why is it that you were looking for Me?  Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”  From early in His life, this was His driving goal…to be about His Father’s business.  John 4:34 says, “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work’.”  John 5:36 says, “…for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish–the very works I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”  Is that our driving goal in life?  Are we so concerned with doing God’s work He has for us, that we lose track of things that are going on around us?  Do others recognize this goal as a driving force in our lives?  The result of a ‘yes’ to these questions just might be favor with God!

Grow

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day three)

“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”

It is no coincidence that two sentences after we about Jesus’s obedience, we read that Jesus grew in all aspects of his personhood—body, mind, spirit, social context.  Children are not physically smaller versions of adults.  They are not capable of the complex moral reasoning required to help shape the social order for the common good.  Obedience is the discipline that helps children develop such capacities.  To teach children to obey is not to burden them with an oppressive power structure; rather, it is to take seriously their potential as moral creatures—capable of great good or great harm.  Obedience is the only pathway towards the good life God created each child to live.  Are you teaching children to obey?

Ears of clay

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day one)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”–Ephesians 6:1.  The Bible describes God’s plan for a child with an unusual word.  Hypakouo.  (Hypo=under, thus a hypodermic needle goes under the skin, and akouo=to hear, thus acoustics.)  Hypakouo was both action and attitude.  It described a child who listens as one “under” authority, with the intention and expectation of obedience.  Ever hear someone described as having “feet of clay”?  It is not a compliment!  It means a person who takes a stand/makes a commitment that eventually crumbles away with time.  “Ears of clay”, however,  is a good thing.  Sharp ears.  Soft heart.  Children who learn this suppression of self-will find it easier (later) to take this life-giving attitude toward God.  “Lord, have Thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”–George C. Stebbins.

Home field advantage

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day seven)

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth.”–Psalm 127:3-4.  These words stand in stark contrast to the way moderns think and speak.  Children to the ancients were possessions (heritage), wages (reward) and weapons (arrows).  Our fathers in the faith perceived, sometimes more honestly than we do, the conflict and struggle that life is. . .between good and evil. . .between God’s kingdom and man’s pride.  And children are our secret weapon. No single factor has influenced history more than the Jewish (and then Christian) home.  Parents who carefully and prayerfully shape children for the service of God do, indeed, send them out as arrows aimed at “enemies in the gate.”–v 5. Like the old baseball manager said after an away game defeat.  “They got the best of us tonight, but we will beat them at home.”

Along the Way

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day six)

The most significant thing any of us can do for our children, without doubt, is to teach (and model) them to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their might. Not sure any of us would debate that. Deuteronomy 6 presents to us though, a particular value in discipleship that we do struggle with, a lot. And that is we are called to disciple our children in all of life. We are to disciple our children as we go, or when we rise or lay down. It gives a picture of discipleship that is very different from the one we are accustomed to; we tend to lean towards programming or events to be primary, but in fact as valuable as those may be they were never intended to be. Sunday school or VBS are best served as supplements to what we are called to do with our children in the ongoings of our normal hectic lives.

So, let us all be encouraged to point our children to see and love Jesus in and throughout all of life.

Like a Warrior

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day four)

In the Psalm 127 passage, the analogy is to a warrior.  “Children…are like arrows in the hand of a warrior,”  A warrior gives the picture of one who is skilled and well-trained.  He knows his weapons and how to use them…his arrows are straight and properly fletched so they will fly true to his aim.  Likewise, children who are well trained will be true and accurate.  Training comes by constantly repeating the message until they have mastered the truth.  Deuteronomy says surround your children with God’s truth at home, when traveling, on their hand, on their head, by the door, or by the gate…the picture is to immerse them in his truth.  When they are effectively trained, you will not have to worry.  They will respond in God’s wisdom and power.  We also have the promise that they will not stray from His truth.  What a wonderful promise!  Shouldn’t we get busy training our kids and grandkids?

Poster Children

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day two)

“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframe of your houses and on your gates. Deut.” 6:8-9

Do you remember what you had hanging on your walls in your room as a kid? I had a huge poster of Amy Grant (judge not, lest ye be judged). I can picture most of the house where I grew up with excruciating detail. Perhaps that is why this passage from Deuteronomy makes sense to me. Rote learning is the method of teaching that uses repetition. Think of teaching your child the ABC’s, how many times did you sing it to them? My guess is they still remember them, so good job! Once we develop higher brain functions we no longer rely on rote learning, but it is still effective. The images, words, and places that a child is exposed to create long-term memories that will shape their world-view. How often do you speak of the Lord with your children or grandchildren, or any one you have some influence on? These constant reminders of how great our God is will not soon be forgotten. Like my poster.

Next Gen

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day one)  
“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.”–Deuteronomy 6:6-7.  “The primary responsibility for discipling a child toward faith and obedience to Christ belongs with parents.  No church can fully or adequately substitute for the influence of a parent’s instruction and encouragement.  The church works in partnership with parents.  We offer training and encouragement as we work together to lead children to Christ and to a life of obedience.”–FBCSA Next Gen Report, 2012.  For 3500 years it has been clear.  Parents are, first, to have God’s commandments on OUR OWN hearts.  From this intense, vital, personal relationship with the Lord, we are to TEACH OUR CHILDREN a similar love. What a privilege!  Lord, help us!

Seeing is Believing

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 5:21-33 (day six)

Marriage is an amazing thing. It is beautifully complex, and yet there is nothing as simple (or whole) as the number one, as in one flesh. From the beginning God makes it clear that marriage is not the cooperation of two individual parts but a oneness, two parts combining into one, becoming something new. Paul affirms this reality, and then amplifies it. He makes the case that when a husband and wife become one flesh something remarkable happens, they unveil the mystery of the Gospel.

Perhaps the greatest evangelistic message in your home is your marriage. Perhaps the mystery is even unveiled beyond the threshold of your home into the neighborhood, or the workplace. Could it be that God designed our marriages to powerfully portray His love for His church? Could it be that how you love your wife just might help your neighbor see and know the love of Jesus? Loving my wife (laying down my life for her) just became that much more important!