In our year long study of The Story at Woodville Baptist Church, we have discovered a lot of neat things. One that stood out this week was how some times our children follow our leading and how some times they don’t. Amazingly, some times our children pick up the correct learning even when we have failed to provide it.
Let me just mention a brief time period in Judah’s history. One of the best kings to rule Judah in the Old Testament was King Hezediah. He had a son, Manasseh, but Manasseh turned out to be the most evil king Judah had. The Bible records this fact about Manasseh, "He sacrificed his own son in the fire, ..., He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking Him to anger." (2 Kings 21:6) Manaaseh had a son, Amon, who was also a bad king. But, then Amom had a son, Josiah, who was one of the very best kings Judah had. So, Manasseh was Josiah’s grandfather. Figure that out!
Actually, because of Josiah’s desire to please God, God gave Judah 31 more years of peace. The Bible records this fact about Josiah, "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the Law of Moses." (2 Kings 23:25)
Josiah did exactly what God wants all of us to do. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) Jesus even repeats these words "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
So, how do Christian parents teach their children the love of God? I know what Proverbs says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6). But I also know what I have seen in families. This doesn’t always work.
The most important thing we parents can do has to be more than lecturing. We have to do more than just speak words, we have to practice what we teach. Our actions have to match our words. "Walk the talk" in others words. But is that a guaranty that our children well follow? No, it is not. Our children, just like we ourselves, have to make their own choices. But if we do our part, then our children have a much better chance of choosing the right path. Plus if we do our part, then we know that we have done all we can.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Contagious People by Kevin Sluder
Have you ever been feeling kind of low, and then you run into one of those people that are always smiling? Their words of encouragement and their actions always seem to build you up. When you say goodbye you are almost floating on sunshine. Even when you know they are personally struggling with something, they find a silver lining. This is a contagious person.
…And then there is the other end of the contagious scale. You know, the person you do your best to avoid. They are critical and degrading in almost everything they say. Even the good things around them have a gray lining. The cloud of despair is so thick you feel like you’ve been through a downpour when you finally escape.
Contagious people. Understand, all of us are contagious, but most of us are somewhere in the middle between the two extremes. We should make ourselves more aware of the power of our words. We can’t always count on there being a Susie Sunshine around to brighten things up. We should be prepared to offer a kind word, a bit of encouragement, or just a shoulder when needed to counter the gloomy Gus' of the world.
This should be especially true of Christians. So why does it seem too many of us are walking around with grumpy frowns? When we realize our sin is forgiven and our place in Heaven has been reserved and assured, shouldn’t we be smiling?
I am not talking about putting on a fake church face like we all do from time to time. I know life can be very painful and circumstances can be so difficult you may find yourself struggling just to put one foot in front of the other. I am talking about having an inner joy unspeakable even in the struggle that comes from knowing the Savior and knowing these burdens are temporary.
Jesus was contagious. He drew people to himself with his compassion and his love. Think about this - Jesus was homeless and he carried the fate of the entire human race on his shoulders. Sure he was the son of God but he was also fully human. How did he do it? He did not concentrate on the hardships of the day (or the past). He looked beyond the cross to the promise of eternity.
The next time you are tempted to cut loose some words of gloom and doom, instead dwell on the eternal and spread a little Sonshine. While you are at it give Gloomy Gus a hug. I’m not promising rainbows but it will brighten his day, and yours.
…And then there is the other end of the contagious scale. You know, the person you do your best to avoid. They are critical and degrading in almost everything they say. Even the good things around them have a gray lining. The cloud of despair is so thick you feel like you’ve been through a downpour when you finally escape.
Contagious people. Understand, all of us are contagious, but most of us are somewhere in the middle between the two extremes. We should make ourselves more aware of the power of our words. We can’t always count on there being a Susie Sunshine around to brighten things up. We should be prepared to offer a kind word, a bit of encouragement, or just a shoulder when needed to counter the gloomy Gus' of the world.
This should be especially true of Christians. So why does it seem too many of us are walking around with grumpy frowns? When we realize our sin is forgiven and our place in Heaven has been reserved and assured, shouldn’t we be smiling?
I am not talking about putting on a fake church face like we all do from time to time. I know life can be very painful and circumstances can be so difficult you may find yourself struggling just to put one foot in front of the other. I am talking about having an inner joy unspeakable even in the struggle that comes from knowing the Savior and knowing these burdens are temporary.
Jesus was contagious. He drew people to himself with his compassion and his love. Think about this - Jesus was homeless and he carried the fate of the entire human race on his shoulders. Sure he was the son of God but he was also fully human. How did he do it? He did not concentrate on the hardships of the day (or the past). He looked beyond the cross to the promise of eternity.
The next time you are tempted to cut loose some words of gloom and doom, instead dwell on the eternal and spread a little Sonshine. While you are at it give Gloomy Gus a hug. I’m not promising rainbows but it will brighten his day, and yours.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
I'm Offended
Have you ever noticed that when someone offends you, every thing they do after that you will find offensive. Their conversation, their walk, every encounter with that person, will be skewed because you are upset with them. Even when they walk by and say, “Hi” you are certain the inflection in their voice was really conveying something more, like a slam. You question their every motive and think that they are only up to do no good. Yet, in most cases, that person never even knows you’re upset with them.
When you finally let go of your offense, all those little incidents you allowed to build up in your mind seem like no big deal; probably because they really weren’t. We have this tendency to make mountains out of mole hills, especially when it comes to relationships with people.
Through my many years as a pastor, I have been insulted and verbally hurt in every way you can think of, however, I consider myself a pretty forgiving person. Forgiving and forgetting does not come automatically; I have to purpose to do this.
Life is too short to remain angry at so many people in our lives. If you have been offended, and who hasn’t, the best advice is “let it go”. Letting go doesn’t mean you have to allow the offender to become your best friend, but respond calmly and confidently, remembering that God is with you. Get alone and talk it over with the Master of the Universe and “let it go”. This is the way of Peace!
Try it! It does wonders for your own attitude. “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
We can and will forgive others because we have been forgiven by Jesus Christ.
When you finally let go of your offense, all those little incidents you allowed to build up in your mind seem like no big deal; probably because they really weren’t. We have this tendency to make mountains out of mole hills, especially when it comes to relationships with people.
Through my many years as a pastor, I have been insulted and verbally hurt in every way you can think of, however, I consider myself a pretty forgiving person. Forgiving and forgetting does not come automatically; I have to purpose to do this.
Life is too short to remain angry at so many people in our lives. If you have been offended, and who hasn’t, the best advice is “let it go”. Letting go doesn’t mean you have to allow the offender to become your best friend, but respond calmly and confidently, remembering that God is with you. Get alone and talk it over with the Master of the Universe and “let it go”. This is the way of Peace!
Try it! It does wonders for your own attitude. “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
We can and will forgive others because we have been forgiven by Jesus Christ.
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