Where You Lead

Consistency

Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

I’m not sure why Paul addresses only fathers in this passage; mothers must be careful with how they parent as well. Perhaps it has to do with authority. I’m not sure. What I do know is that parenting is a tough job.

I think the most exasperating thing for kids is inconsistency. When jumping on the furniture one day brings out video cameras and laughs, but elicits a scolding the next day, a child becomes confused. Rules and discipline should be constant.

Teaching right and wrong is a lifelong lesson. Kids need to be taught, both in words and actions, how to live according to God’s plan. As parents, we have a tremendous responsibility to make clear to our children what is expected of them and the consequences of not following through. There needs to be consistency in how we discipline our children but also consistency in our words and actions.

Loving Discipline

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 13:24

If ever a Bible passage was misused and misunderstood, it is this one. My heart aches every time someone quotes this passage to explain or rationalize hitting (swatting, spanking, whipping, etc.) their child. Unlike some passages that are debated due to a literal or figurative meaning, this one is misused because of ignorance.

Most of us have never herded sheep. The rod in this passage refers to the rod used by shepherds. Like a shepherd who guides their sheep, we parents are responsible for guiding our children. If a shepherd spares the rod, the sheep will stray as will our children without discipline.

What we need to understand, though, is that the shepherd never uses the rod to strike the sheep. Rather, the rod is used to gently guide the sheep in the right direction. The rod extends the reach of the shepherd’s arm so that he can walk along and help keep the sheep on the right path, prodding when necessary.

Our job as parents is to guide our children into adulthood with a firm arm. We must keep our children within our reach, prod them along and use the rod of discipline to gently nudge them back on the proper path. God has entrusted to our care these precious people, so filled with wonder of love. We must cherish them and treat them with the same love that we expect our own Heavenly Father to treat us.

Live To Serve

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.

Ephesians 6:7

I’ve already reflected on serving others. Seems there isn’t much more to say about it. But there is. This passage says so much about serving.

It isn’t enough that we serve others, we must do so “wholeheartedly.” We must serve others as if we were serving the Lord! Imagine that. Imagine how differently we’d serve if it were the Lord and not just some person.

For example, it isn’t enough to force a smile as we offer our place in line to the frenzied mother with the whining toddler and an overflowing shopping cart. Rather, we should lovingly and with genuine joy, offer our place to the mother as we try to help her unload her cart. Perhaps a pat on the hand and a sincere smile of understanding will make the next hour go a little smoother for her. If she were our Lord rather than just some woman with a screaming brat, how would we respond to her? Yeah, that’s how we should respond – as if she were our Lord.

I’ve been trying to serve others, putting Jesus first and those around me second. Now I need to take my service to the next level. I must serve with true Joy, as if each person I meet is Jesus Christ. I must serve others the same way I’d serve my Lord.

Join me?

Immovable Heart

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast.

Psalm 57:7

A steadfast heart is constant. It’s strong. It never doubts, never wavers.

I know my heart is steadfast when my life is going well. When I can see God’s hand in my life, feel His blessings, my love and devotion to Him is sure and steady. When things go wrong, though, I find that I must make a real effort to remain steadfast in my faith. I must make a conscious effort remain to true to my Lord.

Each and every day, no matter what is happening around me, I must make a choice to connect to Him, to confide in Him, to love Him. Every time I turn my back on sin or reach outside of myself do His work, I am strengthening my bond with God.

Let’s all work toward having a steadfast heart for God.

Priority Adjustment

Command those who are rich in this present world not be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17

God blesses some with much wealth. That’s fine. The problem is when wealth becomes more important than God. The problem is when wealth becomes God.

God’s blessings in our lives are intended to be shared. When we don’t share, when we hoard, might it be a lack of trust in God? When we have a little extra or a lot extra, do we keep a portion as “cushion” just in case something comes up? I’m guilty of that. I have money set aside that I use only for emergencies. And I’ve noticed something.

No matter how much I set aside, something comes up that requires just that amount of money. Interestingly, it usually happens shortly after I neglect to share it with someone who needs help. I reason at the time that I can’t let my cushion get too low, and that I’m being responsible for my family. The truth is, that cushion doesn’t protect my family, God does. That little bit of money can be wiped out in a heartbeat – and often is.

I really need to stop relying on money and start trusting God. Money is gone in a flash but God never leaves my side. God will provide. He always does.

Daily Praise

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 146 1-2

Of course, we Christians will agree that we should praise God every day. Most of us believe that we do. I wonder, though, how much of our time each day is spent praising Him compared to how much time we spend asking for something.

If I’m going to be honest here, I have to admit that I give praise for less than a minute each day but I ask God’s help, blessings or favors constantly, all day long. There’s nothing wrong with asking for God’s guidance in life; in fact he loves that we rely on him. He loves, too, that we give him honor, praise and credit for all that we are and all that we have. Our praise should be, at the very least, equal to our prayers of thanksgiving and prayers requesting blessings.

Today, I’m praising God throughout the day. Every time I get the urge to ask Him for something, I’m going to make a point of praising Him instead. I want to get into the habit of praising Him more than asking.

Will you join me? Today, don’t ask, just praise Him.

Real Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13

Humility comes from wisdom, huh? There’s a thought I need consider for a little while. I’m not sure why but I’d never really associated those two qualities. Now that I really think about it, I realize that the people I know who I consider truly wise – not simply “smart” – are also humble.

The opposite of a wise person, I suppose, would be a fool. None of us want to be a fool. It’s difficult, though, to look at ourselves through someone else’s eyes so I have to wonder how many times my lack of humility made me a fool in the eyes of others? Given my struggle with humility, I’d guess plenty of times!

I have to remember that when I do something for someone else, I need to keep quiet about it. I must not announce it to anyone. I must not pat myself on the back for being generous or good. I must remember, also, that I don’t need to be the best or get the most attention. Helping and giving is joy on its own.

Most important I must remember that when I succeed, it is only by the grace of God. Everything I accomplish is His work, His goodness, His blessings. Humility means understanding that without God, I am nothing. Humility means that when I am able to serve others, that is God’s gift to me.

Let’s pray today that we have the opportunity to serve and remember to praise God for the opportunity. Let’s serve and give with humility so that are lives are led by true wisdom.

Who’s Number One?

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

Do you remember how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples after the Last Supper? Jesus, who they called Lord and Master, knelt down to wash their feet, to serve them.

That is exactly what God expects from us as well. We are to serve one another in love. If I believe that I am better than someone else, by virtue of my money or intelligence or whatever, how will I serve this other person?

I know there are teachings of other faiths or modern day “religions” that proclaim the person to be the ultimate. That kind of thinking feeds into today’s “Me first” and “It’s all about me” mentality. God’s word, though, tells us that we are not number one, that we are here to serve one another.

I think it’s time for me to step outside of my comfort zone and begin to really help others. I’ve put off for too long the work I need to do to reach out and serve those in need of God’s love. Today, I will recommit myself to service for God.

Real Treasure

“Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Matthew 6:19-20

Everything in this life will pass. We will walk this earth for less than a century; it is the next life that will be eternal. It is the next life that will matter because it is forever.

I’ve been “middle age” for several years now and I can’t deny that I’ve thought about the last part of my life when I’ll need to find a means of financial support beyond a regular job. Will my husband and I have enough “set aside” to carry us through to the end? Interesting, we’ll need enough for 10 or 20 years, maybe a little longer. Yet we seldom give any consideration to to the treasures we’ve stored for the next life that will go far beyond 20 or more years.

You would think that preparing for eternity would count for more than a measly decade or two. You would think that we’d be storing up treasures for eternity from the time we learned about it. Why is it we take for granted our place in heaven, and concentrate on this life? Why do we not trust the Lord to provide for us during our visit here on earth, and spend our time earning our treasure in heaven?

Today, let’s all remember that nothing we have here on earth will go with us into eternity. Let’s never forget that everything we’ve accumulated here on earth will rot away while the good we do and the love we share will go with us into forever. Let’s keep in mind that we need only trust in God to care for us here and that our real treasure awaits us in Heaven.

God’s Word

We must pay more careful attention therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Hebrews 2:1

Whether you were raised in a Christian home or found Christ later in life, you undoubtedly have read the Bible. You have learned of God’s word. You know his teachings. So why must you continue to read the Bible? After all, it hasn’t changed or been updated, right?

This is the information age and there is no escaping the all of the information being hurled our way. From the internet to 24-hour news channels, we are the most up-to-date society ever. And yet, some of the information that finds its way to us is not truth. Some of it is not only based on lies and propaganda but can be downright harmful.

Only in reading God’s word daily and allowing Him to guide us through the information maze, can we remain on the true path to our Father. Only when we rely on His Word to show us the Way can we maneuver through the misinformation to the truth. This is why it is so vital that we read the Bible every day. This is why we must keep God’s word at the center of our minds and our lives.