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Post by Unmerited on Jun 24, 2023 7:20:57 GMT -8
Honor Your Parents - June 24
Honor your father and mother… that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:2, 3
In this text, Paul charges children to show honor to their parents. To honor means “to prize highly, or to show respect.”
We cannot teach our children to honor or respect us; it must be earned. As our children, who are our closest observers, watch our lives and listen to our words, their respect for us will either grow or diminish. Their attitude toward us will be molded by what they see us do and hear us say. They will learn to respect others by seeing how we respect others. They will see how we relate to our parents and act accordingly If we treat our parents with honor, they will learn that the command to honor them is a lifetime command; it does not end when we move away and begin our families.
By earning the respect of our children and by giving honor to our own parents, we will all become recipients of God’s promise, and it will “be well with [us] and [we will] live long on the earth.”
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Jun 25, 2023 9:52:26 GMT -8
Finding Direction - June 25
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5, 6
This text gives a three–pronged course of action for guiding our children toward God’s plan for their lives.
First, they must trust in the Lord with all of their heart. That trust will be determined by how we have taught and lived our trust in Him. Our trust must be equally as wholehearted if we are to pass that characteristic on to the next generation.
Next, they cannot depend on their own understanding to figure out God’s way for their lives. God’s way cannot always be rationalized because His ways are higher than our ways (Is. 55:8, 9). Helping our children learn to hear God’s voice for themselves opens the door to trusting Him even when it doesn’t make sense.
Third, we must teach our children to acknowledge God in all they do. “Acknowledge” suggests that one should be fully aware of and in fellowship with the Lord.
The result will be sure direction. The word “direct” suggests that God will straighten out the path of His servants. That is what we want for ourselves and our children.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Jun 26, 2023 6:19:52 GMT -8
Training - June 26
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Often we think that if our children just watch our walk with Christ it will naturally rub off on them. We do need to be aware of what our children see lived out in us, but God demands more of us in preparing our children for life. He calls us to train them.
To “train up” requires that parents impart wisdom, love, nurture, and discipline to their children so that they become fully equipped and committed to the Lord. “In the way he should go” implies that the training should be according to the unique personality, gifts, and aspirations of each child. It also means that children should be taught to avoid any of their natural tendencies that might prevent them from making a total commitment to Christ.
In order for training to be effective, children must put into practice what they are taught. Opportunities to demonstrate their spiritual skills must be given them so that when the real challenges come they will pass the test—both now and for a lifetime.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Jun 27, 2023 7:17:17 GMT -8
On Money June 27
The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith. 1 Timothy 6:10
The Bible clearly teaches that misusing money can lead to physical, moral, and spiritual decay. This text indicates that loving money is the source of all kinds of evil, that it can cause individuals to stray from their faith and that it can bring many sorrows. The previous verse states that those who desire to be rich fall into temptations, snares, and foolish and harmful lusts which lead to destruction.
These are solemn warnings, and we must take note of them. And we must train our children so that they learn to keep money in proper perspective. We must teach them to tithe and give offerings as the basis for their financial security (Mal. 3:7–10). Scripture further elaborates on such practical issues as saving (Prov. 21:20), controlling debt (Prov. 22:7), and giving to the poor and needy (Prov. 22:9).
Teaching our children to become faithful stewards financially becomes the foundation for them to learn how to give their lives in love to the Lord and in ministry to the world.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Jun 28, 2023 10:36:52 GMT -8
Protection and Trust - June 28
Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? Job 1:10
The interrogator was Satan. The one being questioned was God. The subject of the conversation was Job, who was described as a man who “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). Satan contended that if God’s protective hedge were removed Job would no longer serve the Lord but would curse Him. Satan was wrong. After being stripped of family and possessions, Job proclaimed, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).
During the few brief years that our children are in our safekeeping, we must teach them to trust in the Lord. There comes a time when we can no longer be with them constantly, and it is then that we must pray God will keep them from the wiles of the adversary (Eph. 6:11).
As our children grow in the Lord, first under our protection and then under God’s protection, they will come to know His presence and, like Job, trust in Him unreservedly.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Jun 29, 2023 5:45:34 GMT -8
God’s Mighty Deeds - June 29
We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. Psalm 78:4
The Old Testament frequently exhorts us to recount to our children God’s faithfulness and mighty works. The Lord instructed Moses to “tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt” (Ex. 10:2). Moses told the children of Israel to teach “the things your eyes have seen… to your children and your grandchildren” (Deut. 4:9). Our children need to hear these things so “that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments” (Ps. 78:7).
God continues to do wondrous things, and we must share them with our children. As we rehearse to our children the power of God that saved, that healed, that provided for, that protected us and our families, they, too, will set their hope in God. Their faith will be strengthened, and they will stand firm in the Lord, knowing that He will answer them as well when they have need.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Unmerited on Jun 30, 2023 5:16:56 GMT -8
The Word - June 30
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11
Psalm 119 exalts the Word of the Lord like no other passage in Scripture. The Word is referred to in every verse and is referred to by many different names: the Law, commandments, testimonies, statutes, precepts, judgments, ordinance, Word, and way.
The benefits of the Word are numerous. “Those who keep His testimonies… do no iniquity” (vv. 2, 3). His statutes prevent shame (v. 6), and sin (v. 11), and can be our song (v. 54). His testimonies bring delight (v. 24). His Word revives (v. 25), strengthens (v. 28), and cleanses (v. 9); brings salvation (v. 41) and mercy (v. 58); gives life (v. 50) and hope (v. 74); and keeps us from straying (v. 67). His commandments give understanding (v. 73). And that is only the beginning!
There is no greater gift that we can give to our children than a thirst, an appreciation, and a love for God’s Word. As our children store up God’s Word in their hearts, it will give them sure footing for life: “I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. I… did not delay to keep Your commandments” (vv. 59, 60).
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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Post by Parker on Jul 1, 2023 15:06:17 GMT -8
A DAILY DEVOTION FOR JULY 1ST
A Living Parable
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
John 13:1
The passage begins with a parable in action rather than a discourse or a message. It begins with Jesus' washing the disciples' feet. And in that remarkable event, simple as it was and yet strange in many ways, John sees some very deep and remarkable meanings. There are two movements that John sees in this event, and he gathers them up in the preface to this account. John sees first in this remarkable scene the evidence and the demonstration of the unchanging love of Jesus for His disciples. Jesus remains considerate, compassionate, and thoughtful about His disciples, and that impresses John. He is amazed by the fact that Jesus is not thinking of Himself, even though He knows that this is the dramatic hour toward which He has been living. Rather, His thoughts are still upon His disciples. He teaches them and manifests love and compassion and concern for them to the end.
The second movement concerns Judas. John sees in the act of foot washing a demonstration of the truth that is in Jesus, of the remarkable passion that strips away all pretense and hypocrisy and reveals things exactly the way they are, In this dramatic act in which Jesus stoops to wash the feet of Judas as well as those of the other disciples, John sees a manifestation of that honesty of God, that reality of God that exposes all hypocrisy, and by means of such revelation seeks to lay hold of the traitor's heart and show him what is happening to him. Jesus is moved to do this, John says, by an awareness of His own authority. The Father gave all things into His hands; He knew that. He knew who He was, knew He had come from God, and knew He was going to God. And, moved by this sense of His own identity and authority, Jesus begins to speak direct words to Judas, exposing what he was doing and where he was headed. John sees all this as intertwined in this remarkable scene: the commitment of love that taught to the end and the passion of truth that fought to the end for the deliverance of Judas.
Lord, thank You for the love that stoops to serve me. Thank You for the honesty that seeks to deliver me from my own hypocrisy. Help me to surrender once again to the way You are working in my life.
Life Application
Actions speak louder than words. How do we demonstrate the highest form of love - even to those who may not deserve it?
Daily Devotion © 2006, 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries.
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Post by Unmerited on Jul 3, 2023 11:58:15 GMT -8
Victory in Praise - July 3
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come out against Judah; and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:22
Here is a great lesson on the power of praise. Judah was confronted by mortal enemies, Moab and Ammon. The people sought God in prayer and with faith in His Word (2 Chr. 20:1–14). Then came the prophet’s word: “Do not be afraid… for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15).
The victory came in a strange but powerful manner. The Levites stood and praised “the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high” (v. 19). Then some of them were appointed to precede the army as they headed into the battle and, as they went, they were to sing to the Lord and praise Him in the beauty of holiness.
The result of this powerful praise was total victory! As they began to sing and to praise God with the expectancy that He would fight for them, the enemies were defeated. This incident is not unique, but has parallels in other Old Testament victories (see Josh. 6:10, 20; Judg. 7:18–22; 2 Kin. 7:3–16; 19:35). Whenever and wherever God’s people praise Him, He reigns among them and does miraculous things on their behalf.
Jack W. Hayford and Sam Middlebrook, Living the Spirit Filled Life
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