March 25, 2014

Bringing Up Children in the Lord (Part 6): Raising Children to Be Christians

Bringing Up Children in the Lord

“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in truth” (3 John 4).

Though the passage above refers to Christians in general, the principle certainly applies to the relationship between parents and children. As parents strive to “bring [their children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), the ultimate goal is to lead them to the Lord. Naturally, parents will hope that their children enjoy good health and a degree of prosperity in this life. But in the end, what matters most is that their “soul prospers” as they walk “in the truth” (3 John 2, 4). So in this final lesson, we will focus on raising children to be Christians.
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May 30, 2013

The Application of Wisdom: Teachings About God (Part 1)

Notes on Proverbs

The final point of application in our study of Proverbs has to do with God and our relationship to Him. The entire book of Proverbs has been a discussion of the wisdom that comes from above. Of course, the source of this wisdom is God Himself. But without understanding God and our place before Him, it would be difficult for us to find sufficient reason to trust that His way is best and live our lives according to it. Therefore, we must understand God to fully understand the importance of the wisdom contained in this book.
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November 8, 2012

“Each According to His Own Ability” (11/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 25.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus’ teaching reminds us of the need for each one of us to do what we are capable of doing.

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called how own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his ability; and he went on his journey” (Matthew 25:14-15).

The “talents” were amounts of money that the master entrusted to his three slaves to manage while he was away. They were not each given the same amount. Each received what the master expected him to be able to manage. When he returned later, they were held accountable for how they managed what they received.
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September 1, 2012

Learn From the Sins of Others (9/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 18-19.

People often want to blame others for their shortcomings. It is common for one to blame their parents or the way they were raised as the reason why they engage in sinful behavior as an adult. While circumstances in one’s past surely have an influence on one’s present and future, those past circumstances do not dictate one’s actions. Each one of us has a choice to either do right or wrong.

This point is illustrated with an analogy God described to Ezekiel of three generations – a righteous man, his wicked son, and his righteous grandson. Notice what the text says of the righteous grandson (the wicked man’s son).

“Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise” (Ezekiel 18:14).

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August 30, 2012

“By Their Own Righteousness They Could Only Deliver Themselves” (8/30)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 13-15.

“‘Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves,’ declares the Lord God.

“‘If I were to cause wild beasts to pass through the land and they depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts, though these three men were in its midst, as I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the country would be desolate’” (Ezekiel 14:13-16).

The three individuals mentioned – Noah, Daniel, and Job – were known for their trust in God and their obedience to Him. Each one was delivered from some great ordeal: Noah from the flood, Daniel from the lion’s den, and Job from his severe hardship and loss.
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August 28, 2012

"The Lord Does Not See Us" (8/28)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 5-8.

When the people of God sinned with their idols, they justified their actions like many try to justify their sins today – they convinced themselves that God would not notice or pay attention to their sin.

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, “The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land”‘” (Ezekiel 8:12).

Because God did not do what they thought He should do, they concluded that He had forsaken the land and would not see their acts of idolatry. People today have many ideas about what they think God ought to be doing. When He does not do those things, they reject God. They then act as they please, believing that God will not see their evil deeds. Yet the vision revealed to Ezekiel makes it clear that God does see. Other passages make this point as well:
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May 8, 2011

The Justice of God

Ezekiel 18:4

Ezekiel 18 addresses the justice of God – how He treats individuals, both the righteous and the wicked, and how He will judge us. Let us examine what this chapter teaches us about God and His justice.
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