Obedience School

Obedience School

Ephesians 6: Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Respect your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise added: ³ “so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land.”

 

⁴ Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction.

 

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“Get up and finish the work I told you to do” were the words both of my parents had to use on several occasions. I wants to sit around and take it easy, but they ‘always” seemed to have something to pick up, clean up or tear up.

 

• I grumbled.
• I murmured.
• I tried to convince them that I did not feel like doing whatever work they wanted me to do but had no other reason than, “I don’t feel like it.”

 

Family dynamics was a difficult topic that GOD wanted Paul to address. Honor, respect and obedience seemed like words of control to those who wanted to be wild and free. Dishonor, disrespect and disobedience had become the norm and needed a remedy.

 

My Observations

• GOD wanted me to learn how to obey as a child so I would later obey HIS strange, yet powerful ways.
• GOD wanted me to learn how to respect as a child so I would later respect HIS variety of creations that do not look or act like me.
• GOD wanted me to learn discipline from HIS word so I would have a basis from which I could make decisions.

 

Obedience, honor, respect, discipline and learning about GOD seem weak to those who want to be wild and free. I mean, I thought my parents just wanted workers versus children. I tried to manipulate the circumstance by thinking they weren’t expressing love by having me do chores. BUT GOD showed me my immaturity.

 

Looking back I can see how blessed I was to have parents who loved me enough to attempt to care for me, clothe me and feed me, all while trying to teach me about who GOD was to them. They also knew when to step back and allow me to with walk with GOD or choose “my” own way, even if it were destructive. I am grateful for my parents and understand more of what GOD is doing because of them.

 

Challenge

• What problems do you think the writer was trying to address?
• How can imperfect people provide instruction that works?
• Will you look at this passage from being a child or a parent so you can make adjustments that are pleasing to the LORD today?

Freed Woman

Freed Woman

Galatians 4: ²⁸ Now, you, my friends, are God's children as a result of his promise, just as Isaac was. ²⁹ At that time the son who was born in the usual way persecuted the one who was born because of God's Spirit; and it is the same now. ³⁰ But what does the scripture say? It says, “Send the slave woman and her son away; for the son of the slave woman will not have a part of the father's property along with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So then, my friends, we are not the children of a slave woman but of a free woman.

 

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Hearing “GOD loves you” or “Trust in the LORD” got on my nerves. My mother and grandmothers were trying their best to impress something special on me but I wasn’t hearing it.

 

• I wanted to do what “I” wanted to do.
• I wanted to rebel and show everyone that I did not need GOD.
• I wanted to just be angry and full of rage.

 

GOD’s amazing promise was explained by Paul. Through two women, Hagar and Sarah, two covenants were displayed. One covenant was laced with mistrust, rules and disobedience, the other with belief, grace and freedom. Those who choose to believe will be freed.

 

My Observations

• Freedom is mine to choose.
• Accepting the fact that GOD owns everything frees me because I am in HIS family.
• Believing in JESUS is what set me free.

 

GOD chose some women to perform HIS amazing promise. HE redeemed mankind through a miraculous birth. HE grew up and raised women up from oppression so they too could be filled with HIS SPIRIT.

 

When the women were freed, there was no malice in them. They spoke about JESUS with excitement and fear. Many people believed because of their testimonies. I am glad I have had many women in my life who stood firm to the belief in JESUS.

 

Challenge

• What does it mean to be a child of GOD according to this passage?
• Have you ever devalued what a woman said?
• Will you ask GOD to look at the heart as HE does and see people as HE sees them so you can be added to HIS family and given freedom today?

You are MINE

 

You are MINE

Galatians 4: ⁶ To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” ⁷ So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.

 

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“Come on in” were the words I heard throughout the neighborhood. I sat at several tables for meals and played games over their houses. They invited me in as if to say “You are part of the family.”

 

• I had nothing to offer.
• I could only receive gifts and had none to give.
• I felt a sense of belonging.

 

Paul speaks about how intimate THE FATHER wants to be with HIS creation. This passage also speaks about THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT working together to provide a family for the lost and weary.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to have everything HE has so HE rescued me from my sin.
• GOD wants to give me HIS all so HE died for me and was raised from the dead.
• GOD wants the best for me so HE lives inside me to plead for me, comfort me and guide me.

 

“You are MY child” is something special GOD says to all who believe in HIS SON. Giving up everything for us is quite enough. Unfortunately we have an adversary who wants us to want more. He blinds us to want material wealth or political or social power.

 

GOD says “You are MINE” in spite of my sin and forgive me for my disrespectful behavior towards HIM. HE even takes me into HIS family and dines with me. JESUS said “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with ME.” I am grateful GOD brings us into HIS family forever.

 

Challenge

• What elements of assurance does the writer speak about?
• Have you ever had a part of you that you wish you could do better in, but simply could not?
• Will you stop trying the exhaustive path of temporary happiness and seek GOD’s family where HE will give you everything HE has today?

For the Kids

For the Kids

Acts 13: ²⁶ “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. ²⁷ For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. ²⁸ And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. ²⁹ Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised Him from the dead. ³¹ He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. ³² And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. ³³ God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’

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“Jump in the car” a neighbor said. I was delighted to be invited to go to the park. “Come bowling with us” another neighbor said. I was elated to do something I had never done. “Stay for dinner” another neighbor said to me. “Of course!” I answered with stomach growling.

• Many times I have been treated well by my neighbors.
• Many times I have seen generosity in action.
• Many times I have been given gifts and opportunities just because someone wanted to do something just because I was a kid.

Paul continues to preach. He explains that the very person who was lied about, shamed, murdered and put in a tomb was the being they should have paid attention to. JESUS was who Paul spoke about fervently. He also explained how GOD raised JESUS from the dead.

• GOD did amazing things just for me.
• GOD raised JESUS from the dead, just for me.
• JESUS fulfilled all prophecy, just for me.

The FATHER does care. HE watches over me, guides me and loves me so much that HE allowed HIS SON to be murdered for me. HE raised HIM form the dead, giving HIM all authority. HE has shown extreme care. I am grateful for HIS love.

• Are you alone?
• Do you need to be shown love?
• Will you look to GOD and know HE loves you dearly just for being you?

Consoled by Your Children’s Actions

Ezekiel 14: ²¹ “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to kill its men and their animals! ²² Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. ²³ You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

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Raising children is no small task. I mean watching them from infantile frailty all the way to adulthood can be quite tenuous. Every cut, bruise or ailment cuts me to the bone. Sometimes I question GOD as to why they have to go through turmoil.

• Sometimes I wonder “Why the pain?”
• Sometimes I ponder “Why the turmoil?
• Sometimes I contemplate “Why the difficulty in life?”

Even before I had children, I dreaded the thought of bringing a life into the world as it existed. Killing, hatred and disease seemed like a dreadful place to want to have more people grow up. BUT GOD said something different.

• GOD said to me “Your children are MINE and I need them to do something that only they can do.”
• GOD said to me “I will enable them to survive and you will be consoled by their conduct.”
• GOD said to me “I hold all life in MY hand to those who believe in ME, no one can pluck them out of MY hand.”

GOD is the deliverer. Only HE can bring people out of difficulty. No doctor, lawyer, or financial institution can save one soul, BUT GOD can and is willing! HE throws my sins away and saves me from calamity and HE blesses my family with compassionate protection. I can only thank GOD for HIS continual fortification.

• Are your kids going through something>?
• Are you worried about someone else and feel helpless?
• Can you give your worries to the LORD by telling HIM how you feel?
• Will you ask GOD to help the part of you that does not believe?
• Will you praise GOD today in the middle of your thoughts?

Giving is Living

Proverbs 19: ¹⁷ Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will reward them for what they have done.

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Looking at the time, I realized I was running late. It was cold and I had to park far away. I walked with a bit of a gallop and stopped at a crosswalk of a very busy street. I heard a voice from a person sitting on the ground. “Do you have any spare change” the person asked. I shrugged as the light changed and I crossed the street. I’ll give to them when I return from the gala I was attending. When I got back, the person was nowhere to be found.

• Sometimes I miss the opportunity.
• Sometimes I do not help the poor.
• Sometimes I ignore the needy.

I actually had plenty of time to help the person. I timed how long it would take me to pull my wallet out of my pocket and grab a dollar bill, it was ten seconds.

• GOD wants me to help those HE puts in front of me.
• GOD wants me to give to those who HE prompts me to give.
• GOD wants me to provide for those who HE delivers to me.

GOD said “You will never know if you are entertaining an angel.” Since HE challenges my heart to see if I can handle large sums of money, HE gives me opportunities to see what I will do with small amounts. I can horde it for myself and make excuses for not giving or I can do without for a moment and give. GOD wants me to give and be excited.

Are you a hoarder?

Do you judge the homeless saying they will spend the money on alcohol or drugs?

When is the last time you missed a meal in order to give it to someone?

Will you seek people today to give to?