Following the Father’s Example..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 

Following the Father’s Example

Dr. Charles Stanley

Ephesians 6:1-4

Do you have a strong relationship with your children? The way we first think about God has much to do with how we were parented—especially by our father. What image of the Lord are youportraying?

Many men struggle in their role as dads because their own fathers were either absent—physically or emotionally— or poor examples. But regardless of what a person experienced in the past, the best thing any parent can do is imitate God the Father. But how do we know who He really is?

We get our best glimpse of what the heavenly Father is like by looking at His Son. Speaking with the disciples, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me . . .
He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:6, 9). Not only is Christ our path to relationship with God; He is also the way we come to know the Father’s true character.

When we look at Jesus’ life, what do we see? He was merciful, patient, gentle, compassionate, kind, and full of goodness toward all people (Matt. 9:10-13). The Savior healed the sick, provided for needs, and offered forgiveness—regardless of the offense (Matt. 14:14-21; Luke 23:34). But in love, He didn’t hesitate to discipline or correct others when required.

More than a solid education or material possessions, your child’s greatest need is a role model of devotion to God through prayer, Bible reading, and holy living. If you make knowing and following the heavenly Father your first priority, you won’t have to worry about what kind of parent you will be.

The Marriage of Faith and Works..... Craig Denison

 The Marriage of Faith and Works

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is the undercurrent of everything we do as followers of Jesus. Without faith we lose all that Christ died to give us while here on earth. It is by faith we access the peace, joy, guidance, love, and purpose that comes from restored relationship with our heavenly Father. As we seek an increase in faith in response to God’s faithfulness this week, may you experience a greater depth of intimacy with your living, Almighty, and loving heavenly Father.

Scripture:“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” > James 2:26

Devotional:

“Work” typically has a negative connotation in my mind. I associate work with something I have to do but don’t feel like doing. I separate out work from play or fun. But with God, the word “work” couldn’t be more different. Work is designed to be the expression of our abundant, life-giving relationship with our heavenly Father. God doesn’t call us to work out of obligation or to earn his love, but to live our lives in response to his love. It’s for this reason that Scripture is clear about God’s intention for the marriage of faith and works.

James 2:26 says, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” What is our faith if it doesn’t produce action? What is the nature of our relationship with God if it doesn’t cause us to live differently? Often we have a misunderstanding about what it is God would have us do if we were to truly submit our life fully to him. And our misunderstanding veils our heart from receiving the fullness of life and enjoyment of the work God intends for us.

Often we believe if we were really to hand over our life to God in faith he would call us to do a lot of things we don’t want to do. Maybe we believe he’d call us to a foreign mission field, to make little to no money, or simply to live our lives awkwardly and intrusively. If you only remember one thing today, remember this: God will only ever lead you to a life perfectly, uniquely, and wonderfully designed to bring you and others around you the utmost fulfillment, purpose, passion, and joy. Everything he calls you to he intends to use to satisfy the desires of your heart. Maybe he is calling you to something you don’t fully understand yet, but if you will say yes to him, the very calling that you possibly feared most will be the satisfaction of a dream you didn’t know you had.

God calls us to a life of works because he loves us and has designed us for such a purpose. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The work he is calling you to is perfect for you because he is the one who formed you and knows you. Have faith in the love and perfect will of your heavenly Father. Choose to live a life of good works. And experience the joy of living every minute of your day with intentional and eternal purpose.

Spend time in prayer allowing the word and character of God to renew your mind on the subject of faith and works. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with a desire to live a life of good works today in light of God’s love for you.          

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the marriage of faith and works. Renew your mind to the goodness of work.

“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” > James 2:26

“And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” > Titus 3:14

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” > Ephesians 2:10

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what works he has laid before you today. Hand over to him the tasks set before you and ask him to fill you with the knowledge of how he would have you accomplish them.

3. Commit to living today with a renewed perspective on work. Work is joyful and life-giving when we do it with the Holy Spirit. Choose to live your life in line with God’s intention for you and enjoy the work set before you!

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” > Matthew 5:16

What would your life look like if you chose to do your work filled with the joy and purpose of the Holy Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit is just as available to you during work as it is at any other time of the day! All you have to do is choose to live your life with a different perspective than others around you. Take hardships to God and ask him for his heart! Enjoy your days working and bearing the fruit of your faith.

Extended Reading: James 2

Faith in the Impossible ..... TRILLIA NEWBELL

 Faith in the Impossible

TRILLIA NEWBELL

“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11 (ESV) 

When I first got married, I naively thought that getting pregnant, sustaining a pregnancy and then delivering a child was like riding a bike. People seemed to do it with great ease all the time. At least, that’s how it appeared.

I didn’t have many married friends, and those friends didn’t seem to reveal much about their private lives. It wasn’t until I began having trouble getting pregnant and subsequently had two miscarriages that I realized how common infertility and miscarriages were. I ended up having a total of four miscarriages, but I did eventually give birth to our two children. Although I have children, when I read Sarah’s story, there’s much about her response that I can relate to, and I imagine the same will be true for many of us.

Scripture tells us that Sarah was barren. It can be assumed she and Abraham attempted to bear children but were unable to conceive. By the time we get to Genesis Chapter 18, Sarah is old, and biologically speaking, she would not be physically able to have children. (Genesis 18:11) Sarah overheard the Lord discussing her pending pregnancy, and she did what I think most in her state would do: She laughed in disbelief. (v. 12)

This part of the story is quite remarkable to me. God confronts Sarah for laughing and she denies it. Then the Lord calls her on the lie. (vv. 13-15) She did laugh, and she did struggle to believe that she could become pregnant. And the Lord tells her and all of us, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14a, ESV).

Even though Sarah laughed at first, the writer of Hebrews points out that Sarah was recognized as a woman of faith. Not because her faith was incredible but because she believed God was faithful: “… she considered him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11).

I remember, after my second miscarriage, sitting in bed wondering if God would heal my numb yet broken heart. The sorrow was too deep for words. And He graciously drew near to me, as He says He will in His Word. (Psalm 34:18) I didn’t know how my story would end; I just knew God was asking me to trust Him.

The Lord doesn’t promise us each and every desire of our hearts, but He does promise to be faithful. And He is. He was near to me and near to Sarah.

Although I can’t know for sure why the Lord chose this woman and this particular story, I can only imagine the many women who’ve heard and read about Sarah and were comforted. And although she did conceive, I imagine their comfort came from witnessing the character of God.

Sometimes our own stories are too difficult to tell, but the Lord has been so good to help us with the stories of those who have gone before us. He told Sarah that she would be pregnant. That pregnancy, by all earthly standards, was impossible, and the Lord did the impossible.

No matter what impossible situation you face today, or whether, like Sarah, you are struggling to believe God will come through for you, we can turn to the Lord and say: “What is impossible for man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27, ESV).

Lord, You know the pain, sorrow, loss and unanswered prayers of all Your people. I pray that You would draw near to us in our brokenness and that we would rest in Your loving arms. Comfort us, dear Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God’s Sovereign Plan..... By: Amanda Idleman

 God’s Sovereign Plan

By: Amanda Idleman

The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” – Isaiah 14:24

As you read through Isaiah, you are clued into the nature and character of God through the prophetic gift given to Isaiah. Isaiah’s mouth is filled with words that paint a picture of what God has planned for the future. He clearly articulates God’s many emotions when it comes to His people. All of the prophecies from Isaiah became verifiable, historical fact.

Through the miraculous fulfillment of prophecy, we can see the absolute dependability of God’s plan. We can rest assured that no matter our present situation, we can stand on the promises of God who articulated them in His Word. In our most hopeless moments, we can draw encouragement from the sovereignty of our Lord.

God has a plan. He is not distant and uninvolved in the happenings of our world. We may look at world events and see random occurrences. We may become overwhelmed by your own powerlessness to change the tide of our society. But God does not see randomness, and He has the power to change things that feel impossible to us.

In Isaiah, God warns Israel from relying on the surrounding nations for security. God’s plan went against what seemed like a logical solution to the Israelites. He warned that the two major powers in the region, Assyria and Babylon, would fall despite appearing to be unbeatable forces in the region. These prophecies were fulfilled when the Assyrian Empire was crushed by Babylon. Later, as prophesied by Jeremiah, Babylon fell too.

The Israelites who heard these prophecies for the first time probably were skeptical and doubted God’s power over the forces that appear to rule our world. Yet, God’s Word has proven to be reliable over the course of history. When we see what feels like confusing and unbeatable challenges, rest assured in God’s sovereign plan for our world.

Just as God’s plan for the nations are fulfilled, so are God’s plans for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 gives us this personal encouragement, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” This is a promise you can stand on. God’s plan is a good one. Even when evil attempts to steal from us: God is present, He is working, He is faithful, and He is good.

Isaiah 43:1 tells us even more about God’s reliability. He makes a beautiful promise and offers us words of encouragement for our moments of difficulty and doubt. God says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” The Creator, Sovereign God of all knows it’s easy to be afraid. That’s why He so clearly offers us words of comfort and assurance. Our Big God identifies us as His. He is close, He is personal, and He is for you. Rest in the knowledge that we serve a sovereign God.

How to Be a Better Father..... By Terence Chatmon

 How to Be a Better Father

By Terence Chatmon

Ephesians 6:4, "Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Since I recognized my own shortcomings as a father about 15-20 years ago, I’ve been doing a lot of research and study of the fatherhood crisis in America.  One thing I’ve discovered is that, more than anything else, and no matter the kind of father you are, there is never a time in a child’s life when he or she doesn’t crave a father’s love.

You may not be able to spend much time with your child because of a broken marriage or business travel, or whatever it may be, but I think the number one way to be a better father is to make sure that in every single interaction you have with your child, you are assuring him or her of your love. Maybe it’s just an email or text once a day if you’re not able to see them in person, but they need to lay their head on the pillow every night assured and confident in their father’s love.

After assurances of their father’s love, the next thing children need to hear is their father’s belief in them. No matter what their friends or their teachers or even their mom says to them about what a capable and special person they are, it never carries the weight that it does coming from Dad. If you express your belief in your child, regularly and specifically, it serves as a great deterrent to the doubts that can creep in and rob them of their self-confidence and positive outlook about themselves.

This is vitally important in the older elementary and middle school years, where we are seeing so many tragic instances of bullying and social media shaming.  No matter what the world says about them, if a child knows inside “my father believes in me and sees value in me, no matter what anyone else says,” they are more able to filter out and put less stock in those external negative opinions.

Finally, while we need to reassure our children of our love for and belief in them, we also need to be clear that while we love them, sometimes we cannot condone their behavior. Our children need to know their boundaries, and that because their father loves and wants to protect them, there will be consequences for going beyond those boundaries.

Children can understand, even if they can’t verbalize it, that you can love and accept them without loving and accepting all of their behaviors.  They can even recognize it is love that wants to protect them from the harm that comes from disobedience. If they are not given boundaries and discipline, they realize there is something lacking in the love they receive. True love loves unconditionally, but comes with accountability. Children need to know they are loved, and loved enough to want what’s best for them, which means the occasional course correction. Fathers who are absent may be afraid to punish, believing it will drive their children from them, but that could not be further from the truth, as long as the children know the discipline comes out of love.

Intersecting Faith & Life: So, this coming Father’s Day, let’s all resolve to step-up our fatherhood game, by making sure our children know of our unconditional love for and belief in them, and by not being afraid to hold them accountable, as they will recognize this as part and parcel of a great father’s love. Love Well.

A Prayer for the Holy Spirit to Teach You..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for the Holy Spirit to Teach You

By: Emily Rose Massey

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).

In high school, I was gifted a Bible when I became a member of my new church. I was so excited to start reading it and learn more about God, but as time went on, I became more and more intimated by its pages. Where do I begin? Do I start in Genesis and just read through it beginning to end? Do I need to spend time memorizing what I’m reading? What does this Word mean?

These thoughts circled my teenage mind, and I was so hesitant to even dive in for fear that I wouldn’t understand what I was reading. It didn’t take long for schoolwork and all of the extracurricular activities I was involved in to crowd out any downtime to make space to read my Bible. Soon enough, that Bible would find a permanent home on my bookshelf, left untouched. I hate to admit it, but the intimidation and distractions would follow me all through college as well. When I was stressed out, I would glance at my neglected Bible and randomly open it and try to soak up some hope for my weary soul.

Although I heard the gospel as a teen and was a professing Christian for six years, it wasn’t until after I graduated college that God granted me genuine repentance from my sin and rebellion and gave me the faith to fully surrender my life to Christ and trust Him completely. One Sunday, I stepped foot in a church service for the first time in a few years, and I believe I was born again that day, as the reality of offending a Holy God and my desperate need to turn to Jesus, take up my cross, and follow Him overwhelmed me for the first time in my life.

After that moment, my whole world changed, and I suddenly had a deep desire to read my Bible and obey God. I look back and see the difference between my high school and college days was that I was trying to understand what I was reading without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once I became born again at the age of twenty-two, I was given the gift of the Holy Spirit- Jesus describes Him as a Comforter as well as a Helper and Teacher in John 14:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).

As born-again believers, when we open the pages of Scripture, we are not left on our own to understand what we are reading. We have a Helper and a great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to guide us in our pursuit of growing in the knowledge of the Lord. He illuminates the truth to us over time and will bring what we have read to our remembrance. This is why it is so important to consistently be reading our Bibles, so that we can store what we are studying in our hearts. The Bible is a gift from God to help us in our daily lives- to be able to learn of God’s ways and learn who God truly is so that we can grow closer to Him and worship Him rightly.

I have to admit that I sometimes still struggle with intimidation and distraction when it comes to reading my Bible, but after walking with the Lord for over ten years now, I know that I am not left alone on this journey. I have a Helper who guides me into all truth and supernaturally helps me understand the words I am reading- words that are spirit and life (John 6:63). He is always with me and I can always ask Him for help.

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Not only does He convict me of my sin when I daily fall short, He is my ever-present Help in time of need who also guides me into all truth. I admit that I need help understanding your Holy written Word.

Holy Spirit, will you give me a hunger to daily read the Bible? May You supernaturally illuminate what I am reading and give me the ability to comprehend what I am studying, not just for head knowledge, but to help me know You in a deeper way so that I give You the worship You deserve.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.