What do you say to your children?
This is what Paul wrote to his “spiritual children” in Philippi:
Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
Interesting words from Paul, who started with a mission to destroy Christianity. His do-as-I-do message says:
“Don’t let past sins hold you back.”
It’s never too late to set a better example.
Choices have consequences.
Bad choices = tough consequences.
King David called for a census. Against advice. Against God’s instructions. God wasn’t pleased.
The sin was David’s choice. And this one time, so was the consequence.
1 Chronicles 21:11-12 (CEV)
These are the choices the Lord has given you. You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies, or three days of severe plague.
David picked option #3, and 70,000 people died. David (and we) learned that he wasn’t (and we aren’t) the only ones hurt by a bad choice.
Exodus 20:5-6 (CEV)
If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations. But if you love me and obey my laws, I will be kind to your families for thousands of generations.
Better a blessing for a thousand generations than trouble for three or four.
Matthew 5:48 (CEV)
But you must always act like your Father in heaven.
Father God, you are one hard act to follow.
Can my children see you in me?
Help me! I certainly can’t do this on my own.
“God strikes not as an enemy, to destroy;
but as a father, to correct.”
James H. Aughey (1828-1911)
Every now and again, we need a little Fatherly correction.
What of your earthly father do you see in your heavenly Father?
People with mean, judgmental and arbitrary earthly fathers sometimes see those same characteristics in their heavenly father. God is better than that.
Those with kind, encouraging and consistent earthly fathers see those same characteristics in their heavenly Father. God is better than that too.
“Fathers and mothers, do not forget that children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear.”
The Duties of Parents
J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Methinks I talked too much.
1 John 4:10 (NET)
In this is love:
not that we have loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be
the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God knows what it is to lose a child.
Every person who died in the Orlando shooting was someone’s child. There are many broken-hearted parents.
Comfort them, Father God, as only you can.
Jesus felt each life slip away, and he grieves with every survivor over the loss of friends, family and security.
Isaiah 53:4 (ESV)
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows.
