Chiseling at Cherith (I Kings 17:3)
I Kings 17:3, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. The setting of this story is after God allowed Elijah to announce a drought upon the land in the presence of the wicked king Ahab. The Lord spoke to His servant and sent him deep into the wilderness at the brook Cherith. The Lord had promised to take care of Elijah as he hid by the brook. At Cherith, Elijah found protection, provision, and preparation from the Lord. God faithfully and continually provided His prophet water and food in land of famine. God not only controls the rain but also the whole natural order. He even controls the ravens, ceremonially unclean creatures, now used for God’s purposes of sustaining the prophet’s life. We know God provides for the birds of the air, and here He used the birds of the air to provide for His prophet. Elijah was looking ultimately to the God Who reigns over nature for daily food and water, not to the raven or the brook. God also provides a raven to feed bread and meat every morning and evening. Elijah recalled the wilderness meal plan. God provided “daily bread” in Matthew 6:11 and actually provided it more abundantly than in the wilderness, for Elijah ate both bread and meat twice a day in Exodus 16:8, 12-13. God was hiding His servant in the wilderness so that He could mold his faith. The most powerful servants of God are those that allow time to be alone with God. We live in such busy times that it seems as if people are afraid to be alone. The phone is always ringing, the television is blaring loudly, the house is filled with family or friends and we allow no time for God. I wonder if we are afraid to hear the voice of God. It is often difficult for God to get past all of the stuff so that He can speak to His children. We must find our place like Cherith, for in finding this place we can find the voice of God. In this place God will cut away the unusable and unneeded things from our lives and He will mold us into something useful and wonderful. Elijah sat by the brook and allowed God to minister to him by sending the ravens with his daily supply of bread and meat. It must have been an unusual time in the life of Elijah as he watched this take place from day to day. God sent Elijah to Cherith. Cherith means "a cutting place." God puts us through those cutting and chiseling times to mold and prepare us for future service. Cherith comes before the Mt. Carmel’s of our life. The cross comes before the crown. Trials come before blessings. At Cherith Brook, God would cut off the rough edges of Elijah's life. The Lord uses His Word, life’s circumstances, or a submissive, meek, and humble servant to minister to us to knock off the rough edges in our life. Cherith was the place of loneliness, uncertainty, waiting, and hardship. God uses these elements to develop our character and knock off our rough edges. At some point in our lives, God will send us to “our Cherith’s”. PRAYER: Lord, help me to never forget the places and circumstances that You place me in are for my good and for Your Glory. Thank You for always meeting my needs. I trust that You will use these times to draw others closer to You, In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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A Surrendered Life (Romans 12:1-2)
Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The Scriptures challenge us to yield and do the will of God. Psalm 40:8, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. One man who delighted to do the will of God, no matter what the cost, was Abraham Bininger, a Swiss boy from Zurich. He came with his parents to this country on the same ship with John Wesley. His parents died on the trip and were buried at sea. Young Abraham stepped down the gang-plank alone in a strange and bewildering land. A short time later he decided to take the Gospel to the natives on the island of St. Thomas, but when he got there, he learned that it was illegal for anyone but a slave to preach the Gospel to the slaves. He wrote to the governor of the island begging to become a slave himself that he might have the freedom to proclaim the gospel. The letter was forwarded to the king of Denmark who was so touched by Bininger's desire that he sent an edict to allow him to preach the Gospel where, when, and to whom he chose. This man who presented his body as a living sacrifice was greatly used of the Lord. There is no greater joy a person can know than knowing they are doing the will of the Lord. The Lord calls for all of us to be a living sacrifice and to submit ourselves for His service with all our heart. When we surrender our purpose and will to God and allow Him to use us as He sees fit, amazing things happen. The world is shaken not by the wise, the mighty, the intelligent, or the skilled, but by those who have yielded to God. Paul said it was "reasonable" for us to surrender our lives, but many today seem to think that it is too much to ask. Instead of surrendering, they cling tightly to their own desires and interests. How much better it is both for us, and for a world in need , if we surrender and let God choose our path! Each and every morning, teach yourself to begin your day with a prayer of dedication in which you earnestly and reverently present yourself and all that you are to God’s purposes. Don’t assume that because you did it yesterday, you don’t need to do it today. Every day you to take a step closer to the Lord and make a commitment more serious than the one you made before. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, teach me that I may know how to be more Christlike that I may please You and that You would be glorified. I know that I will never accomplish this without the Holy Spirit. So right now, I yield to Him. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Prayer Prevails (I Chronicles 5:18-22)
I Chronicles 5:18-22, The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand. For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity. Their Skill (I Chronicles 5:18) Sons of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh numbering 44,760 had ability in three particular areas. They use shield and sword, shot with bows, and displayed skill in fighting. For any battle, the believer needs the Lord's power. We are not told that Jesus ever taught His disciples how to preach, but He taught them how to pray. He wanted them to have power with God; then He knew they would have power with man—Dwight L. Moody. Their Success (I Chronicles 5:19-22) Victory is evident in that the Israelite soldiers were "helped" and the enemies "given into their hand." One might estimate the weight of the world, tell the size of the celestial city, count the stars of heaven, measure the speed of lightning, and tell the time of the rising and the setting of the sun—but you cannot estimate prayer-power. Prayer is as vast as God because He is behind it. Prayer is as mighty as God because He has committed Himself to answer it. Leonard Ravenhill Their Secret (I Chronicles 5:20-22) The soldiers "cried out to God in the battle." Prayer was the weapon for success rather than all their ability with shield, sword and bow. God "was entreated for them," answering prayer. God answered with victory "because they trusted in Him." They did not trust within themselves but in the Person who had all power. He lifted them above an army more than twice their size (I Chronicles 5:21). When God answers, trust He is being true to His word of promise. He had pledged overwhelming victory when the Israelites depended on Him. David would state the principle in (Psalm 20:7) some trust in horses, some in chariots, but believers like him remember the name of the Lord. The believer's prayer secrets for battle today are spoken in (II Corinthians 6:7; 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-20; II Timothy 2:1-4). Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and power. All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer. R. A. Torrey God gives us abilities today, but He wants us to remember always that success is not in the abilities of our own right, but in His power (Proverbs 3:5-6; II Corinthians 3:5). David frequently prayed (II Chronicles 14:10, 14) as we should be disciplined in praying without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer should always be with trust as God sets a high importance on faith (Hebrews 11:1-6). He also makes it clear that prayer is always to be with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7; I Thessalonians 5:18). No matter what odds are stacked against those who pray in faith, God is able to win. PRAYER: Father, I praise You that I can at anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstance come to You in prayer. My desire is to keep walking continually with You, so that my prayer may be the natural expression of my life with You. In Jesus name, AMEN. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com What the Lord Does with Our Sins (Hebrews 8:12)
Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). He cannot break His covenant (Psalm 55:20; 89:29-35; Jeremiah 33:20). He cannot forsake His people (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). He cannot be unjust (Hebrews 6:10). He cannot deny Himself (II Timothy 2:13). And God cannot remember the sins of His people. It is not so say that God is not aware of the fact that we have sinned, are sinning and will sin. He is. But in so far as the law and justice of God are concerned, our sins do not exist. The blood of Christ has blotted them out, washed them away and removed them from us (Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20; I Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:15-22). Psalm 103:12; As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Micah 7:18-19, Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Because God Himself has removed our sins, He cannot remember our sins. This is His promise to every believer. Isaiah 43:25, I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Jeremiah 31:34, And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:17, And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. God will not remember our sins when we stand before him in the Day of Judgment. Jeremiah 50:20, In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. God will not remember our sins in the distribution of His heavenly gifts, crowns and rewards. All the limitless abundance of heaven’s eternal glory will be given to all of God’s servants, because all will be perfect, blameless, sinless and holy through the righteousness and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will remember our sins no more. That verse is one of the most blessed promises contained in all the Bible. God knows everything and He will never forget anything because He has a poor memory or have a mental lapse. When He buries our sin, He chooses not to dig it up and throw it in our face. For those who say, “I forgive, but I never forget”, are not practicing Biblical forgiveness. When you forgive someone, you bury the sin and you relinquish your right to dig it up and remind the person about it. Many lives, homes and churches have been destroyed by a lack of forgiveness. It is important that we learn to forgive like Jesus and love others like He did. It can be done, remember Stephen (Acts 7:60) followed the example of our Lord and offered forgiveness before it was asked for. Prayer: Father, thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Help me to love and live like Your Son Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20:2)
Joshua 20:2, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: Years before the Israelites ever crossed the Jordan River to enter the promised land, God had instructed His people to make special provision for the person who committed accidental murder. He also charged His people to make special provision for the ministers of God. The six cities of refuge (Joshua 20:1-9), which Joshua appointed in the land of Canaan, were types of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even their names represented Him. 1. Kedesh means ‘holy’. Christ is the holy one, both as God and as man. Being the holy God-man, He is abundantly qualified to be our Mediator, Saviour and Redeemer. Christ is made by God unto us righteousness and holiness, justification and sanctification (Psalm 16:10; Hebrews 7:26; I Corinthians 1:30). 2. Shechem means ‘the shoulder’. Christ carried the enormous load of our sin upon the cross and put it away (Isaiah 53:6.) The government of the world, in general, and of His church, in particular, is upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6). And in conversion, He finds His lost sheep, lays it upon His shoulder and carries it home (Luke 15:4). 3. Hebron means ‘fellowship’. Christ seeks continual fellowship with us. ‘…truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ’ (I John 1:3). In Christ we have access to, and fellowship with, God and shall have uninterrupted communion with Him in heaven’s eternal glory (I Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 2:18; John 17:24). 4. Bezer means ‘a fortified place’. Christ is our refuge. What confidence the child of God can have in knowing we are sheltered in the Lord’s care and protection! I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust’ (Psalm 91:2). ‘The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe’ (Proverbs 18:10). Christ is the fortress and defense of His people, the stronghold in which the prisoners of hope are secured. 5. Ramoth means ‘exalted’. Christ is our exalted Saviour. ‘…God also hath highly exalted him,…’ (Philippians 2:9). Christ is the one by whom we have been exalted from our low estate to sit among princes and to inherit the throne of glory (Ephesians 2:4-7). And Christ is the one we exalt, honor and magnify (Revelation 5:9-10). 6. Golan means ‘revealed’, or ‘manifested’. Christ is God manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). He is the one revealed to us to whom we are called and by whom we are saved (Galatians 1:15-16). In Christ the glory of God is revealed (II Corinthians 4:6). And that revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is salvation. Jesus Christ is our refuge, our protection from sin, death, and judgment to come. Scripture says that we have strong consolation, or because we "have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18). Just as the murderer is guilty before God, so we are guilty of sin. But when we flee to Christ, we are accepted by Him and find refuge in His righteousness. Philippians 3:9, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Being found "in Christ" means that Christ is our sanctuary, our refuge from death and the coming judgment of God. If a person is to escape death and judgment, he must flee to Christ. Christ alone has been appointed by God to give refuge and safety from death and judgment. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, there are many times I have failed to flee to You when faced with the overwhelming circumstances of life, but I pray that from this day forward, I would live in total dependence on You. As I have trusted You with my soul, help me to live my life with complete dependence on You. In Jesus name, AMEN. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Keeping the Past in the Past (Philippians 3:13-14)
Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Have you ever left the house without your checkbook or grocery list—or even worse, without your driver’s license? Ever get amnesia when your spouse’s birthday or anniversary rolled around? Well, you know what they say, “The first thing that goes is the mind, and I can’t remember what else!” It’s usually an embarrassing thing when we forget, isn’t it? Usually it’s the things we shouldn’t forget that escape our minds while things we should forget we tend to remember often, and in detail. One of the Christians biggest problems is right here—dwelling on the past. You cannot run a race while looking backward. Too many Christians are still stuck in the past. We can never be who we ought to be if we are focused on failures, disappointments, and heartaches. Paul wasted no time on the past. He was running the race for Christ. He would not focus on it. He was looking ahead and determined to stay focused on Christ. Paul was serious about not allowing the past to hinder his present. Whether filled with the good, the bad, or the outrageous, the past is set in stone and there is nothing we can do to change it. Therefore, we can do one of two things. We can dwell on the past and focus on our failures and shortcomings; or, lest we repeat it, we can look to the past, learn from it, and move forward. When we focus on the past, we cannot make any contributions for the future. This is what Satan wants us to do. He wants us to wallow in guilt and self-pity. He wants to put us out of commission for Christ. Life is full of ups and downs; good times and bad times, times of encouragement and times of discouragement. Everyone can look back on their lives and wish that they could do some things over, things that they wish they could change, and things that they regret ever happened. Everyone has had skeletons in their closets. In life, we can learn from and grow through past experiences, or we can dwell on and be defeated by them. Failure is not final when God is in control. Let go of your past today. It will set you free to do wonders for Christ beyond your wildest dreams. PRAYER: Lord, You see my pain and You know my grief. There are memories I don’t want to relive, but I can’t erase them. They come when I least expect it, and the weight of the emotions threatens to consume me. In You I am safe, not only from the past, but from lingering memories as well. In Jesus name, AMEN. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God Has Never Failed You (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)
Deuteronomy 31:8, And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Moses instructed Israel to be “strong and of a good courage” because their God would not fail them nor forsake them. These words are very familiar to us. No doubt Hebrews 13:5 is quoted here. Hebrews 13:5b,…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. We have the promise of His presence. God’s almighty power will keep you from failing in what He has called you to do. God will not forsake you. He will faithfully abide with you all the days of your life. One of the most foolish statements a tongue can utter is “God has failed me”. Yet most of us have thought, or said, it at one time or another—if not through our words, at least through our actions. When trying times come we ponder, “How could God have let this happen? Doesn't He know I had a plan? Isn't He paying attention? How could He fail me like this?” God has never failed at anything and God has never failed anyone! We're certain we know what's best for our future, and when God doesn't cooperate, we're quick to remind Him how out of line He is. In confusion, we question if only He could see things our way, He'd understand. At least that's how it seems from our point of view. But is God really so out of touch? Do we really think He isn't paying attention? There have been literally billions of people on the planet since the days of Adam and God has never failed one of them. Yet somehow, we convince ourselves that He has forgotten our predicament. What message does that send to God about the level of our trust? God's power is most evident when it seems that our life is most out of control. When we are the weakest, He is the strongest. When we need Him most, He is nearer than ever. Even when it seems that life has left us alone, God is right beside us holding us in His mighty hand. The worst thing we can do during these times of trial is to blame God and fight Him for control. The best thing we can do is to let go and believe His promises. Points to Ponder: Confidently know that God is with you and that He is committed to you. You can fearlessly trust Him in the midst of your troubles. Questions to Consider: When is the last time you felt like God had forsaken you? Has He ever let you down in the past? How have you experienced God’s presence in hard times? What comfort do you draw from this truth today? Prayer, Father, today I need to renew my confidence and faith in You. Help me now to lay hold of Your promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Help me to speak and live fearlessly because I’m confident I’m in Your presence. Lord, You are with me. I am never alone. I commit this truth to my heart right now. In Jesus name I pray, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Missing the Mark (Romans 3:23)
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; During the 2004 Olympics, archer Matt Emmons was one shot away from a gold medal. He was competing in the 50-meter three position rifle event and he was in perfect position to claim victory. He didn’t even need a bulls-eye; all he needed to do to win was to hit the target to win the gold. Standing in lane two, Emmons took a shot and nailed it, however, he hit the target in the third lane. He hit the wrong target. He missed his mark. As a result, he received zero points and landed in eighth place. You see, like Emmons, we all have “fallen short of the glory of God”. We have all missed the mark from time to time. We were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Yet, from the entrance of sin and its darkness (Genesis 3), we have fallen far short of our Creator’s glory. Doing good works is honorable but not good enough when God expects and demands perfection. The righteousness of God is demonstrated throughout the Scripture. Yet, because of the corrupting presence of sin, we have fallen far short of His righteousness and His glory. Every person born into the human race since the fall has been under a death sentence. No matter how good or moral a person may be, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We needed deliverance from death, but our righteousness could never be equal to the task. The best person, no matter how hard they try, will still come short of the glory of God. Someone may say, "I'm as good as any person who goes to your church." That may be true, but God doesn't grade "on the curve". He demands 100% righteousness. True, some come closer than others, but all will come short. But in the midst of our imperfections, weaknesses, and fatal mistakes, stands a Saviour who reminds us of His righteousness. We do not have to be perfect because He is perfect. Our standing is in Christ; therefore, we must stand in Him. Through Him we become the righteousness of God. I do not have to always be “on target” because through Him I have already won the gold. Jesus, being perfect and sinless, had nothing for which to atone, so His perfect righteousness was available to be our deliverance. He did not just cover our sins but He removed them and replaced them with His righteousness so that we could be delivered from death. What a wonderful truth! That Jesus would actually bare your sins upon His own body and suffer the crucifixion for you. You will stand before God as though you have never sinned, not because your sinless, but because of your account. We had a debt that we owed to God that we could not pay (Romans 5:12). He who knew no sin became as sin that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:21). He would place all of His righteousness upon my record so that I might be viewed upon by God as having the righteousness of Christ. Now that’s a loving God! Do you realize all that you will miss if you reject Christ as your Saviour? PRAYER, Father I thank You for Jesus who paid the sin debt that I owed and could never repay. Although I strive to live righteously, I still fall short of perfection; I thank You that my standing is “in Christ” and His shed blood has washed my sins away. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Freedom through Forgiveness (I John 1:7)
I John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. André Cassagnes, the French-born inventor was in his early thirties when he created a plastic device with a glass screen on which children could draw by turning little knobs. Since the inside surface of the screen was coated with aluminum powder, moving the knobs resulted in drawing images on the screen as an unseen movable stylus scraped away the powder. By turning the device upside down and shaking it, the little black images would magically disappear. Cassagnes called his little invention "L'Ecran Magique," or "the magic screen." The Ohio Art Company renamed Cassagnes's toy Etch A Sketch and began distributing it in the United States beginning in 1960. Since that time more than 100 million of the little laptop drawing machines have been sold allowing it to be named one of the top 100 toys of the 20th century. It's unlikely that André Cassagnes had any idea the toy he created in his basement half a century ago would become so popular. It's also unlikely that he imagined his hand-held creation would provide Christians with such a powerful illustration of grace. Like an Etch A Sketch, sin makes it mark on the screen of our lives. The evidence of our disobedience is indisputable. It's not a pretty picture, but when we trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the blotches of sin on the screen of our lives are erased and we are made like new. The principle of cleansing and a new beginning is seen in David’s life in Psalm 51. David devastated not only his life, but the lives of Bathsheba and Uriah by his wickedness. Uriah was dead and Bathsheba was pregnant from her adulterous affair with King David. David sought God’s forgiveness for what he had done. He wanted a new beginning in his life and realized that cleansing was an important factor in starting over again. Part of the great gift of salvation is not only that our sins have been forgiven, but that God never holds them against us again. Once we have confessed and forsaken our sins, God welcomes us back into full fellowship with Him, and He restores the joy that we forfeit when we sin. Satan always tries to obscure what we lose when he tempts us to sin. But God is faithful to forgive, and while there may be lasting consequences for what we have done, He never holds our sin against us again when we seek forgiveness. PRAYER: Lord, You are so faithful in accepting our heartfelt repentance and giving us a clean heart and a right spirit within us when we acknowledge guilt and the sin that produced it. Thank You that when we come to You brokenhearted for mercy, You are ready to forgive and restore. In particular, thank You for the times You have restored to me the joy of my salvation. I know I can’t be free any other way. In Jesus’ freedom-giving name I pray, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com A Father’s Greatest Investment
Ephesians 6:4, And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The responsibility of this opportunity falls squarely on the shoulders of fathers. God gives every father the opportunity to influence his family for greatness. Strong fathers make up strong homes (families). Strong homes make up strong churches. Strong churches make up strong communities. A wise father will make the most of that opportunity. If you’re a father, what lives after you is your children, and your children will have children. This is a legacy. Fatherhood is a full-time job with huge responsibilities consisting of love, commitment, sacrifice and leadership. While it is a difficult time in this world to raise children, it is still possible to be a successful dad. Fathers can and should have a positive influence and impact on their children. One of the ways a father can be a success is to have a consistent relationship with the Lord and with his children. In a world of constant change, just being steady and consistent is vital to becoming and remaining a successful father. According to Deuteronomy 6, God wants men to take their fathering so seriously that it will impact their families for at least a century. Is it possible you may ask? It is. You can lead your family for the next one hundred years. Another way is to communicate with them and invest time in your children. One of the greatest gifts a father can ever give to his children is a gift that doesn’t cost anything, and that is his time with them. Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted”. His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence today. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!” The father thought he was wasting time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The time that is lost is spent and it can never be redeemed. No job, career, or salary in this country is ever worth you losing your relationship with your child. Your children are so valuable and precious. The teaching and training about Jesus are extremely important. The time you get to communicate with your kids is precious. Take the time to stop and listen to them. Kids are waiting, longing and desiring for people to communicate with them. Talk to your kids. Be sure to seize the opportunity you have today with your children. The daily opportunities will soon be past. You will not regret making the most of your opportunity to lead! You may not leave your family a single dime of inheritance. You may not leave them an inch of property. But, if you pass down your faith to those who come behind you, you have left them the richest legacy of all! When all is said and done, will your children follow your faith? I know that their decision is purely between them and the Lord. But I also know that they may base what they do on what they see in your life! Determine in your heart today that you will do everything in your power to see your family come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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