The Ninth Commandment tells us that slander is wrong and God condemns it. Isn't it sad that one of the places we often see this is in marriage. A Russian proverb speaks of the foolishness of slander in marriage when it says: "A dog is wiser than a woman: he won't bark at his master." Too many men and women are guilty of such stupidity: they bark and snarl at those closest to them.
In marriage, it is the duty of the husband to be, among other things, the protector of his wife. If he instead defames his wife, it is an indication of both an inability to protect and to govern. The man has denied to his wife a standard of godly conduct to which she is entitled.
The failure doesn't stop there though, it extends to the whole family. The father has the responsibility to lead the teaching of his children. Where the father fails to be a pattern of responsible and thoughtful speech, the children are deprived of a major stabilizing force in their lives. We see this failure often in our culture today.
Men, let's commit ourselves to being careful in how we communicate with our wives. We need to reflect godly character in our words and actions that we might be men who are willing to fulfill our duty and calling as men who protect and govern well. In doing so we will build strong and godly families, glorifying God.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Medicinal Gossip
Are you a spin doctor? I know many who have a doctorate in "spin". Probably, if we are honest, we all have some sort of advanced degree in "spin". A spin doctor is one who puts a spin on the news or other information in order to manipulate its meaning. The Bible speaks extensively on spin doctors, and you're probably not going to like it, but I'll share it here with you (without putting a spin on it!)
A spin doctor takes the truth and twists it. We might understand this by some other terms: slanderer, gossip, talebearer, backbiter, liar, false witness, or hypocrite with your mouth. The problem is, even more so in our information age, that its commonplace to take information about others and share it, even when you don't know the truth of the matter. We often assume we know the truth or know the person well enough that what we hear or read must be true, but often it is not. The issue though is, what does God say about this?
Proverbs 11:13 "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret." How many times has a gossip betrayed your confidence? How many times have you betrayed another by sharing a confidence about them? Maybe it was innocently enough ... say a prayer request? Very Christian, don't you think? Medicinal gossip, necessary to help the person. After all, how would God ever know their need if you didn't tell it to others and then pray about it? Oh yes, God already knows, he knows everything. So why are we so quick to break our brother's confidence, with a little medicinal gossip?
Proverbs 20:19 "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much." We know who those people are that "talk too much". Unfortunately they are very good at what they do. They can get you to to talk about things best left unsaid, but they need their information to talk about. The Bible says avoid the person. It doesn't say talk with them but try to watch what you say. It says AVOID. Simply really, just avoid them. But we don't. Why do you suppose that is? Do we need our own gossip fix? Remember they take information and they give it. Do you enjoy gossip? Do you see it for what it is?
The problem is, if you ask people, most will never admit to being a gossip. Yet I'll bet you could name five gossips off the top of your head for me, right now. Would someone put you on the list? Gossip is such an easy trap to fall into. It is bearing false witness, a violation of the ninth commandment. God told us not to go there. Shouldn't we examine our hearts? When I take the time to listen to what people say to me in conversation, even very godly people, I'm amazed at how much of their conversation is pure gossip. You and I better look closely at what may be a very ingrained and evil habit in our conversation.
We have no problem with the eighth commandment, not stealing. Of course we shouldn't do that. The ninth commandment, not lying. Of course we shouldn't do that either. Gossip's not lying, is it?? Of course it is. It bears false witness. You wouldn't tell your children that stealing things valued less that one dollar is okay would you? Don't try to justify the "little" lies of gossip. False witness or gossip is a sin that destroys another person's reputation and name. False witness or gossip is a sin that betrays a confidence. False witness or gossip is a sin that sows discord amongst the church. You've probably been on both sides of gossip. We should know better ... so why don't we. Let's repent of where we have been on this one and be obedient to God, today.
A spin doctor takes the truth and twists it. We might understand this by some other terms: slanderer, gossip, talebearer, backbiter, liar, false witness, or hypocrite with your mouth. The problem is, even more so in our information age, that its commonplace to take information about others and share it, even when you don't know the truth of the matter. We often assume we know the truth or know the person well enough that what we hear or read must be true, but often it is not. The issue though is, what does God say about this?
Proverbs 11:13 "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret." How many times has a gossip betrayed your confidence? How many times have you betrayed another by sharing a confidence about them? Maybe it was innocently enough ... say a prayer request? Very Christian, don't you think? Medicinal gossip, necessary to help the person. After all, how would God ever know their need if you didn't tell it to others and then pray about it? Oh yes, God already knows, he knows everything. So why are we so quick to break our brother's confidence, with a little medicinal gossip?
Proverbs 20:19 "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much." We know who those people are that "talk too much". Unfortunately they are very good at what they do. They can get you to to talk about things best left unsaid, but they need their information to talk about. The Bible says avoid the person. It doesn't say talk with them but try to watch what you say. It says AVOID. Simply really, just avoid them. But we don't. Why do you suppose that is? Do we need our own gossip fix? Remember they take information and they give it. Do you enjoy gossip? Do you see it for what it is?
The problem is, if you ask people, most will never admit to being a gossip. Yet I'll bet you could name five gossips off the top of your head for me, right now. Would someone put you on the list? Gossip is such an easy trap to fall into. It is bearing false witness, a violation of the ninth commandment. God told us not to go there. Shouldn't we examine our hearts? When I take the time to listen to what people say to me in conversation, even very godly people, I'm amazed at how much of their conversation is pure gossip. You and I better look closely at what may be a very ingrained and evil habit in our conversation.
We have no problem with the eighth commandment, not stealing. Of course we shouldn't do that. The ninth commandment, not lying. Of course we shouldn't do that either. Gossip's not lying, is it?? Of course it is. It bears false witness. You wouldn't tell your children that stealing things valued less that one dollar is okay would you? Don't try to justify the "little" lies of gossip. False witness or gossip is a sin that destroys another person's reputation and name. False witness or gossip is a sin that betrays a confidence. False witness or gossip is a sin that sows discord amongst the church. You've probably been on both sides of gossip. We should know better ... so why don't we. Let's repent of where we have been on this one and be obedient to God, today.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
How Did You Fight?
Life can be difficult and a struggle. For many, the questions of why am I here, what purpose does my life really have, go unanswered. For some the lie might simply be in avoiding the question. For some, it might be to say my purpose is to glorify God, without knowing what that truly means.
In the very beginning of the Bible we see God gave us his purpose and told us how to glorify him. In Genesis 1:28, God called us to his purpose. "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"
Some call this the Creation Mandate, God's command to us. What would glorify him? Being fruitful and increasing in number. Filling the earth and ruling or overseeing it, under him. Note, he is sovereign and has granted us the right to work under him in this and all activities. That glorifies him, not acting as if we are sovereign and rule in our own might, determining for ourselves what is good and right. Seems that issue came up shortly after creation in Genesis 3 when man decided to operate outside God's authority.
When man decided in Genesis 3 to be AS God rather that to act UNDER God, what happened? Man sinned and the world changed forever. What did God do, did he give up? Not at all as this too was within his plan for mankind. Among other things, our failure was not to be the end. We were to get back up, God would provide a payment for our failure and sin through his very Son's death. We were to get back up and do as he said. We were to be fruitful and increasing in number, filling the earth and ruling or overseeing it, under him.
God calls us to diligence, a very character trait of God. We are to be like him, not quitting and giving up. We are to get back up, recognize our sin and failure, repent of it, turning back to God and walking under him in all that we do, in obedience and submission to his authority in our life.
A man who fails is not a failure. A man who fails and gives up is a failure. Whenever we try to succeed on our own, apart from God, we will fail. The question is whether in it, we will learn, not give up, and continue on in God's power, under him, accomplishing that which he calls us to. Or, whether we simply give up. The lie in our lives comes when we give up and say "what's the use, its just too hard." Here is a verse from a poem that reminds me of this:
"You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what’s that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there – that’s disgrace.
The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts,
It’s how did you fight – and why?"
See how that verse ends? "It's how did you fight - and why?" That is God's question to us. How did you fight, he says. Was it under me and according to my law and word? And why do you fight the good fight? God asks if we understand our purpose, the great "why" question in our life. Do we understand the Creation Mandate? Do we understand why he put us here? Or do we choose to lie to ourselves and make it all meaninglessness or make it all about ourselves? Unfortunately, I think we all fall down there more often than we know (since we are so good at deceiving ourselves).
The wonderful truth is that God never gave up on you or me. He is diligent in working in our lives. Let's not give up either, let's not lie to ourselves, and let's work diligently at what he put us here for. Let's study his written Word to us, his communication of why we are here, what we are to do and how. Let's be wholly committed to him. I'll leave you with the words God spoke through Moses in Deuteronomy 30:11-20. They are as applicable to us as they were to the nation of Israel, as we too are God's people:
"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Friday, July 18, 2008
We Broke It, Will We Help Fix It?
Many believe that this world is broken and beyond help. As such, we as Christians must find as many people as we can and get them off this sinking planet and on the "bus" to heaven. Is that what God says? Is that our purpose?Did God simply create man and put him on this planet so that after a time he could send the buses to pick up those who have a ticket to heaven? Did he make this world lost, evil and broken down so we'd want to get on that bus? Many live as if this were so, but let's look at what the Bible actually says.
Knowing our short attention spans, God gets to the point in the very first book of the Bible. We see in Genesis 1 that God created the world and all that is in it. He created it, very good. Verse 28 tells us that we are commanded to fill the whole earth and subdue it. To take care of it under him and enjoy the fruits of that labor.
We also see in chapter 3 that man, never being quite satisfied, was tempted to be, as God, rather than living under God. Isn't that the case today? God in his great wisdom created a perfect world, a perfect system to live within, and what do we do? We decide that we know better, or perhaps we're just too lazy to see what that system is. What happens when we take charge? Just look around. Everything begins to fall apart, families, relationships, churches, government control, business and the economy, all become perverted. Now what do we do? Bury our heads in the sand and wait for the bus to come and take us to heaven?
Actually, God calls us to sanctification and righteousness. Does that mean that we are to sit and wait with "good and holy attitudes" until the bus comes? Does it mean that we are to stand outside the bus terminal and call out to those who pass by to see if they want to join us on the bus one day? Did God purpose for us to be a beaten and crushed people, huddled together waiting for the bus?
That doesn't sound like what I've read in the Bible. That doesn't sound like God. Consider passages that refer to God's people as a light to the lost world. Consider that God calls us to be holy as he is holy.
Consider that he never revoked his initial call to us in Genesis 1:28. We are still to fill the earth and take care of it under him and according to his law. We are not to create some "new system," some new thinking because his ways are outdated. We are not to cower in the corner and wait. Remember the parable of the talents? The servant who hid his and did nothing is condemned. The servants who were productive with theirs were blessed.
What is your purpose in life? To serve God? What does that mean?
What is your purpose in life? To glorify God? What does that mean?
What IS your purpose in life?
Think about that and we will explore it further in the next few discussions.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Are You Adopted?
Here is an interesting thought: Only adopted children go to heaven! I was thinking about the biblical doctrine of adoption today. In Ephesians 1:4-5 Paul said:
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will ….”
Look at the parallels of adoption from a human perspective and from a biblical perspective. If we are going to adopt a child it is us who chooses the child. It is in love that we choose to adopt a child, not through anything meritorious that the child has done. We may have many reasons or motivations for pursuing the adoption, but the question arises whether we can use that analogy to understand the biblical doctrine of adoption. Sure we can … if we want to have a limited and heretical view of the doctrine of adoption. Biblical adoption is far different from human adoption.
Look at what Paul said again. When did God choose us? Before the creation of the world, before we ever existed. Before anyone ever existed. If you are called by God, then he created you to be his adopted child. Paul said “he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” In human adoption someone else brings the child into the world and is unable or unwilling to care for the child. This comes to our attention and after learning about it we may pursue an adoption of the child. A completely different situation from biblical adoption.
The difference is far greater than that though. Who were we before we realized our adoption into God’s family? Who were we before we were graciously granted the gift of salvation? Paul goes on to tell us in Ephesians 2:1-5:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
See who we were? We were living as enemies of God, under his wrath. Think of a time of war. How about World War 2? How many Americans were lining up to adopt German or Japanese children? Thinking about adopting now? Have you considered a child growing up in an Muslim orphanage in Saudi Arabia? How about adopting children of a recently killed terrorist? Better yet, how about adopting an avowed terrorist teenager from the Middle East? For most of us the thought never would have occurred to us. We don’t even consider adopting the children of our enemies or children who are our enemies, but God did. You see, we were the enemy, and for those of us who are children of God, he adopted us.
How awesome is the love of God? How awesome is the doctrine of adoption in the Bible? The idea that a holy and just God, the Creator of the universe would choose you or me, while we were enemies, vile sinners, to be his chosen children? That he would work with us day by day to make us more like him? Doesn’t it make you want to praise him and thank him for the incredible gift he has given us as children of God?
Let’s show him our love by how we live. Let’s be imitators of our loving Father. Let’s do what he told us to do in his Word, because we love him. Let’s not live like we are still enemies of God. Study his Word daily that you might know how he calls you to live.
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will ….”
Look at the parallels of adoption from a human perspective and from a biblical perspective. If we are going to adopt a child it is us who chooses the child. It is in love that we choose to adopt a child, not through anything meritorious that the child has done. We may have many reasons or motivations for pursuing the adoption, but the question arises whether we can use that analogy to understand the biblical doctrine of adoption. Sure we can … if we want to have a limited and heretical view of the doctrine of adoption. Biblical adoption is far different from human adoption.
Look at what Paul said again. When did God choose us? Before the creation of the world, before we ever existed. Before anyone ever existed. If you are called by God, then he created you to be his adopted child. Paul said “he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” In human adoption someone else brings the child into the world and is unable or unwilling to care for the child. This comes to our attention and after learning about it we may pursue an adoption of the child. A completely different situation from biblical adoption.
The difference is far greater than that though. Who were we before we realized our adoption into God’s family? Who were we before we were graciously granted the gift of salvation? Paul goes on to tell us in Ephesians 2:1-5:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
See who we were? We were living as enemies of God, under his wrath. Think of a time of war. How about World War 2? How many Americans were lining up to adopt German or Japanese children? Thinking about adopting now? Have you considered a child growing up in an Muslim orphanage in Saudi Arabia? How about adopting children of a recently killed terrorist? Better yet, how about adopting an avowed terrorist teenager from the Middle East? For most of us the thought never would have occurred to us. We don’t even consider adopting the children of our enemies or children who are our enemies, but God did. You see, we were the enemy, and for those of us who are children of God, he adopted us.
How awesome is the love of God? How awesome is the doctrine of adoption in the Bible? The idea that a holy and just God, the Creator of the universe would choose you or me, while we were enemies, vile sinners, to be his chosen children? That he would work with us day by day to make us more like him? Doesn’t it make you want to praise him and thank him for the incredible gift he has given us as children of God?
Let’s show him our love by how we live. Let’s be imitators of our loving Father. Let’s do what he told us to do in his Word, because we love him. Let’s not live like we are still enemies of God. Study his Word daily that you might know how he calls you to live.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Fruitful
God said we are to be fruitful and multiply, and nowhere did he take that command away. I was reminded of that recently when my daughter Chandrda and her husband Jeramiah received their third blessing into the world. Corban Peter Townsend was sent by God as a blessing into all our lives. That's a message that isn't heard very often in our world today ... that children are a blessing from the Lord.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Genesis 24:60 where Rebekah is being blessed by her sisters as she heads off to be married to Isaac. Remember the blessing they gave her? They said: "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." God did tie the command to be fruitful and multiply to the general dominion mandate. Let the unbelievers have 1.8 children each, let the children of God increase to thousands upon thousands and fill the gates of our land! God has a plan ... are we listening?
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Fool
Take a minute and read a great article by Gary DeMar at http://www.foolsheart.com/. He talks about a recently released documentary that the enemy is using to try and defeat weak Christians and keep others from seeking God.
Fortuantely the enemy isn't in charge of the universe but God is. And God's plans will providentially be fulfilled as he is the author of life. Nonetheless, it is incumbent on you and I to be good apologists for the faith, prepared to give an answer, to refute this nonesense the enemy is spewing out.
Let's have some of you who read this step up now. Give an answer. Let me see some comments here relative to this attack. Let's share with one another what we might say to a weaker brother or sister being influenced by this, or an unbeliever trying to use this to attack us.
Fortuantely the enemy isn't in charge of the universe but God is. And God's plans will providentially be fulfilled as he is the author of life. Nonetheless, it is incumbent on you and I to be good apologists for the faith, prepared to give an answer, to refute this nonesense the enemy is spewing out.
Let's have some of you who read this step up now. Give an answer. Let me see some comments here relative to this attack. Let's share with one another what we might say to a weaker brother or sister being influenced by this, or an unbeliever trying to use this to attack us.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Am I Genuine?
The sermon at church today was on the topic "Are you the real deal?" He asked us to examine ourselves to see if our faith and salvation were real. Are we truly a Christian? It reminded me of what Paul said at 2 Corinthians 13:5:
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you, unless, of course, you fail the test?"
How often do we do this? How often do we test ourselves? One of the great ways to see if you know what you believe is to share your faith with an unbeliever. We don't often have much trouble sharing our faith with a fellow believer, but that unbeliever ... well he might ask us something we don't know! The fact is, I'm afraid, most don't know what they believe and struggle to defend the faith.
The first problem here for many is that they haven't been taught much doctrine. They don't understand the basic and fundamental teachings of Christ. Not having a good handle on it themselves, they are ill equipped to share it with others. If this is your case, seek out a church or Bible study where God's word is taught and those fundamental truths are explained and reinforced. The Bible is to be the foundation for all of life. It is to guide our thinking in every area of life.
We need to understand what it means to be a Christian in order to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. One of my favorite teachings in the Bible that helps me to see this more clearly is Jesus' teaching of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. Study this passage, attend a Bible study on it and see what Jesus has to say about being a Christian. Then examine yourself to see if you are in the faith. If you are, then take the next step and share it with another who is lost.
Many are uncomfortable sharing their faith or defending the faith for a variety of reasons. But we are told in 1 Peter 3:15 that we should always be ready to do so. We must be ready and readiness comes from training and preparation. The unbeliever's thinking is the foolishness of man. When confronted with humanism, evolutionism, pragmatism and so forth, can you show the unbeliever the foolishness of their thinking? 2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God ..." Do we? Or do we cower in fear that the unbeliever's "wisdom" is too great for us? Do we? Or are we afraid we might offend the unbeliever? Better to let him walk in the foolishness of his ways ... all the way to hell, rather than be offended with the Gospel?
No, Jesus calls us to show the unbeliever the foolishness of his thinking. We do that when we can point out what their presuppositions are and where they logically lead to. Then we can show the unbeliever our Biblical presuppositions and where they logically lead to. God will then take what we have said and in his sovereignty, will deal with the unbeliever's heart. We can't save people, God does that. It is our task to show them the foolishness of their worldview and wisdom of God's. For this we are to be prepared, for this we are called.
So, what about you? Are you a Christian? How do you know? Don't trust a "feeling" in your heart. Do as Paul said and examine yourself, a deep and thorough examination. Nothing is more important. Then if you are, help others to see the truth.
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you, unless, of course, you fail the test?"
How often do we do this? How often do we test ourselves? One of the great ways to see if you know what you believe is to share your faith with an unbeliever. We don't often have much trouble sharing our faith with a fellow believer, but that unbeliever ... well he might ask us something we don't know! The fact is, I'm afraid, most don't know what they believe and struggle to defend the faith.
The first problem here for many is that they haven't been taught much doctrine. They don't understand the basic and fundamental teachings of Christ. Not having a good handle on it themselves, they are ill equipped to share it with others. If this is your case, seek out a church or Bible study where God's word is taught and those fundamental truths are explained and reinforced. The Bible is to be the foundation for all of life. It is to guide our thinking in every area of life.
We need to understand what it means to be a Christian in order to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. One of my favorite teachings in the Bible that helps me to see this more clearly is Jesus' teaching of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. Study this passage, attend a Bible study on it and see what Jesus has to say about being a Christian. Then examine yourself to see if you are in the faith. If you are, then take the next step and share it with another who is lost.
Many are uncomfortable sharing their faith or defending the faith for a variety of reasons. But we are told in 1 Peter 3:15 that we should always be ready to do so. We must be ready and readiness comes from training and preparation. The unbeliever's thinking is the foolishness of man. When confronted with humanism, evolutionism, pragmatism and so forth, can you show the unbeliever the foolishness of their thinking? 2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God ..." Do we? Or do we cower in fear that the unbeliever's "wisdom" is too great for us? Do we? Or are we afraid we might offend the unbeliever? Better to let him walk in the foolishness of his ways ... all the way to hell, rather than be offended with the Gospel?
No, Jesus calls us to show the unbeliever the foolishness of his thinking. We do that when we can point out what their presuppositions are and where they logically lead to. Then we can show the unbeliever our Biblical presuppositions and where they logically lead to. God will then take what we have said and in his sovereignty, will deal with the unbeliever's heart. We can't save people, God does that. It is our task to show them the foolishness of their worldview and wisdom of God's. For this we are to be prepared, for this we are called.
So, what about you? Are you a Christian? How do you know? Don't trust a "feeling" in your heart. Do as Paul said and examine yourself, a deep and thorough examination. Nothing is more important. Then if you are, help others to see the truth.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Great Women
Did you ever notice what great employees women make? They are so good at helping your business to be successful. They care about whether things are done rightly and they look out for your best interest.
Did you ever notice what great teachers women are? Look at most any school, especially in the younger grades, and you will see them dominated by women teachers. They enjoy the opportunity to train up children and they are good at it.
Did you ever notice what great daycare providers women are? Visit a daycare facility sometime and look at who the workers are. Most women enjoy working with young children and are good at it.
So what is my point here? In my last blog I wrote about the providence of God, the fact that He as the Creator not only created us, but also had a plan for our lives. His plan included, for most of us, that we would be married and have children. We see in the Bible that this is normative for man. God not only ordains the ends that he wants accomplished, but also the means by which it will be accomplished.
He tells us that it is normative for a woman to be married to a man who will be her leader, provider and protector; to be his companion and suitable helper as they engage in a joint dominion calling under God; to have children and to, along with her husband, train up those children such that we will be faithful to raise up godly generation after godly generation.
Which brings me back to the three observations I noted about women being great employees, great teachers, and great caregivers to children. Do you see the parallel?
God calls women to be their husband's helper, not the helper (employee) of some other man, under his authority, helping this other man to meet his dominion calling rather than being under her husband's authority and protection, and helping her husband to meet his dominion calling under God. Why do the vast majority of women miss this? Because both they and their husband have fallen prey to Satan, our ungodly culture, and their own desires. Women, do you want real fulfillment in life? Follow God's revealed plan and role for your life. I have never met a women who sincerely pursued this that did not find fulfillment by being obedient to God in this way.
God calls women to, along with their husband, teach and train up their own children, not send them off to an ungodly government institution. Women are wonderful teachers, of their own children. No one cares for their children more. The lie of Satan and the world is that you must send them off to "professional" teachers, you are incompetent. God gave those little children to you and equipped you to train them up. He never asks you to do anything you are unable to, and that includes training your children up. Is it hard? Sure it is. Is it worth it? Without a doubt. Visit some families who have faithfully done this and listen to their testimony. Women, do you want real fulfillment in life? Follow God's revealed plan and role for your life. I have never met a women who sincerely pursued this that did not find fulfillment by being obedient to God in this way.
I don't think I need to review women as caregivers to children. You get the point. God calls you to your own family, the one He gave you.
Remember Paul's words in Titus 2:4-5 where he is telling older women what to teach younger women: "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
There are many passages in the Bible that speak to this timeless principle I am referring to here. God is soveriegn, he has a plan for all of life, for each of us. He told us how to live our lives and the roles we each have in it. If we simply pay attention and do it his way we can have real fulfillment. Don't lie to yourself and think "surely God calls me to this or that," when its a contridiction to what he has clearly said in the Bible.
Let us repent and turn back to God, giving him, our Creator, all of our life. Let us show him our love by our obedience. Perhaps you hadn't thought of it this way before, but now is the time to consider what God has said and decide ... your way or His?
Did you ever notice what great teachers women are? Look at most any school, especially in the younger grades, and you will see them dominated by women teachers. They enjoy the opportunity to train up children and they are good at it.
Did you ever notice what great daycare providers women are? Visit a daycare facility sometime and look at who the workers are. Most women enjoy working with young children and are good at it.
So what is my point here? In my last blog I wrote about the providence of God, the fact that He as the Creator not only created us, but also had a plan for our lives. His plan included, for most of us, that we would be married and have children. We see in the Bible that this is normative for man. God not only ordains the ends that he wants accomplished, but also the means by which it will be accomplished.
He tells us that it is normative for a woman to be married to a man who will be her leader, provider and protector; to be his companion and suitable helper as they engage in a joint dominion calling under God; to have children and to, along with her husband, train up those children such that we will be faithful to raise up godly generation after godly generation.
Which brings me back to the three observations I noted about women being great employees, great teachers, and great caregivers to children. Do you see the parallel?
God calls women to be their husband's helper, not the helper (employee) of some other man, under his authority, helping this other man to meet his dominion calling rather than being under her husband's authority and protection, and helping her husband to meet his dominion calling under God. Why do the vast majority of women miss this? Because both they and their husband have fallen prey to Satan, our ungodly culture, and their own desires. Women, do you want real fulfillment in life? Follow God's revealed plan and role for your life. I have never met a women who sincerely pursued this that did not find fulfillment by being obedient to God in this way.
God calls women to, along with their husband, teach and train up their own children, not send them off to an ungodly government institution. Women are wonderful teachers, of their own children. No one cares for their children more. The lie of Satan and the world is that you must send them off to "professional" teachers, you are incompetent. God gave those little children to you and equipped you to train them up. He never asks you to do anything you are unable to, and that includes training your children up. Is it hard? Sure it is. Is it worth it? Without a doubt. Visit some families who have faithfully done this and listen to their testimony. Women, do you want real fulfillment in life? Follow God's revealed plan and role for your life. I have never met a women who sincerely pursued this that did not find fulfillment by being obedient to God in this way.
I don't think I need to review women as caregivers to children. You get the point. God calls you to your own family, the one He gave you.
Remember Paul's words in Titus 2:4-5 where he is telling older women what to teach younger women: "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
There are many passages in the Bible that speak to this timeless principle I am referring to here. God is soveriegn, he has a plan for all of life, for each of us. He told us how to live our lives and the roles we each have in it. If we simply pay attention and do it his way we can have real fulfillment. Don't lie to yourself and think "surely God calls me to this or that," when its a contridiction to what he has clearly said in the Bible.
Let us repent and turn back to God, giving him, our Creator, all of our life. Let us show him our love by our obedience. Perhaps you hadn't thought of it this way before, but now is the time to consider what God has said and decide ... your way or His?
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Providentially Speaking
In Matthew 22:37 Jesus says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Here He gives us the first and greatest commandment. Sounds pretty important, doesn't it? I have to ask myself this question: "how did I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and mind today?" Have you asked yourself the question? It is pretty searching.
If Jesus considered this question of utmost importance, we should understand that it is likely an area of our life that we will constantly struggle in. Satan and our own corrupt nature war against us in this regard. Think back to a time when you truly loved the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. What's changed today?
As I think about this it seems to me that we forget that God is sovereign. He has a plan, for every event, life, and happening in the entire universe, throughout every moment in time. And that means He has mapped out a special plan for your life and mine. Now what is truly amazing is that He loves us who are called by His Name so much that he has done this. Think about it, if he left things, even the little ones to us to sort out, what would we do? Mess it up, of course. But he loves us and works all things out for our good.
How can we understand this? Its really very simple ... Because he works providentially in all things, because he is sovereign, he has all things worked out to accomplish his good and perfect will. If we really believe this we can rejoice and give thanks, in every situation.
Now back to my point, why do we slip off the path so often in life? Because we forget that God has a good and perfect plan for our lives, one that he has worked out from before the beginning of time. How incredible is that! We should seek his will daily with everything we do. If we walk with him step by step each day, we can take great confidence in all that we do. If we walk alone day by day, where can we expect to go? Down the wrong paths.
Understand that God works providentially in your life and rejoice in it as you choose to walk obediently to his will for you as revealed in his Word.
If Jesus considered this question of utmost importance, we should understand that it is likely an area of our life that we will constantly struggle in. Satan and our own corrupt nature war against us in this regard. Think back to a time when you truly loved the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. What's changed today?
As I think about this it seems to me that we forget that God is sovereign. He has a plan, for every event, life, and happening in the entire universe, throughout every moment in time. And that means He has mapped out a special plan for your life and mine. Now what is truly amazing is that He loves us who are called by His Name so much that he has done this. Think about it, if he left things, even the little ones to us to sort out, what would we do? Mess it up, of course. But he loves us and works all things out for our good.
How can we understand this? Its really very simple ... Because he works providentially in all things, because he is sovereign, he has all things worked out to accomplish his good and perfect will. If we really believe this we can rejoice and give thanks, in every situation.
Now back to my point, why do we slip off the path so often in life? Because we forget that God has a good and perfect plan for our lives, one that he has worked out from before the beginning of time. How incredible is that! We should seek his will daily with everything we do. If we walk with him step by step each day, we can take great confidence in all that we do. If we walk alone day by day, where can we expect to go? Down the wrong paths.
Understand that God works providentially in your life and rejoice in it as you choose to walk obediently to his will for you as revealed in his Word.
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