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.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
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.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Plans of the Heart
Plans, do you have plans? Plans for tomorrow, plans for your children, plans for the future? How do we make our plans, how do we decide what we will do?
Proverbs 16:1 says "To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." 16:9 says "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." In these two proverbs we see the providence of God. Although we may make plans, and we should, God providentially works in our lives to accomplish His purposes.
He is, after all, the Great Planner. He created the sun, moon, and stars. Just think about that. We struggle to plan what we will do this afternoon, or next week. On the fourth day of creation He put all the stars and planets and nebula, all that we see in space there. In 24 hours he put it all together. Can you imagine what a planner He is?
What about the sixth day, when He created man? The pinnacle of His creation, man in the image of God himself. And for this most special creation, did God have a plan? Does He have a plan for you and me? Ephesians 1:4 tells us "... He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." For those of us that He called to be children of God, He chose before we were even created. He had a plan for us, for our creation, for our lives, for all of eternity. Do we really understand that?
When I make my plans for today, tomorrow, and the future, do I take that into account? Or do I attempt to be sovereign, as if I am lord over my life? The Bible is clear that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all. He works providentially in our lives to accomplish His purposes, not ours. Isn't the wise course of action to seek God's plans for our lives, to see him as he is, sovereign over all?
I was thinking about that this morning as I was getting ready to set out on another day. Its not my day to spend as I will, its his day. That made the day a whole lot better. I set out, with my wife, as joint dominion takers, to seek His specific plan for this day. When I stop to think before I make each plan how it fits within God's mandate to bring all things under Him, to accomplish His purpose, not mine, the picture gets much clearer. After all, we are told in Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Not because God is your genie in a bottle making your plans a sucess, but because you have aligned your plans to be those that the Lord has for you, and His plans never fail.
Proverbs 16:1 says "To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." 16:9 says "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." In these two proverbs we see the providence of God. Although we may make plans, and we should, God providentially works in our lives to accomplish His purposes.
He is, after all, the Great Planner. He created the sun, moon, and stars. Just think about that. We struggle to plan what we will do this afternoon, or next week. On the fourth day of creation He put all the stars and planets and nebula, all that we see in space there. In 24 hours he put it all together. Can you imagine what a planner He is?
What about the sixth day, when He created man? The pinnacle of His creation, man in the image of God himself. And for this most special creation, did God have a plan? Does He have a plan for you and me? Ephesians 1:4 tells us "... He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." For those of us that He called to be children of God, He chose before we were even created. He had a plan for us, for our creation, for our lives, for all of eternity. Do we really understand that?
When I make my plans for today, tomorrow, and the future, do I take that into account? Or do I attempt to be sovereign, as if I am lord over my life? The Bible is clear that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all. He works providentially in our lives to accomplish His purposes, not ours. Isn't the wise course of action to seek God's plans for our lives, to see him as he is, sovereign over all?
I was thinking about that this morning as I was getting ready to set out on another day. Its not my day to spend as I will, its his day. That made the day a whole lot better. I set out, with my wife, as joint dominion takers, to seek His specific plan for this day. When I stop to think before I make each plan how it fits within God's mandate to bring all things under Him, to accomplish His purpose, not mine, the picture gets much clearer. After all, we are told in Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Not because God is your genie in a bottle making your plans a sucess, but because you have aligned your plans to be those that the Lord has for you, and His plans never fail.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Lost Time
Its been a long time since I've written a blog entry so I thought I'd catch you all up. I moved to New Mexico at the end of November and have been busy with a transition of my family and business. We are in the northern part of the state, in the Four Corners region near the Colorado border. It looks like we will be living in Colorado and working in New Mexico.
There is a wonderful church here called the Hope Evangelical Reformed Church. You can check out their website at http://www.hopechurchaztec.com/ The elders truly strive to lead the church with God's Word as their foundation. In this regard they also hold to the biblical roles of men and women and ascribe to the Bible's teaching on raising up children in order to be faithful from generation to generation. It truly is a blessing from God to have been led here.
I was reminded today of Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Do we really make the most of every opportunity? I know I struggled with that during my transition from Minnesota to New Mexico. There were so many things to get done, so many "important" or "urgent" things. That was a failure on my part.
God has shown me once again that all of my day and night belongs to him. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. Every part of every day, every minute of every day belongs to him. How do you make use of your drive time, your meal times, your evenings? I know I wasn't doing well and I knew it. We all know when we aren't, don't we?
It seems life is settling down a little now and I'm better able to focus my time and God blesses that time with him. Let me share an example: I drive 30 minutes to work and 30 minutes to get home. To use this time wisely I like to listen to recordings of sermons, Bible studies, or other biblical teaching. Its a great use of the time and helps me to continue to learn. Then when I arrive home for supper I am able to share with my family what God is teaching me, making the most of the meal time. We are all edified and blessed by that.
Why are we so foolish as to not make the most of every opportunity? Probably because we take our eyes off the Lord and focus them on the things of everyday life. Let's pay attention to what Paul said in Ephesians and make the most of those opportunities. In so doing we will continue to grow and to be a blessing to our families.
There is a wonderful church here called the Hope Evangelical Reformed Church. You can check out their website at http://www.hopechurchaztec.com/ The elders truly strive to lead the church with God's Word as their foundation. In this regard they also hold to the biblical roles of men and women and ascribe to the Bible's teaching on raising up children in order to be faithful from generation to generation. It truly is a blessing from God to have been led here.
I was reminded today of Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Do we really make the most of every opportunity? I know I struggled with that during my transition from Minnesota to New Mexico. There were so many things to get done, so many "important" or "urgent" things. That was a failure on my part.
God has shown me once again that all of my day and night belongs to him. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. Every part of every day, every minute of every day belongs to him. How do you make use of your drive time, your meal times, your evenings? I know I wasn't doing well and I knew it. We all know when we aren't, don't we?
It seems life is settling down a little now and I'm better able to focus my time and God blesses that time with him. Let me share an example: I drive 30 minutes to work and 30 minutes to get home. To use this time wisely I like to listen to recordings of sermons, Bible studies, or other biblical teaching. Its a great use of the time and helps me to continue to learn. Then when I arrive home for supper I am able to share with my family what God is teaching me, making the most of the meal time. We are all edified and blessed by that.
Why are we so foolish as to not make the most of every opportunity? Probably because we take our eyes off the Lord and focus them on the things of everyday life. Let's pay attention to what Paul said in Ephesians and make the most of those opportunities. In so doing we will continue to grow and to be a blessing to our families.
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