Month: September 2020

‘But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children’ Psalms 103:17(NLT)

‘I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. ‘ 2 Timothy 1:5(NLT)  

‘We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord , about his power and his mighty wonders.’ Psalms 78:4(NLT)  

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.”—Psalm 103:17 (NKJV)

By Lisa Supp

A television program I like to watch chronicles strange inheritances. One episode featured a man who inherited a bug museum. The man’s grandfather willed it to him, and now it’s worth millions. The grandson’s financial future is reasonably secure.

But the monetary value wasn’t what stood out to me, although it was interesting. What grabbed my attention most was the legacy of the museum. A man named Sam started visiting the museum as a child. His passion for all things creepy-crawly started at that museum and later inspired him to pursue a career as an entomologist and high school biology teacher. Now, sixty years later, Sam takes students to the museum each year to see rare insects. I imagine the founder, James May, never envisioned the legacy nor the financial wealth he would leave behind. 

Although most of us won’t be bequeathing Borneo beetles or billions of dollars to our loved ones, we have something of much greater value to pass on: our fear of God. Then, as today’s verse promises, God will establish the security of our descendants. 

The future of the next generation begins in the home, but not just with parents. When I was growing up, my grandmother’s faith and intimate love for God showed me that I could have a personal relationship with Him. My nana’s kindness and my grandpa’s generous nature were instrumental in how their grandchildren live out their faith. The influence of grandparents is taught in the Bible when the apostle Paul commended Timothy’s faith, “which first dwelt in his grandmother, Lois” (2 Timothy 1:5). 

Scripture shows other examples of familial influence: Abraham and Lot, Naomi and Ruth, and Barnabas and Mark, to name a few. You might be that uncle, mother-in-law, or cousin who has supernatural access to God along with a natural access to those who may not know Him. 

We live in a complicated culture, and young people are given confusing messages. But those of us who know and fear the Lord and live according to His Word can come alongside others to offer guidance, order, and hope. We are living epistles designed “to tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done” (Psalm 78:4 ESV). We have a legacy that neither moth nor rust can destroy. And if all we leave our children is something a lawyer settles when we die, we haven’t left them anything of value at all. 

DIG: Today’s verse talks about fearing God. What does that mean? Is it different for the believer than the non-believer?

DISCOVER: Consider how you love, serve, and walk with the Lord. Does your life reveal an attitude of reverence?

DISPLAY: With all that God has done in your life, what do you want your legacy to be? What does the Lord want it to be? Ask Him to help you discover that and then do it!

from Family Matters

‘You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. ‘ 2 Timothy 3:15(NLT)  

‘I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. ‘ 2 Timothy 1:5(NLT)  

‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’ Proverbs 22:6(NLT)  

‘Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ‘ Ephesians 3:20(NLT)  

“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”—2 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV)

By Pastor Dan Hickling

We tend to think of Timothy in terms of his post-Paul experiences. This is natural because, after all, that’s when Timothy comes into the picture biblically. But lets take a moment and camp on what Paul writes to Timothy in today’s passage. 

The apostle makes it a point of emphasis that Timothy had been taught God’s Word as a child. When Timothy encounters Paul in Lystra and is drawn into the drama of all that God would do, he was already a disciple. Timothy wasn’t created in a vacuum. A foundation of faith had already been established in him when the call came to join Paul, who reveals in the beginning of this same letter how that foundation had gotten there: ”When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV).

We see that Timothy’s grandmother and mother were filled with faith in Christ, so much so, that their reputations had made their way to Paul. They were undoubtedly the ones responsible for filling Timothy’s young heart and mind with the knowledge of God’s Word. 

In all those formative years of raising a single boy in the faith, they probably didn’t realize they were equipping a mighty man of God to carry the gospel into hostile territory. How could they know how Timothy’s life would unfold? But they were faithful to their charge to train their child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6), and God used their faithfulness in ways they could never have imagined.

This needs to guide our perspective on parenting, today. If God has given us the privilege of parenthood, then we need to embrace the reality that there might be a Timothy in the making under our own roof! We are responsible to establish a foundation of faith in our children’s lives. What the Lord does beyond that is really up to Him. But whatever He does, we know that His ability always exceeds our imagination. If you aren’t sure, consider this: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

DIG: How had Timothy been prepared for the moment he was called to join Paul?

DISCOVER: What does this demonstrate about faithfulness in parenting? What have you been entrusted with and what might God do with it? 

DISPLAY: Commit to praying for your child(ren) every day this upcoming month, by name. Pray specifically the Lord would give you the wisdom, strength, patience, and keen insight into how to train up your child(ren)—even if they’re already older. Pray the Lord would accomplish in them all He has planned and that they would grow to honor Him with their lives and their hearts.

from Family Matters

‘You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.’ Psalms 139:13-14(NLT)  

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”—Psalm 139:13–14 (NIV) 

By Daniel Saavedra

Has anyone ever told you you’re unique? If so, did you believe it? Well, if you didn’t, you should have, because you are unique. I am unique. 

As much as we’re all the same, created in the image and likeness of God (each with a brain, heart, the same bone structure and organs, two eyes, a nose, a mouth, two ears, two arms and legs, etc.), we are also incredibly unique and special. This is seen clearly here in today’s verse. God created you and me in our innermost being; He knit us together carefully, made us wonderfully and perfectly. He made us with our specific personality traits, gifts, talents, and passions. 

 Inasmuch as He created us as special and unique people, He wants us to walk in this. He wants us to be the individual He knit us together to be. Sadly, we are deceived into trying to be something or someone we’re not . . . into dressing like everyone else, talking like everyone else, and doing what everyone else is doing. We’re pressured into “fitting in” and following the crowd, following the trends and fads. We are stripped of our uniqueness, of that which is wonderful about us in favor of uniformity and consensus. 

This is not what God wants for us. He wants us to live and operate in our uniqueness, to operate in the gifts and talents He gave us to bring glory to His name. 

I think of my kids. They’re so unique, so wild, talented, creative, fun, funny, kind, and enthusiastic in their own ways. Instead of trying to fit them into the box of what I want them to become or how I think they should be, I should encourage them to pursue that which God created them to accomplish and to be the people God is calling them to be. Instead of stamping out the uniqueness of their personalities in favor of mindless consensus, I should help them develop and explore how to best glorify the Lord and serve others through that uniqueness. And I should instill in them a sense of satisfaction and confidence in who God made them to be.

Today, let’s commit to fostering a church culture where we encourage people to be the beautiful, unique individuals the Lord fashioned them to be, and where we encourage ourselves to be unique and diverse, allowing us to fit together perfectly as the body of Christ!

DIG: What makes you unique?

DISCOVER: Do you ever feel like hiding your uniqueness so you can blend in with the crowd? Why have you felt this way? What about this seems appealing? 

DISPLAY: Celebrate your individuality, as well as the individuality of others! Tell five people why you appreciate and love something unique about them!

from Family Matters

‘And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord ’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.’ Hebrews 12:5(NLT)  

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.’”—Hebrews 12:5 (NKJV)

By Lauren Chastain  

When I was a kid, I thought my parents were too strict. For example, my sister and I were only allowed to listen to Christian music. That all changed the day we persuaded our mom to buy the New Kids on the Block Christmas album. Truth be told, it was all downhill from there. But I digress . . . 

Even though my parents loosened the reins on music, every area of our lives was still held to a high biblical standard. Sometimes I looked at friends and wished my parents were like theirs. It looked like those kids were having so much fun doing whatever they wanted with no consequences. One day, feeling particularly jealous, I had a conversation with one of those friends. 

“You are so lucky!” I whined. “Your parents don’t care what you do!” “Yeah,” she answered despondently. “They really don’t care.”

I sat there stunned and saddened. My envy turned to pity as my heart broke.

In Hebrews Chapter 12, the author compares the actions of our heavenly father to those of earthly parents. It assumes that we as parents will discipline our children and hold them to a godly standard because we love them. In doing so, we are not only providing a healthy and productive environment for our children, we are also pointing them to God. My parents’ biblical discipline enabled me to readily understand the very heart of God. 

In Christian circles, we often sing about the refining fire of God, asking the Lord to make us more like Him. But then, when the heat gets turned up, we can often forget that we asked for it and question why the Lord isn’t saving us from our circumstances. We want to be holy . . . without the heat. We want to be devoted . . . without the discipline. So many raise their fist to God and ask, “How could You?” 

Our Father God displays for us the perfect parenting style. This is not an authoritarian aristocracy, demanding perfection for the sake of appearances. It is a loving relationship with the rules and roles clearly defined to guide and protect with love as the ultimate motivator. 

DIG: Think of some ways you struggle with the idea of discipline.

DISCOVER: Read the rest of Hebrews 12 to understand the peace that comes from discipline.

DISPLAY: Spend some time discussing what you’ve learned about discipline with a friend or journal about it.

from Family Matters

‘Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.’ Ephesians 6:4(NLT)  

‘For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.’ Ephesians 5:22-33(NLT)  

‘Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.’ Ephesians 6:1-9(NLT)  

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”—Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)

By Pastor Dan Hickling

The Book of Ephesians contains some of the most instructive guidance on how to do relationships in God’s Word. Paul goes on a “relational spree” as he hits on the proper relationship between husbands and wives, children and parents, and employees and employers (Ephesians 5:22–6:9). 

A theme is also woven throughout this passage that binds everything together: accountability—specifically accountability to God, Himself (Ephesians 5:21). We are ultimately accountable to our Heavenly Father when it comes to how we conduct our earthly relationships.

This sense of accountability is so powerful when we apply it to the relationship between earthly fathers and their children, because fathers are to reflect the Father. In the passage above, we see that fathers are given a negative and then a positive command with regard to how they relate to their children.

The negative: Fathers are commanded against provoking their children to wrath. What does that mean? A child inherently admires and looks up to their father. They want the acceptance of their dad. But a father’s influence can be used negatively. If dads knowingly or unknowingly establish a bar of acceptance that their child feels like they’re failing to clear it, their admiration will turn into frustration, resentment, and even wrath. 

Dads need to beware of this! What children do might not always be acceptable, but who they are should be, for that’s our Heavenly Father’s heart towards us! Earthly fathers need to prevent anything from suggesting to their child that they aren’t always accepted for who they are. 

The Positive: Beyond this, dads are also to use their influence in a positive way by bringing them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. In other words, earthly fathers are to invest time and attention into their children’s lives by teaching them about their Heavenly Father.

Teaching a child life-skills, like how to play with others, kick a ball, read a book, ride a bike, interact with adults, and write a paper are all important. But a dad’s primary duty is to make sure their child knows what they need to know about God. This is the greatest need a child will ever have and the greatest thing a dad can provide.

Dads are accountable to reflect the Father to their children in both what they don’t do and in what they do.

DIG: What should a father not do and do? Why?

DISCOVER: How have you seen these principles play out in your own experience? 

DISPLAY: Dads, today let’s commit—and recommit every single day—to being the kinds of parents the Lord has called us to be. Let’s endeavor to train our children up in the ways of God and make them feel loved and accepted every step of the way. Children, pray for your parents today. Whether they have been obedient to God in this area or not, lift them up and ask the Lord to do a work in them.

from Family Matters