The next generation desperately needs an example.

 

"Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent’ you must forgive him.”"    Luke 17:3-4 (ESV) “A father tells us how he once started alone to climb a steep and perilous hill, purposely choosing a time when his children were at play, and when he thought that they would not notice his absence. He was climbing a precipitous path when he was startled by hearing a little voice shout, “Father, take the safest path, for I am following you.” On looking down, he saw that his little boy had followed him, and was already in danger; and he trembled lest the child’s feet should slip before he could get to him and grasp his warm little hand. ‘Years have passed since then,’ he writes, 'but though the danger has passed, the little fellow’s cry has never left me. It taught me a lesson, the full force of which I had never known before. It showed me the power of our unconscious influence, and I saw the terrible possibility of our leading those around us to ruin, without intending or knowing it; and the lesson I learned that morning I am anxious to impress upon all to whom my words may come.’” (Archdeacon Farrar.) We lead by example. We lead when we think we are not leading. We lead when we follow. We lead when we love. Be careful how you lead. Start by showing those around you how to forgive, for it is best to forgive as we have been forgiven, and the next generation desperately needs an example.

Learn More at Relate365.com

Always Teaching

 

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin."    Luke 17:1-2 (ESV) We often ignore how our life affects the lives of those around us. How we act, what we say, and what we do with our resources will influence those who follow us. Those who follow us will follow us in an exaggerated way. We set the parameters for what is right and wrong, and they usually expand them as they reach adulthood. If we watch certain types of movies, our children will watch more than we did in that category. If we took them out to eat at fast food restaurants for a special treat, they will go to restaurants as a normal/regular part of their lives. Many who have used alcohol in moderation in their home have found their children use it to excess as they get older. We need to recognize that we are always teaching, and that whatever we do, however we live, is being watched, imitated, and “enhanced.” If those we have influenced have used our lifestyle to justify theirs and it is destructive, then I think we will answer to God for our lack of sensitivity.

Learn More at Relate365.com

Power Source

 

"And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’"    Luke 16:27-31 (ESV) At a funeral I am sometimes asked what I think the departed my say now that they have experienced the afterlife. I am never certain, but I know that Jesus told us about a rich man who ignored God all His life wanting his poor buddy to go and tell his family that God is real, the afterlife is real, and they really need to pay attention their relationship with God. Jesus told him that this would not happen, and that it would not happen because it is unnecessary, and would not make a difference. Sometimes we think that if God would just perform a miracle, then many more will come to Him. Yet God has told us that we have what we need to come to Him. We have the creation He made and His precious Word. Satan has powers, and in the end, he will use his powers to deceive, and those who trust in miracles are perfectly set up to be deceived. The power is in God, not the miracle. It is God we need to focus on and His Word that reveals what truth is. We must never neglect His Word or even the miracles He has done will be meaningless.

Learn More at Relate365.com

God rewards those who seek Him.

 

There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried…"    Luke 16:19-22 (ESV) All people one day will experience death, for death is the great equalizer. When we are born, we are all the same. When we die, we are all the same. Our differences will be evident, and some will face God with regrets, while others look forward to such an encounter. Those who spent their lives too busy for God will wish they had been less busy and more relational. Those who were distracted by life’s “moments,” and never got around to the important, will be devastated. The thought of starting eternity hopeless because we ignored the One who gives hope is indeed tragic. God rewards those who seek Him, find Him, obey Him, and enjoy Him. Rich and poor have the same opportunity. On the day of death, some will be carried while others buried. What happens that day depends on this day.

Learn More at Relate365.com

But Mary...

 

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.   Luke 2:19-20 (ESV) When Jesus’ birth was completed, the moment in history that the heavenly host earnestly waited for, the shepherds returned to their sheep, and Mary pondered. However, all of their lives would never be the same because of their experience. As our Christmas celebrations are over, it is fair to ask ourselves how spending the time yesterday celebrating Christ’s birth will affect us today. Have we returned to our normal way of life glorifying and praising God? How does that look in our lives? Are we spending time pondering or thinking of the significance of God’s greatest gift to us? We often need reminders of what is important, and the pause at Christmas is a great time to make adjustments that reflect what life is really about. I pray we do not miss this opportunity.

Learn More at Relate365.com

Ponder On....

 

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void."    Luke 16:14-17 (ESV) What is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God is rather definitive. We can gloss over this statement or we can ponder over this statement. Abomination means just that, something that is detestable to God. If it is detestable to God, it is detestable. The “things” that are exalted are the things of this life that draw us away from God. There are many things that seem to draw us away from our time with God. Many things that seem to challenge our faith, disintegrate our trust, and absorb our energy, leaving us spiritually anemic. God knows what our lives could be if we lived as we should, therefore, he detests all that keeps us from such a life. Perhaps I, too, need to detest things that draw me away, rather than just acknowledge them or passively accept them as the way life is. Statements like these should never be “glossed over.” They need to be pondered over. Ponder away!

Learn More at Relate365.com

Serve What?

 

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”    Luke 16:13 (ESV) Those who grew up in the church know that there is no possible way to serve two masters. Yet, this intellectual knowledge often is not translated into reality because the lines seem fuzzy as to what “serve” means. Serve simply means slave, either voluntary or involuntary. We can be a slave to many things other than God, but we cannot be a slave to more than one thing. I can give servitude to my feelings, emotions, pleasure, comfort, job, money, family, fame, etc. However, I cannot be a servant to any of those and a servant of God. God does not say we should ignore the various inputs in our lives, He states that we cannot serve more than one of them. Who or what is it you serve? Why?

Learn More at Relate365.com