From: August 27, 2024
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 ESV).
This proverb speaks of the God-given stewardship of parenting. For children are a gift from the Lord and parents are called of the Lord to raise them to follow Him. The instruction for parents to “train up” their children comes from an interesting Hebrew word that described how a midwife would rub the palate of a newborn with chewed dates to train them to suckle. In this sense, it was used metaphorically to mean to train up, initiate, or dedicate a child. It might also be taken to mean to educate or make one submissive or obedient as one does a horse by a rope in its mouth.
So parents are called to train up their children. But train them up in what? The proverb answers, “In the way he should go.” What is this way? As God’s stewards, the obvious answer is that parents are to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). However, the additional implication is that “the way he should go” may be taken to mean according to the child’s unique personality and character. This means the parent is called to a careful study of the child in order to help them discover and fulfill God’s calling and purpose for them.
When a parent fulfills this divine calling, the proverb says that the child will not depart from his training even when he is old. Is this a Scriptural promise? No, it is not a promise, but a proverb. It offers a general truth, not a guarantee. For many a child has grown up to rebel and depart from the way he was brought up. It is this possibility that drives godly parents to their knees for their children.
PRAYER: Dear Father, give us wisdom and strength to faithfully train up our children and grandchildren. For this is what You have called us to do. But Lord, only You can affect their hearts. We can train them, but only You can save them and make them born again. Soften their hearts, Lord. May they receive Your Son and follow His way all their days. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 27, 2023
“For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food” (Job 23:11-12 NLT).
Job lived during the time of the patriarchs, before the written Word was given through Moses. Yet he knew the commands and words of the Lord that had been given personally to him or passed on to him from his forefathers. He lived by them and “treasured” them more than food.
We have been given all that Job had and much more. For we have the written Word of God–– sixty-six books inspired by the Holy Spirit and written down by 40 different authors from three continents, who wrote in three different languages, over a period of around 1600 years. There is no other book like it. Even more, we have the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). In Christ, we have all that we need to be made right with God and to know God.
As it was treasured by Job, written down by Moses and quoted by Jesus, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4).
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. It is a love letter to us. It is like food to us. Help us to chew on it as our daily bread, so that we are energized for You and made strong against the temptations of the evil one. Fill our minds and mouths with Your Word that we might have words to comfort, encourage and even correct, speaking the truth in love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 27, 2022
DON’T LET SATAN OUTSMART YOU
Paul instructed the believers in Corinth to forgive the man who had received church discipline. He does not name the man, but he may be referring to the incestuous person of 1 Corinthians 5. At any rate, Paul is making it clear that church discipline is intended to be corrective, not condemning. If a person repents, they are to be restored quickly, so that Satan will not be able to create disunity in the church, nor to discredit it among outsiders.
For Satan is a real being, full of evil cunning and destructive plans against God and His people. He is like a lion, ever seeking whom he may “devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). We need not focus on him, nor fear him, but we should be mindful of him, putting on the “full armor of God” that we might “stand firm against” him (Eph. 6:11). If Satan finds a gap in our unity, whether in the home or in the church, he will see an opportunity for gaining a “foothold” (Eph. 4:27). If he gains a foothold, it won’t take long for him to turn it into a stronghold, therefore anger and disunity must be addressed quickly. So, be forgiving and reconcile quickly, that Satan finds no place to outsmart you.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the victory and authority that we have in Jesus. Give us wisdom to recognize the devil’s schemes and the strength to stand firm in Your power. Help us to forgive those who have repented and to restore them to fellowship, so that Satan cannot cause disunity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 27, 2017
The one who is considerate of the poor and helps, will be delivered by the Lord when trouble comes upon them. The one who helps the poor has come under the Lord’s blessing. This blessing is happiness with contentment. For the giver understands that the Lord is the Supplier and that they are merely the channel of His blessing. With this in mind the apostle Paul quoted the Lord Jesus, saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
From: August 27, 2016
In spite of some painful differences that had occurred between the Corinthians and Paul, he reminded them of the spiritual reality of their oneness in Christ. For it was God who had put them together in Christ, establishing them as belonging to Him. God had anointed, sealed and guaranteed them with the down payment of His Holy Spirit. It is good to remember the oneness we have in Christ when disunity or disagreement may come. For the same Spirit lives in each of us as a deposit guaranteeing our future together in Christ.
From: August 27, 2015
Parents, discipline your child and teach them the right way while they are still young. It’s much easier to correct a 3-year old than a 13-year old. Focus on heart change, asking the Lord to help you, and perhaps someday you will know the joy of having your 30-year old walk beside you in friendship, holding the hand of your 3-year old grandchild doing the same.
From: August 27, 2014
ascends to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT).
Christ is God’s “Yes!” God’s immutable promises, no matter how varied and how long unkept were fulfilled in Christ. Christ is the absolute fulfillment of God’s promises. Yet, we must say “Yes” in response. God has already shouted “Yes!” in Christ to us. So that through Christ we are able to say “Amen!” (which means “Yes, may it be so”) to Him. When we say “Yes” to Jesus, we receive the Promised One and our “Amen” rises to the ears of the Father and to His glory.