Gems of Encouragement: October 19, 2013

GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 19, 2013

PROVERB:

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5

PROMISE:

Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Psalm 49:16-17.

PRAISE:

You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. Psalm 73:24-25.

Desperation: October 18, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 18, 2013.

DESPERATION

DEFINITION:

The state of being desperate; having the recklessness of despair; loss of hope; a source of hopelessness.

SCRIPTURE:

We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God. II Corinthians 1:8-9.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Have you ever felt as desperate as the above scripture says? Paul had endured many hardships in his life, and although he does not give us a lot of details, he does indicate that he and his companions felt they were going to die. Paul goes on to say that because they were helpless to help themselves they had to rely on God.

Sometimes we have to come to the point of desperation before we realize our need to completely trust in God. We have talked to a lot of desperate people in our lifetime. For some it has been facing a desperate situation in their marriage. For others it has been a desperate situation with a child. Possibly you face a desperate health situation or financial crises?

The desperations that have concerned us the most involving family life is twofold. First, we have seen so many times parents who are facing desperation because of the actions of their children. Parenting is very difficult in today's society. Many times problems with children develop when parents have not developed a lifestyle that honors God in their homes and have not been godly role models for their children to watch as they were growing up. Children must be taught from God's Word how to honor God, and how to honor their parents.

But we also have seen great desperation from what we consider wonderful Christian parents who ask us -- WHY? Their children have made choices in their lives that are the opposite of the way they were raised. We have only one answer for one facing that situation and that is to pray for that child, continue to love that child and continue to live your consistent Christian life. We must then let go and let God do His thing. And He will do it in his perfect timing.

We have witnessed unbelievable desperation in third world countries. We have seen mothers crying because they have no food, milk or medicine for their dying child that they were holding in their arms. We have seen families with no housing, no food and seemingly no one to help because the father has died or left the home. We have seen children orphaned because both parents have died of AIDS. They ask: What should we do? Where do we go? Who really cares for me? This is desperation.

Henry David Thoreau said: "Most people live today lives of great desperation." The feeling of desperation is often the result of choices one makes in life --- even years earlier. For others desperation comes due to situations that arise because of the location of where they were born and/or the culture they are in, the wars they have to face, poverty, persecution and other serious problems that a child, young person or adult has no control over.

But there is a solution for a person that is facing a desperate situation in life. The scripture says that we are to "cast all of our cares upon the Lord because He cares for you." You might respond by saying or thinking that is easy for us to say. We do not understand how bad the situation is.

Let us tell you and assure you that no situation is too hard for God to overcome. It is our lack of faith that causes us to doubt what God wants to do for us. When desperate situations get us down, the only way to look is up. God is waiting for you to bring your desperation to Him.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I Timothy 2:5.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the promise through Your Word that when I am feeling desperate and feel that no one cares for me, you are their waiting for me. All I have to do is to cast my care (desperation) upon You and You will care for me. Help me today to grasp what You say and give me the faith to accept that You are caring for me even when I am feeling total despair.

Authority: October 17, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 2013.

AUTHORITY

DEFINITION:

The power to determine or settle issues; the right to govern or control; authorization; adjudicate; a power or right delegated as given.

SCRIPTURE:

For there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Romans 13:1.

All authority has been given to me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18.

When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2.

For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:29

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Do I have to? How many times have parents heard that from their children? It is inbred in us to resist authority. It began with Adam and Eve when they resisted God’s authority. When people become their own authority and act on their own opinions of right and wrong the results are horrendous.

As Christians we need to look at the word "AUTHORITY" from several perspectives. First, the authority that God has over us as Christians. And second, what God says about the authority we have in the individual roles that we have been given or assumed in life.

The Bible declares God to be the supreme authority and the source of all authority. The scripture is clear that there is absolutely no authority given to man other than by God.

By the time that the Children of Israel had left Egypt, they were a large nation and needed a provision of authority to unify them, to give leadership to them and to keep order. God exercised His authority with them and delegated authority to the priests and the prophets to guide their spiritual needs. Later, when Israel demanded to have a "King," God gave authority to a king to govern and establish civil law.

When we are in a position of authority in this life, we must recognize that all of our authority comes from God and we should exercise our power according to God's rules and remember that God will judge us on our performance. Concerning the authority of our leaders in government and at our work place, unfortunately, we live in a corrupt and sinful world so we have corrupt leaders.

As we read in the accounts of the Kings that ruled over Israel, some were good and others were evil and corrupt. The corrupt rule of the ungodly kings led to Israel’s destruction.

We must be wise in choosing those who are in authority over us. The words of Proverbs 29:2 are true. We will groan when we are under the authority of wicked rulers. We must choose rulers who are God-fearing and righteous. Believers must pray for those in authority to make righteous decisions. Nevertheless, we as Christians must accept the authority of those in positions of authority over us as long as it does not conflict with God's laws and moral standards. And remember, when we rebel against those in authority over us we are rebelling against God.

Concerning authority in the home, the scripture gives us in Ephesians chapter 5 specific instructions on how family members should relate to one another. As the head of the wife, husbands are to love their wives and wives are to submit to their husbands. This does not mean that the husband is the ruler nor is the wife inferior. But it does mean that the husband is the spiritual leader, always thinking of his wife's best interests, and his wife should acknowledge his leadership.

A husband that loves the Lord and is wise will not take advantage of his leadership role and a wife who loves the Lord will wisely not seek to undermine her husband's leadership. Unfortunately, this line of authority is not popular today and is not being practiced in most homes.  Consequently we have seen family values eroding and more than 50% of all marriages fail.

Men no longer know how to lead their families properly under God's direction. They have abused their role. Wives want to be equal today and do not want to be subject in any way to their husband as is God's plan for marriage.

It is very important that parents establish with their children, at a very young age that they (the parents) are in charge. They must understand early in life that it is God's plan for, "children to obey their parents."

Many today when analyzing the ills of society blame it on the schools. Teachers will tell you that one of the biggest problems they deal with in the classroom is the lack of respect students have for the teachers and those in authority over them. It is hard to teach children who are not willing to submit to authority.

Teaching to submit to authority is the job of parents and needs to begin when the children are very young. This is not the job of the school, the church or the government. Children who never learn to submit to authority will not be successful in the work place. They will experience trouble in life. Unfortunately, their troubles often bring pain and suffering to others.

It cannot be stressed too strongly just how important it is for us to recognize and respect God's authority in all that we do as individuals, as a family, with our neighbors and in our work place. For Christians --- all authority is with God.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

Prepare my heart to live a life that respects Your authority in all situations. Give me a new respect for You, my family and all those that I make contact with today. Continue to teach me daily to trust You more.

Accept: October 16, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2013.

ACCEPT

DEFINITION:

To receive willingly; to receive with approval or favor; to take or receive something offered.

SCRIPTURE:

Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

When Jesus was here on this earth the Jewish people hated the Samaritans and did not accept them. In John 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the well and began to talk with her. When Jesus asked for a drink she was surprised and wanted to know why He was talking to her as no Jewish man would ever talk to a Samaritan woman. But Jesus continued to talk with her and she believed and accepted His gift of "living water."

She went back to her village and led many Samaritans to become believers in Jesus. The good news that we can learn from this, is that Jesus came to this earth for all of us. And He accepts all who come to Him in faith believing for forgiveness of their sins.

In Romans 15:7 we are told to accept one another just as Christ accepted you in order to bring praise to God. As Christians we are to accept and encourage other Christians. Also we must be willing to accept others who do not know the Lord without condoning what they do, so we can introduce them to Christ. It is important for children to understand the difference between accepting someone and accepting what someone does, when that person is doing things that are against Biblical principles.

Jesus knew that the Samaritan woman was an immoral woman. He did not shun her for her race, social position or her sins. He accepted her as someone who needed His saving grace.

People today are hungry for acceptance. Children in school do everything they can, including lowering their standards, to be accepted by their peers. Adults are much the same. They want to be included in "THE GROUP" just as children do. There are certain groups that it is better that we as Christians are not part of. 

Paul tells us in Romans 14:1 "Do not refuse to accept someone who is weak in faith. And do not argue with him about opinions.

We, as Christians, need to make people feel important and needed. This way they will feel accepted and will more than likely be open to hear about Jesus.

Back when we attended school at Wheaton College in Illinois, I (Ken) remember being in an ethics class where we had a discussion about a small group of students who were not living up to the standards set by the college and they were not being accepted by many of our peers. As a class we began praying for this group and about a week later one of the students in the class told us that she had approached one of the people in the group.

The one thing I remember her saying was that they did not feel accepted at the school so why should they change their life style? This small group had all come from home situations where living a much looser life was acceptable. We believe that because of our prayers and the fact that efforts were made to be friendly and show Christian love to them their hearts were softened and God was able to affect change in their lives. Fellow students approached them with love and not with criticism with the result being that they were able to be a positive influence.

This is an example that should remind each of us to do all we can to make people we touch shoulders with feel accepted.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I Timothy 2:5.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

Help me to find people today who need to feel accepted. May these people see Christ through my words and deeds. Help my children to stand up for what they believe and not to be swayed by the crowd. Help me to do what is good and acceptable in Your sight so that I may know beyond any doubt the good and acceptable and perfect will of God for my life.

Forgiveness: October 15, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2013.

FORGIVENESS

DEFINITION: 

The act of granting pardon for an offense or sin; acquittal; offering the chance to recover from mistakes.

SCRIPTURE:

Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the Lord's Prayer as written in Matthew 6, Jesus said: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us." How can we expect to be forgiven when we are unwilling to forgive? This is what forgiveness is all about. When one does wrong it is right for that person to then ask for forgiveness. Unfortunately, that very rarely happens. The reason being is that it is humbling to have to admit we are wrong and have to ask for forgiveness. The end result, if we do not ask for forgiveness, is a rift in a relationship.

Don't let pride keep you from doing the right thing. How do you feel when you are wronged? Naturally it upsets you and the normal reaction is to want to get even. Most people can give you a score of reasons why they feel they should not forgive someone for a wrong. Excuses are not acceptable to God. God has set the unsurpassable example of forgiveness when He forgave us of our sins by sending His Son to pay the penalty for our sins.  Unless we have personally asked God to forgive us our sins and accepted Jesus as our Savior, our un-forgiven-sin stands between us and God.

No matter how many sins we have committed or how great they are, Jesus has paid the penalty for each and every one. There is no sin too big for God to forgive. When we consider how much God has forgiven us how can we not forgive others. When we are unwilling to forgive others who might harm us in word or deed, we set ourselves above Christ’s law of love.

Forgiveness is the key to our relationship with God and to our relationship with others. In Acts 26:18 it reads: "that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those that are sanctified by faith in Me."  What greater inheritance can one have then to spend an eternity with God in heaven? It really is that simple. But we have to make the choice and ask God to forgive us from our sins.

We have given you three scriptures above that make it very clear from God's Word that we need to have a spirit of forgiveness as believers. This is not an option but is expected by God. A free and generous attitude of forgiveness should come as an out flowing of love for one another just as God has loved us.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I Timothy 2:5.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

Today I ask You to forgive me for my sins and for the times I have failed You. Help me to learn afresh to forgive those that sin against me just as You forgave me. Help me to set an example for my family and friends as to what it means to forgive and give my family a spirit of forgiveness to all that have treated us unkindly. Thank You for teaching me to pray as You said: "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." Amen