#558 Church and State – Christian Principles Needed

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Although a moral decay has developed in America that has accompanied the determined effort to keep Christian principles out of the classrooms, separation of church and state cannot be totally blamed for the sad situation.  The primary responsibility for training children falls to parents, not schools; however, the allowing of prayer and at least the mention of Christian principles in public schools serves to validate the proper lifestyle that should be lived.  Alcohol and drug usage, sex parties, teen pregnancies, and crime continue to rise in schools, indicating neither parents nor schools are laying the proper foundation for young people to stand against either peer pressure or the temptations facing them today.   Only when Christian values and principles are taught along with God, prayer, and Bible reading being included in the lives of young people will there be a positive change in their lives.

If you are a parent, raise your children with prayer and Bible study, allowing them to lay a foundation of sound Christian values and principles as they grow up!

“Someone who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion.”  (Titus 1:6 – HCSB)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#548 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – The Christian Walk of Wisdom

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we have seen during the previous devotionals, ants live and work in ways that can teach us valuable lessons.  Although aimed at the sluggard, we do not have to be sluggards to learn and apply the lessons from ants in order to be wise.  As Christians we should strive to walk a walk that would be pleasing to God; Paul’s desire being to be more Christlike.  Having the ants as examples, we should have an attitude of initiative in our witness, listening to God’s calling, not waiting for someone else to lead us.  Our witness for Christ should be enduring and persevering, regardless of the results we see.  A right attitude and nature of integrity will show nonbelievers we have Christ in our hearts as we strive toward the prize of eternity with God.  When we have a taste of industriousness, we will work steadfastly for the Lord, exercising self discipline in avoiding what would hinder us.  We are able to live a Christian walk that is pleasing to the Lord only as we recognize that our Source of Insight is the Lord, spending time in His Word and being constantly in fellowship with Him.  Let us all learn these lessons from ants, gaining the wisdom God desires of us from His Word.

Learn these lessons from ants, apply them to your life, and experience a Christian walk that will continue to mature you spiritually and please and honor the Lord!

“Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”  (Daniel 12:10 – NASB)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#538 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – Commands to Learn

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Through the inspired writings of Solomon, the sluggard is given three commands, the first of which is to “go to the ant.”  The sluggard, as one who has taken no initiative to learn on his own, is now commanded to go to school and learn from the remarkable little creature.  Sadly, many Christians take no initiative to learn the ways of the Lord, how to walk the Christian walk, or mature spiritually.  It is then that God calls them to learn wisdom from the smallest of God’s creatures.  The second command given is to “consider her ways.”  The ways of ants can teach what needs to be learned, and it is always wise to follow someone or something that teaches us good habits.  The third command given is to “be wise.”  The aim of learning is not only to know, but to be wise.  We often study, read, and search so we can have knowledge, but knowledge alone is not wisdom.  Spiritually, we need to apply the knowledge and experience to live skillfully in following God’s way, learning to live life in preparation for the next life. We must give glory to the God of nature for the “wisdom” of animals, but we also must learn from them.   

As you study, pray, and learn God’s Word, always take the initiative to apply the principles learned to your daily walk with the Lord! 

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:  be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”  (Matthew 10:16)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#535 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – Ants as an Example

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Some of us have probably experienced opening a sugar jar or getting ready to eat a piece of cake when we have noticed some little creatures running around.  Ants, just like we humans really enjoy sweets, and in some countries the ants themselves, mostly chocolate-covered ones, are considered a delicacy.  At the same time, most of us would just as soon pass on this type of delicacy.  The Bible refers to ants and gives us some valuable lessons to be learned from the ants about how to live the walk of faith in the Christian life.  The Book of Proverbs talks about ants being an example, one of the smallest of God’s creatures being one of God’s greatest teachers.  Ants are remarkable creatures, and through their lifestyle God instructs us in how to live daily for Him, in doing so giving glory to the God of nature.   Over the next few days, let us learn lessons from the ants.

Open your heart and mind to learn how to have a better walk with the Lord!

“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:  The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;” (Proverbs 30:24-25)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#478 The Armor of God – Confidence in God’s Word

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

After we have prayed, read, meditated upon, and tried to understand the interpretation of a passage of Scripture, we often feel our study is complete, but the Lord would have us continue further in our study.  One such way is to have a plan of memorization where we commit to memory key verses or passages of Scriptures.  Through our meditation we hide God’s Word in our hearts and through our memorizing passages of Scripture we place it in our minds where it is always ready to be repeated.  The only way our study is complete is when we have obeyed and applied the passage to our lives.  God’s Word with its many commandments, instructions, and promises is meant to be obeyed, lived, and applied to our everyday walk with the Lord.  When it is an integral part of our lives we become more Christlike, are examples and witnesses to the world, and are prepared to counter Satan and his temptations.  When God’s commandments, instructions, and promises have been committed to our hearts, minds, and lives through prayer, study and memorization, we have the confidence to take on whatever Satan can throw at us.

As you daily study God’s Word, be thorough, meditating and memorizing, then obeying and applying the Word to your life!

“But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”  (I Peter 1:25)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#477 The Armor of God – Training with the Sword of the Spirit

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As Christians we should always strive to have victory in our spiritual warfare with Satan and his demons.  When we have adorned the whole armor of God, we are prepared to defend ourselves against his “fiery darts” and thrust God’s Word at him with the sword of the Spirit.  Fulfilling the capabilities of this sword requires thorough training in its usage.  God’s Word cannot be fully absorbed in our hearts and minds without regular Bible study which includes prayer, reading, meditating upon, and memorizing.  Prayer should always precede Bible study, asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and clear our minds in order to receive what God has for us in His Word.  Reading Scripture passages should be followed by a time of meditation, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance as to the interpretation of the passages and application to our lives.  Our goal is to become more Christlike, and we do that by not only learning His Word but also obeying it.

When you have your quiet time today, include all elements of studying, asking the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you in your efforts!

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”  (Acts 17:11)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#464 Honoring Mother Year-Round

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Mother’s Day, a holiday celebrated in America each year, is set aside as a time when we show our appreciation for our mother, whether birth mother, adoptive mother, stepmother, or foster mother.  For many of us, it is a time to thank the Lord for the privilege and blessing of growing up under the spiritual nurturing of a godly mother, one who faithfully read and taught the Bible to us, prayed with us, and “insisted” we go to and behave in church to learn more about God.  When Jesus was dying on the cross, bearing our sins in our place, He took the time to honor His mother by making sure she was going to be taken care of after He was gone.  We need to follow that leadership in honoring our mothers, not just once a year, but on a year-round basis.  Those with mothers still living should take the time to show them love, both verbally by saying “I love you” and physically with a hug, and thank them for their unconditional love, devotion, and guidance over the years, their comfort and care during times of distress, and the Christian example they set to shape our lives. 

Whether your mother is living or at home with the Lord, take time today to thank the Lord for the mother He provided in your life!

“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, ‘Woman, behold thy son!’  Then saith He to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”  (John 19:26-27)

 

May God Richly Bless You Today

#100 A Son’s Christian Training

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Scripture tells us of two women who were faithfully obedient to God in training their child in the way of the Lord.  Lois faithfully instructed her daughter, Eunice, and both she and Eunice instructed her grandson Timothy.  This Godly training resulted in Timothy knowing the Scriptures from his childhood days.  Just imagine how grateful Lois and Eunice were when Timothy became an evangelist.  This story is clear evidence of the value of a Godly mother being a part of solid Christian training in the home.  Many of us Christians can testify of a mother who faithfully taught us the Scriptures and spent time teaching us to pray and then praying with us often.  Those of us who can testify to that can and should constantly praise and thank the Lord for the privilege and blessing of growing up under the spiritual nurturing from a Godly mother. 

As Mother’s Day arrives tomorrow, thank the Lord for your mother, and make your plans today to honor and express gratitude to her!

Paul writing to Timothy:

“I am reminded of your faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”   (II Timothy 1:5 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today