#765 Little Foxes and Relationships – Other Little Foxes to Catch

Inspired by and adapted from a sermon entitled Catching the Little Foxes by Dr. D. L. Lowrie, Sr.; used with permission.

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We have recently been looking at the little foxes of pride, bitterness, deceit, and neglect, all that destroy our relationship with God, our spouse, and others if not eliminated from our lives.  These are dangerous, but there are numerous other little sins in our lives that we may consider unimportant or just folly, but that also do damage in the vineyard of our relationships.  One such fox is that of the little white lie that can quickly and easily become the big black lie.  Another may be gossip that ruins reputations as well as relationships.  Laziness generally leads to further laziness, often leading to poverty, forcing relationships on the brink of disaster.  A lack of faith and trust certainly hinders our walk with the Lord and creates an obstacle to our relationship with our spouse and others.  These are just some of the many little foxes we could mention; however, it is sufficient to understand and realize that we must rid ourselves of all the little foxes if we desire to experience the joy of God’s best for our lives.

Do you have little foxes in your life that are ruining your relationship with the Lord and others?  If so, ask God’s forgiveness now, eliminate them from your life, and experience the joy of an unblemished relationship with Him and others!

“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”   (Ecclesiastes 10:1 – NIV)

 May God Richly Bless You Today

#764 Little Foxes and Relationships – Fixing the Little Fox of Neglect

Inspired by and adapted from a sermon entitled Catching the Little Foxes by Dr. D. L. Lowrie, Sr.; used with permission.

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Unlike many of the little foxes in our lives which are deep-rooted in our hearts and minds, the little fox of neglect can be fixed relatively quickly, if we are willing to let go and do so.  There are some people who neglect intentionally, for these there being no quick fix.  Only through humbling themselves before God and allowing Him to work through a change in their heart can there be a fixing of their neglect.  For most of us, though, any neglect comes unintentionally mostly from thoughtlessness, our desire not being to hurt our spouse or turn away from God.  Busyness has consumed us, causing us to suffer in our relationships and even our health.  God’s desire is for us as Christians to look at time and relationships from an eternal standpoint, setting our priorities with eternity in mind.  In doing so, we will strive to eliminate obstacles that prevent us from focusing on God’s best for us.  Sometimes this may require letting go of something good to hang onto or gain something that is best, and it may be difficult, but with God’s help, we can rid ourselves of the little fox of neglect.[1]

Are you struggling with priorities in your life?  If so, focus on what God would have you place at the front of your life and allow Him to help you make that happen!

“He has made everything appropriate in its time.  He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.”   (Ecclesiastes 3:11 – HCSB)

May God Richly Bless You Today

[1] Some thoughts and principles taken from Simple Life by Thom S. and Art Rainer, Nashville, TN:  Lifeway Press, 2009

#763 Little Foxes and Relationships – The Most Dangerous Neglect

Inspired by and adapted from a sermon entitled Catching the Little Foxes by Dr. D. L. Lowrie, Sr.; used with permission.

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The dangerous little fox of neglect can destroy the earthly relationship of marriage; likewise, it can destroy our spiritual relationship of fellowship with God.  The joy in our heart that God intended we have in both relationships is lost when we let neglect ruin them.  Yet, as dangerous as neglect is to these relationships, there is still another neglect that is the most dangerous of all, that being the neglect of salvation that an unbeliever takes on himself.  While we as Christians have received God’s grace of salvation by accepting Christ through faith as our Savior, there are many unbelievers that have neglected and refused His free offer of salvation.  How sad that through neglect, these that do not accept salvation will spend eternity separated from the One who loves them, died on the cross for them, and rose again for them so they could spend eternity with Him in heaven.  Just as the vineyard keeper has to catch the little fox raiding the vineyard, unbelievers need to catch and destroy the little fox of neglect and experience the delicious fruitfulness of being a child of God.

If you are a Christian, share the Gospel with those you know to be unbelievers; if you do not know Christ as personal Savior, today is the perfect time to accept Him and join the fellowship of believers in the family of God!

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?”   (Hebrews 2:3-4)

 May God Richly Bless You Today

#762 Little Foxes and Relationships – Neglect of Spiritual Disciplines

Inspired by and adapted from a sermon entitled Catching the Little Foxes by Dr. D. L. Lowrie, Sr.; used with permission.

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It was the Apostle Paul’s desire to have a spiritual walk with the Lord that would make him more like Christ, a desire that should be that of every Christian.  To be more like Christ, we faithfully exercise spiritual disciplines in order to mature spiritually; however, our walk and fellowship with the Lord can be endangered when we neglect the spiritual disciplines.  We need to ask ourselves some important questions.  Too tired to spend time with the Lord in a daily devotional of Bible study and prayer?  Too busy to worship the Lord on a regular basis at a local congregation?  Too aloof to spend time in fellowship with fellow believers?  Too timid to witness about the Lord to unbelieving family members, friends, and neighbors?  Prayerfully ask yourself and answer these questions, recognizing neglect of spiritual disciplines can have everlasting consequences.

Are you constantly maturing spiritually in your Christian walk?

“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”   (II Peter 1:8-9)

 May God Richly Bless You Today

#761 Little Foxes and Relationships – Little Fox of Neglect

Inspired by and adapted from a sermon entitled Catching the Little Foxes by Dr. D. L. Lowrie, Sr.; used with permission.

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A young man with a good job and bright future put the job first, neglected his wife for years, and finally lost his wife and marriage through a divorce; a gentleman with perfect health for the majority of his life neglected regular physical examinations and blood tests, and by the time the cancer was found it was in the last stage; a family worked physically hard at their company, neglected the business aspect, and lost it to bankruptcy.  These are just some of the many examples that could be used for damage the little fox of neglect can cause.  In each of the examples, the ones negligent never realized the damage the neglect was causing until it was too late.  This little fox can seem innocent enough only to find out later how dangerous it can be.  Let us look tomorrow at how our walk with the Lord can be affected by neglect.

Examine your life today to see if there are any areas in which you are guilty of neglect!

“Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his.”   (Exodus 21:36 – NASB)

 May God Richly Bless You Today