Devotional thought 8-5-2016

​Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

Ephesians 5:1 NASB

Imitation is the best for of flattery. I don’t know who said that but they had to have kids. Because when parents see their kids they see bits and pieces of themselves. They see the spunk, energy, creativity and other characteristics that leave them saying that is my child.

We have bits and pieces of God in us but we do our very best to hide it. Somehow we don’t want people to know that we are loving, kindhearted and seek their good. Or maybe it’s because God isn’t our Father and we are somebody else’s children. 

Devotional thought 1-31-2016

By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:10 NASB

Children are a blessing from God. When you find out you and your wife will have a child you should be happy beyond your wildest dreams. And one of the first things you think about is who the child will look like.  It is a privilege to be called children of God. And if we are to be children of God then we should have some characteristics of God. In essence we should look like God in our character. We should be loving and giving. Forgiving and merciful people. And as the text says anyone who does not practice righteousness and does not love his brother is not of God.

Devotional thought 12-10-2015

“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:18 NASB

The imagery here is very powerful. We will be sons and daughters to the Almighty. The depth of meaning in that statement knows no limits. Because fathers are supposed to always protect their children. They are a source of strength, wisdom, love and caring on a whole different level than mothers. And we all know that only legitimate children are partakers in the inheritance. 

Devotional thought 10-4-2015

All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord , nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.
Judges 2:10 NASB

I was visiting with friends yesterday and they were lamenting the state of their church and how the church was dying before their very eyes. And as I was reading the above text it made me think of them and this question arose for me, how did the kids lose their way? Didnt God command them to write the laws on their houses and as they came and went to share these things with their children. Didn’t exodus 12:25 and deut. 27:3, talk about how the adults were to share with the kids why they were doing these things? So how then could it be that there arose a generation who did not know the Lord?

As adults we have a responsibility to share the goodness of God with the next generation. To share how He brought you through those hard times and how He manifested His power and providence. And if we choose to remain silent there will arise a generation who does not know the Lord, and it will be our fault.