Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.
Edgar was being a brat. Whenever Edgar didn't get his way, he was a brat. As if a secret button had been pushed, the minute Edgar heard the word no, he began to whine, kick, scream, stomp, pout, throw things, and cry. After that, he would do nothing that was asked of him. He became stubborn and rebellious. At those times, everyone just backed off and left Edgar alone. Who wants to be too close to a brat?
Sometimes we're brats. We don't get things the way we want them, so we pout and harden our hearts toward God. God is patient with us, but sometimes He has to put some distance between us until we settle down. God doesn't want to deal with our bratiness any more than we want to deal with the bratiness of children. In time, we learn to deal with our disappointments, and like children, we finally learn that pouting gets us nowhere.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Romans 12:1
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Nearly every week, you can pick up a newspaper or magazine, or watch a television show, focusing on the distressing social problems we face in our nation. CBS devotes an entire evening of prime-time television to a look at violence in America...Newsweek magazine runs a cover story on battered wives...Time reports that nearly half of Americans are worried "a lot" about our economy, and 89 percent think the crime problem is getting worse.
But let me ask you this: How often do you hear about workable solutions to these problems?
I think the apostle Paul hints at the most practical solution of all in Romans 12:1 when he urges us to "present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God."
Large social problems will end when they are solved, not in the halls of government, but in the hallways of homes across America. In short, change will occur when Christians get serious about their relationship with God and live out their values and priorities in the family.
Change will come when dads get down on their knees and ask their wives and children to forgive them when they make an error. It will come when men take responsibility for their families and don't expect the Church to do it for them. It will come when men say, "I will lead my home."
Change will come when more women decide to make motherhood a greater priority than careers. It will come when more children are raised with godly character by parents who are involved in their lives.
We have been called to proclaim Christ, to obey Him as we make an imprint on our society. To give ourselves as a "living and holy sacrifice" to God means we will allow nothing to come between us and Him-that we will live in obedience to His will no matter what the cost.
And if enough families begin living holy lives, making right choices, loving one another-America will experience a family reformation.
Nearly every week, you can pick up a newspaper or magazine, or watch a television show, focusing on the distressing social problems we face in our nation. CBS devotes an entire evening of prime-time television to a look at violence in America...Newsweek magazine runs a cover story on battered wives...Time reports that nearly half of Americans are worried "a lot" about our economy, and 89 percent think the crime problem is getting worse.
But let me ask you this: How often do you hear about workable solutions to these problems?
I think the apostle Paul hints at the most practical solution of all in Romans 12:1 when he urges us to "present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God."
Large social problems will end when they are solved, not in the halls of government, but in the hallways of homes across America. In short, change will occur when Christians get serious about their relationship with God and live out their values and priorities in the family.
Change will come when dads get down on their knees and ask their wives and children to forgive them when they make an error. It will come when men take responsibility for their families and don't expect the Church to do it for them. It will come when men say, "I will lead my home."
Change will come when more women decide to make motherhood a greater priority than careers. It will come when more children are raised with godly character by parents who are involved in their lives.
We have been called to proclaim Christ, to obey Him as we make an imprint on our society. To give ourselves as a "living and holy sacrifice" to God means we will allow nothing to come between us and Him-that we will live in obedience to His will no matter what the cost.
And if enough families begin living holy lives, making right choices, loving one another-America will experience a family reformation.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
1 Peter 2:9
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
We've been picked to be on God's team, and we were picked first! We have an important role to play in the unfolding of the world's history. We're here to declare God's praises to those who don't know him so they can find his marvelous light and leave their world of darkness.
We've been picked to be on God's team, and we were picked first! We have an important role to play in the unfolding of the world's history. We're here to declare God's praises to those who don't know him so they can find his marvelous light and leave their world of darkness.