A Christmas Truth
31/12/14 13:37
Are we trying to earn God's love by keeping his laws? Then we are pushing uphill!
The fact is that “all who depend on the Law (who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals) are under a curse and doomed to disappointment.” Galatians 3.10 (The Amplified Bible).
Notice, first, because we can't rescue ourselves, the mighty truth is that God sent Jesus to rescue us - to be our saviour. We specially celebrate this event at Christmas time.
But, second, what prompts his amazing love for sinful humanity? There is only one explanation. God loves us because he wants to! It's certainly not because we deserve it.
Third, why hasn't our sinfulness attracted his anger rather than his love? Though he does get angry about sin, his mercy is greater than his anger!
“His anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime.” Psalm 30.5 (NIV).
Fourth, but why does God want to reconcile to himself a rebellious world? We don't know. Why do parents yearn for a rebellious child? Love is so powerful - more powerful than hatred or enmity.
Though it is hard to understand, I accept that this is how things are. Do you?
* * *
The fact is that “all who depend on the Law (who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals) are under a curse and doomed to disappointment.” Galatians 3.10 (The Amplified Bible).
Notice, first, because we can't rescue ourselves, the mighty truth is that God sent Jesus to rescue us - to be our saviour. We specially celebrate this event at Christmas time.
But, second, what prompts his amazing love for sinful humanity? There is only one explanation. God loves us because he wants to! It's certainly not because we deserve it.
Third, why hasn't our sinfulness attracted his anger rather than his love? Though he does get angry about sin, his mercy is greater than his anger!
“His anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime.” Psalm 30.5 (NIV).
Fourth, but why does God want to reconcile to himself a rebellious world? We don't know. Why do parents yearn for a rebellious child? Love is so powerful - more powerful than hatred or enmity.
Though it is hard to understand, I accept that this is how things are. Do you?
* * *
“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins
against them.” 2 Corinthians 5.19 (Bible for Today).
Let a Child Pray - Part 3
31/12/14 13:37
What is prayer? It is our personal contact with God.
First, our children should know that prayer is not our idea. It is God's idea. He created us to be in relationship with him. So he says, “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33.3.
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37.4.
Second, we cannot, of course, know all there is to know about God - “How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11.33. But the one important thing we do know about him is that “God so loved the world . . .” John 3.16. He therefore wants us - and our children - to accept his love.
But, third, because we and our children are sinners, this prayer of confession is essential for each of us: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1.9.
How wonderful that our Creator-God is not only willing to forgive us, but also to clean up our lives - something no one else can do.
* * *
First, our children should know that prayer is not our idea. It is God's idea. He created us to be in relationship with him. So he says, “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33.3.
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37.4.
Second, we cannot, of course, know all there is to know about God - “How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11.33. But the one important thing we do know about him is that “God so loved the world . . .” John 3.16. He therefore wants us - and our children - to accept his love.
But, third, because we and our children are sinners, this prayer of confession is essential for each of us: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1.9.
How wonderful that our Creator-God is not only willing to forgive us, but also to clean up our lives - something no one else can do.
* * *
Our prayers can be like seeds. Plant them now and expect future blessings.
Let a Child Pray - Part 2
31/12/14 13:36
After Jesus' disciples saw him praying, they said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11.1.
They had already seen mighty things happen after Jesus prayed - people miraculously healed, difficult people brilliantly handled, human lives changed for the better.
First, from this we see the powerful example Jesus gave to his disciples - and to us as well - of the marvellous results that are gained through prayer.
Second, connecting with God isn't just for adults. The psalmist reminds us of this when he writes, “Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.” Psalm 71.17-18 (NIV).
So, third, when our adult lives are seen to be blessed through answered prayer, our children will surely develop a great interest in having God do great things for them too.
Fourth, we can, of course, pray about anything, any time, anywhere with anyone, but a good time to do this is at a meal time while our whole family is together in one place.
When, with our children, we praise God, seek for his wisdom, truth and love to impact our lives, we do nothing less than hand our children the key to successful living.
* * *
They had already seen mighty things happen after Jesus prayed - people miraculously healed, difficult people brilliantly handled, human lives changed for the better.
First, from this we see the powerful example Jesus gave to his disciples - and to us as well - of the marvellous results that are gained through prayer.
Second, connecting with God isn't just for adults. The psalmist reminds us of this when he writes, “Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.” Psalm 71.17-18 (NIV).
So, third, when our adult lives are seen to be blessed through answered prayer, our children will surely develop a great interest in having God do great things for them too.
Fourth, we can, of course, pray about anything, any time, anywhere with anyone, but a good time to do this is at a meal time while our whole family is together in one place.
When, with our children, we praise God, seek for his wisdom, truth and love to impact our lives, we do nothing less than hand our children the key to successful living.
* * *
Since our children see what makes us tick, let them see us in prayer, not despair.
Let a Child Pray - Part 1
31/12/14 13:34
God delights to see children learning about him through sharing in times of worship, and in several places the Bible draws our attention to this.
First, the psalmist writes, “O Lord . . . your greatness is seen in all the world! Your praise reaches up to the heavens; it is sung by children” Psalm 8.1-2 (Good News Bible).
Second, Joshua opened the sacred books of Moses and read before all the congregation of Israel “including the women and children.” Joshua 8.35 (NIV).
Third, Jehoshaphat had “the men . . . their wives and children and little ones” join in a national day of prayer. 2 Chronicle 20.13 (NIV).
Fourth, under Nehemiah's leadership, God caused Israel to rejoice “with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard of afar.” Nehemiah 12.43 (NKJV).
Fifth, are our own children seeing what family prayers can do - perhaps in dealing with a peer group bully, or gaining better understanding of a difficult school subject, or wrestling with a personal problem?
One of life's greatest discoveries is learning that “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5.16 (NLT).
Let our children be aware of this.
* * *
First, the psalmist writes, “O Lord . . . your greatness is seen in all the world! Your praise reaches up to the heavens; it is sung by children” Psalm 8.1-2 (Good News Bible).
Second, Joshua opened the sacred books of Moses and read before all the congregation of Israel “including the women and children.” Joshua 8.35 (NIV).
Third, Jehoshaphat had “the men . . . their wives and children and little ones” join in a national day of prayer. 2 Chronicle 20.13 (NIV).
Fourth, under Nehemiah's leadership, God caused Israel to rejoice “with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard of afar.” Nehemiah 12.43 (NKJV).
Fifth, are our own children seeing what family prayers can do - perhaps in dealing with a peer group bully, or gaining better understanding of a difficult school subject, or wrestling with a personal problem?
One of life's greatest discoveries is learning that “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5.16 (NLT).
Let our children be aware of this.
* * *
How to pray could be the best thing your child will ever learn.
Amazing Facts
31/12/14 13:32
Here's what I read in a book titled, Amazing Body Facts and Trivia, a collection of anecdotes by Jack Challoner, published by New Burlington Books, London.
First, “a typical drop of blood contains about 250 million red blood cells.”
Second, “one human cell's DNA contains 1.4 Gigabytes of info.”
Third, “96,500 kilometres: the total length of your blood vessels.”
Fourth, “your large intestine is teeming with microscopic life known as gut flora, which add up to about 16 trillion organisms per cubic inch (about 100 billion organisms per cubic cm) of its contents.”
Fifth, the total number of neurons in the human brain? “It turns out that your experience of the world, your memory, your behavior, and the control over your body are accomplished by a total of around 85 billion neurons.”
Some people say that this astonishing body of ours just came about and developed by chance evolution. Can you believe that?
Others of us believe that life, and the extraordinary body in which we live our lives - with its complex design features and vast quantities of built-in information - is the result of nothing less than a brilliant and skilful act of creation.
What do you think?
* * *
First, “a typical drop of blood contains about 250 million red blood cells.”
Second, “one human cell's DNA contains 1.4 Gigabytes of info.”
Third, “96,500 kilometres: the total length of your blood vessels.”
Fourth, “your large intestine is teeming with microscopic life known as gut flora, which add up to about 16 trillion organisms per cubic inch (about 100 billion organisms per cubic cm) of its contents.”
Fifth, the total number of neurons in the human brain? “It turns out that your experience of the world, your memory, your behavior, and the control over your body are accomplished by a total of around 85 billion neurons.”
Some people say that this astonishing body of ours just came about and developed by chance evolution. Can you believe that?
Others of us believe that life, and the extraordinary body in which we live our lives - with its complex design features and vast quantities of built-in information - is the result of nothing less than a brilliant and skilful act of creation.
What do you think?
* * *
“The Lord says . . . I will bless the person who puts his trust in me.”
Jeremiah 17.7 (Good News Bible)