Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul…And ye shall teach them your children. Deuteronomy 11:18-19
The young men sat around a beer keg where we were handing out gospel invitations. They greeted us warmly and said something that has stuck in my mind. It was, “We remember the songs you taught us in Sunday School”. They were home from overseas, but they remembered those songs’ words. It made me realize just how important it is that the songs we teach children contain the fundamental truths of the gospel. How essential it also is that we teach our own children and grandchildren the truths of the Bible. —Janet Fleming
Lord, help me teach children, while they are still small, To trust You and to serve You, and to give to You their all. —J. Fleming
Who can be your shepherd? Take care of you through life? Who can give you rest and peace? Who can restore your soul? Who can lead you on the right path, or carry you if need be? And who can take you through the valley of the shadow of death? Only the Lord Jesus Christ. Friend, don’t go through life without Him, and don’t leave this world without Him, if you know what’s good for you. Repent and trust Him today. Then He will lead you and goodness and mercy will follow you, now and forever. —Carl Knott
My soul He doth restore again, And me to walk doth make, Within the paths of righteousness, E’en for His own name’s sake. —Psalm 23
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. KJV
O precious, simple proverb! How many have committed you to memory! How many have hung on to you when life has thrown its curve balls? Learned at a young age by many, this proverb has been a faithful guide for Christians throughout their lives. Let us ponder it again to gain something anew.
This proverb consists of two parts. The first part has to do with our trust (Prov. 3:5). To trust in the Lord with all your heart is the positive side of this truth; to not trust, or to not lean, on your own understanding expresses it negatively. Sometimes we are asked to trust in situations that do not make sense to us. Why would God give a married couple the desire to have children and then physically hinder them from having any? We don’t know. Why would God lead us along a career path, taking all the necessary steps to qualify for it, only to take away our health, preventing us from fulfilling the job He has prepared us for? Again, we don’t know. Again, why would God allow leading pastors and gifted teachers to be called away from a struggling assembly, or to be imprisoned or put to death at a time when their families and churches urgently need them? We are at a loss to explain it. But this is when Proverbs 3:5-6 becomes most precious to us.
The second part of this proverb has to do with our paths. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, then He will direct us in all our paths. If you include Him in the dating and courtship process of your relationship, then He will direct you in the marital part. Conversely, if you leave Him out of the dating/courtship process, if you ignore His counsel and neglect to pray or to ask Him for His guidance, then your paths will not be smooth (as another translation puts it). On the contrary, your paths will be very bumpy and rough.
God never tries to hurt us but only to bless us. If we include Him in our decision making, taking His counsel into consideration first, if we lean not on our own understanding, trusting with all our heart like little children, then He will direct our paths and make them smooth.
~ From Shane Johnson’s Wisdom for Fools: 101 Proverbs to Live By, Chapter 6, pg. 28.
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What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. – Matthew 19:6
The world often views marriage as a civil contract that can be broken easily by either party. Jesus said it is much more than that. Marriage is a union established by God and witnessed by God. It is to be maintained inviolate until death terminates the relationship. This is for the good and happiness of man. Children need both parents and the security that a loving marriage can provide. If you are married, renew your vows today to one another. Determine to be faithful and loyal to one another. This is the will of God. —Donald L. Norbie
Lord beloved, I would ponder, breadth and length and depth and height, Of Thy love’s eternal wonder, all embracing, infinite. —Amy Carmichael
“The aim of this first book in the Aletheia Adventure Series is stated in the Preface as being “an attempt to help and encourage young readers to develop an understanding of the truth contained in the Word of God”.
The story is set in the city of Aletheia, in the mysterious land of Err.
There is a full page detailed map of the city of Aletheia with names such as Redemption Square, Good Shepherd Primary School, Pray Always Farmlands and Run-the-Race Retirement Home.
In the land of Err there are similar names with spiritual significance in their meanings such as: Inner-self Improvement Centre, Know-it-all, Angerton, Mockton and Other-gods Conference Centre.
The reader is introduced to Jack Merryweather “an ordinary boy to whom extraordinary things never happened”. Little did he think that this was about to change. Since the story is presented in an allegorical way, the individuals in Jack’s class at school have names such as Marigold Goody who “never did anything wrong”.
The adventure really begins with Jack encountering Timmy Trial who is the school bully. They enter the farm sheds belonging to Jack’s Grandad and are transported into a mysterious land “the farm sheds were gone; there was a strange road ahead; an unknown city loomed large close by”.
The purpose of their unexpected journey is revealed when Timmy is told by an inhabitant of the city “there’s plenty that we can teach you during your time with us to help you understand what it means to become a Christian”.
The two boys are joined by Henrietta Wallop and her two brothers, but Timmy has had enough and slips away “a lone figure walking south down Apathy Road”.
An exciting adventure begins as the four children set out to rescue Timmy in the land of Err. Will they be kept safe from the dangerous Snares in the dark forest? Will they ever find Timmy? You will need to read the book to find out.
There are numerous illustrations throughout the narrative as well as a helpful list of Bible references included at the end of this imaginative book filled with valuable spiritual lessons.”
In hushed and reverent tones, the tour guide explained the beauty and detail of the great cathedral. Suddenly a hand was laid on his shoulder and an impatient lady said, “Young man, tell me—has anybody been saved here lately?” The question hung there, unanswered. Ornate cathedrals don’t last for eternity, but saved souls do. May the Lord give us a passion today, not for the beautiful and temporal, but for the never dying souls of men. —Arnot P. McIntee
If He should come today, And find I had not told; One soul about my heavenly Friend, Who’s blessing all my way attend; What would He say? —Grace E. Troy
“Subtitled Mentoring the Next Generation for Christ, the subject of this book is clear although the word mentoring may be less familiar to UK readers. It focuses on the importance of what Paul wrote to Timothy long ago about “teaching others also” (2 Tim 2.2), and it does this very well indeed.
The first chapter uses the familiar Olympic torch idea: “passing the torch” means to transfer responsibility to someone else. Every Christian is to be a beacon of truth during their lifetime, and all are also called to pass the torch to the next generation. But “how does one motivate younger believers, especially our own children, to catch the vision and be sold out for Christ?”
The latter half of the book tackles this question in a clear, inspiring and very readable way. Stimulating younger people, especially teenagers, Bible study and resources to help, training in godliness, and participation in all assembly activities are each described with good examples given. Responsibilities of both the mentor and the mentee (unusual word? but you get its meaning!) are well set out: for the mentor – be available, be willing, be accountable, be an example; the case of Elisha with Elijah is used to make some excellent points for the mentee to heed.
The earlier half of the book describes in some detail what is to be passed on, and why. In its own right this is worth reading and heeding, very relevant to the needs of assemblies today, totally Scriptural, absolutely clear, and a good reminder to us all. Here are some subheadings: divine truth is immutable; grace and truth are inseparable; meeting with believers is essential. The church has a threefold ministry: exaltation of the Lord, edification of believers, evangelism of the lost. A chapter called “A Pattern to Follow” describes both the expression and the distortion of salient NT truths such as – Christ the Head of the church; unity of all believers; priesthood of all believers; plurality of leadership; sanctity of the genders; the great commission.
Near the end of this highly recommended book is a challenge: “The church needs … those with ability and discernment to shun the limelight in order to invest time with those who need to learn sound doctrine, and to become aware of their calling in Christ”.”
He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:13-14
We’re told here of an entire army dressed in clean, white linen. But its Leader’s vesture is blood covered. That blood was shed 2,000 years ago, and is evidence of what He accomplished then so the rest of us could be with Him forever. His vesture also displays a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”. Praise Him today for who He is and what He has done for you. —Ken Gross
The Lord is risen; and death’s dark judgment flood, Is passed, in Him who bought us with His blood. —William P. Mackay
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. – Psalm 46:11
David Livingstone often suffered terrible ailments and life-threatening situations while spreading the gospel among African tribal people. Livingstone’s Bible was recovered at the time of his death. It was noticed that he had passed his finger over Psalm 46:6 and 11 so often that the ink was nearly rubbed off. Comforting words for a man who was far from home and venturing through jungles infested with mosquitoes, dangerous beasts and cannibals. The Lord’s abiding presence is a great encouragement to keep venturing with confidence into the unknown for the cause of Christ! —W. A. H.
When the storms of life are raging, tempests wild on sea and land, I will seek a place of refuge, in the shadow of God’s hand. —M. Servoss
Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John 21:21-22
Many things can distract us and cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus. In Peter’s case it was a storm (Matt. 14:3) and on another occasion it was the splendour of the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5). In today’s reading, he was occupied with what John would be doing. Jesus lovingly admonishes Peter to “Mind his own business” and to refocus on following Him. May we also seek the Lord’s help to refocus from the many distractions in our lives and to refocus again onto our Lord and Saviour. —E. V.
O fix our earnest gaze, so wholly Lord on Thee, That with Thy beauty occupied, we elsewhere none may see. —C. Bernstein
