And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
What a challenge for every father! Paul here gives both a positive and negative admonition. Negatively, we are not to rouse our children to anger by harsh criticism, unreasonable demands or perpetual fault finding. Positively, we are to nurture them spiritually, morally and physically. Nurturing involves teaching them the truths of God and His Word and by being a living example that they can follow and trust. We may need to admonish them, disciplining as necessary, in unconditional love. What a great opportunity and responsibility for every father! —Jim Comte
Happy the home when children praise, lifting our Saviour’s name; When parents speak and show His love, faithful each day the same. —Ken Bible
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. Revelation 21:4
Heaven will be a wonderful place—no tears, death, sorrow, crying or pain. It’s a place you would never want to leave. Yet the One who was at the centre of heaven left His place there to come to a place of tears, death, sorrow, crying and pain. Why? Because He loved you and me. He wants those who have turned to Him for salvation to experience the joy of heaven for all eternity. Will you be there? Have you trusted Him as your Saviour? —Paul Robertson
Down from the glory the Saviour came; Down to the cross and the death of shame. Gazing in wonder I there exclaim “Jesus died for me!” —Author Unknown
It has been rightly said that Christians are “not called to the playground but to the battleground”. That is exactly the focus of Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 6 with its emphasis on spiritual warfare. He points out that to be prepared for battle we need to put on spiritual armour—under the leading of the Spirit of God and undergirded with true prayerfulness. However, as with all battles there will be pain, setbacks, disappointments and hurts. Yet through it all we need to maintain the discipline of true obedience to our Commander, the Lord Jesus Christ. —Paul Young
Fight the good fight with all thy might, Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy might. —John S. B. Monsell
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:12
What a comfort for a child of God to know his sins and iniquities will never be remembered by his forgiving God. He knows they are removed as far as the east is from the west. The diameter of “only” the observable universe from east to west is 93 billion light years, and light travels at a speed of 186,000 miles per second. “So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Praise God! —Arnot P. McIntee
As far as ’tis from east to west, so far has He our sins removed; Who with a father’s tender breast has, such as fear Him, always loved. —Author Unknown
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? Isaiah 29:16
Have you got things back to front (upside down!)? Often at the Dedza Pottery Factory in Malawi, we have seen people examine an exquisite piece of pottery with exclamations of its beauty, while completely ignoring the potter who made it, quietly sitting nearby at his wheel forming another lovely piece. Are you rejoicing in your own wisdom and skillful accomplishments yet ignoring the One who gives you life and breath and every ability you possess—your Creator? May God turn our hearts back to Him. —David Croudace
Have Thine own way Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter; I am the clay. —Adelaide A. Pollard
Gospel Folio Press interviews Ron Hughes about his book, “Refresh: 19 Ways to Boost your Spiritual Life” which offers 19 ways to boost our spiritual life by preparing ourselves for His refreshing involvement:
“Although this book is just a brief summary of selected accounts in Luke’s Gospel, there are gems on each page; it is well worth reading, and definitely holds the attention. The book is pithy in its structure with lots of well-mined gems for us to contemplate and some helpful references from the Amplified version. Of the eleven accounts selected, seven are exclusive to Luke, whilst the remaining four, although shared with other gospel writers, have comments which are exclusive to Luke.
Describing Luke as somewhat obscure, by comparison with other evangelists, the writer quickly sets Luke’s characteristics before us: meekness, love, endurance and loyalty. For our encouragement, he also points out that God can, and will, use personal talents and skills, developed through hard work in whatever secular occupation we may follow, for His honour and glory. The Gospel of Luke treats the plight of the poor, the downtrodden and the despised with sympathy and understanding; the stories which the writer has selected reflect that very well. The book is written around eleven stories beginning with the nativity. The reader is then taken through the Gospel to the Emmaus Road and on to the Mount of Olives to witness the ascension. He does point out that the stories listed are just ‘the tip of the iceberg’, and the aim is that believers will simply catch a fresh glimpse of the Lord Jesus. It is by no means critical to say that there is nothing new in the book, but, rather, these are lessons and gems to be found in ‘those things which are most surely believed amongst us’.
Having arrived at Calvary, the writer deals with the detail in a devotional manner and summarizes the events by saying, ‘it is impossible for the human mind to comprehend such love and compassion’. From Calvary, he progresses to the Emmaus Road, where the Lord could say to His loved ones, ‘ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory!’
In summary, the book is a brief account of Luke’s Gospel and is recommended.”
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand. Daniel 1:2
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. Daniel 1:9
Adversity or favour, God brought both into Daniel’s life. So it is in our lives. Daniel chose to honour God in the good times and also in the adverse times. Let us, like Daniel, determine to trust and obey God no matter what the circumstances He places us in. —D. Pickup
While I hear life’s rugged billows, peace, peace is mine! Why suspend my harp on willows? Peace, peace is mine! I may sing, with Christ beside me, tho’ a thousand ills betide me; Safely He hath sworn to guide me, Peace, peace is mine! —J. Denham Smith
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth… Luke 4:22
As oyster farmers, people regularly steal from us. Often, when confronting thieves, they use harsh and abusive words to justify what they are doing. How different our words should be, whether at home, at school or in the work place. Let us speak gracious words like those of our Saviour, words of kindness and encouragement.
—Janet Fleming
Words of kindness, gently spoken, ease another’s pain, Cheer and lift a heart that’s broken—bringing hope again. May my words be kind and gracious, as I speak today, So I give a word of comfort by the things I say. —Janet Fleming
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1
We could do numerous things today. We could look at ourselves and marvel at the fact that our God could see us as holy. But we know how we got that way. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5). We could glory that we are fit to be kings and priests (Rev. 1:6). But our text says “consider”, let your entire focus and admiration, be on the High Priest of our profession. That should fill our hearts to overflowing. —Ken Gross
Gathered in Thy name, Lord Jesus, losing sight of all but Thee. Oh, what joy Thy presence gives us, calling up our hearts to Thee! —C. A. W.
