What's Growing in Your Garden? Part One
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Posted:Mar 3, 2010 9:26 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:40 am 3552 Views
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What's Growing in Your Garden? (Part One) Exodus 34:6,7
Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth...yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."
Dag Hammerskjold, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, once said, "You cannot play with the animal in you without becoming wholly animal; play with falsehood without forfeiting your right to truth; play with cruelty without losing your sensitivity of mind. He who wants to keep his garden tidy doesn't reserve a plot for weeds." Did you know that what you grow and cultivate in your garden today could spread to your offspring? Did you know that a sin you now tolerate could still be tormenting your great-grandchildren in the year 2140? That's four generations from now.
Consider the warning of Scripture at the top of this page. What does it mean? Why would God set up a system that visits one generation's sins on three or four other generations?
I have a hunch that God is trying to tell us that the way we live impacts others and is of supreme importance to Him. Possibly He's using a warning of future judgment on our descendants to keep us on the straight and narrow today.
Whether you like it or not, your are becoming just like you. Their little eyes are watching to see how you relate to your mate, how you pray, how you walk with Christ on a daily basis. They hear your words and subconsciously mimic your attitudes, actions and even your mannerisms.
And as time goes by you'll find that they've "inherited" some of the same tendencies towards sin that you learned from your own parents. That's why so many from broken homes, for example, grow up and fail in their own marriages.
Your will grow up to be like you. Is that a sobering thought, or an encouraging one?
Prayer: Is there a sin that you've tolerated in your life that you need to go to God in prayer right now and confess? As you repent, you may want to ask God for grace to protect your from that sin in the future.
Discuss: In what ways do you want your to be like you? In what ways do you not want them to be like you?
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Who Is Your Enemy?
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Posted:Mar 2, 2010 11:54 am
Last Updated:Mar 16, 2010 1:20 pm 4287 Views
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Who Is Your Enemy? Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
A lot of jokes picture marriage as a battlefield. MS magazine once advised: "Marriage is the only war where you sleep with the enemy." I would rather picture the entire world as the true battlefield and your marriage as being God's smallest battle formation for winning the war. In truth, your marriage is taking place on a spiritual battlefield, not a romantic balcony.
Every married couple needs to understand the following biblical principle:
Your mate is not your enemy.
Picture your marriage as two people joined together in a foxhole, cooperating in battle against a common enemy. Take a good look at your own foxhole. Are you fighting the enemy or each other? As a friend of ours told me, "I was so busy standing up in the foxhole duking it out with my husband that I had no time to be involved in fighting against the real enemy."
Keep in mind that whenever you declare war on your mate, ultimately you are opposing God Himself. You are rejecting the person He provided to complete you, to meet your needs.
Here's a practical test to discover if you view your mate as an enemy or as a fellow "soldier." Do you focus on the negative in your mate or on the positive? When you marry, you're so caught up in your new spouse that he or she can seem to do no wrong. But within 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first, you reverse the process. You are now so focused on what your mate does wrong that you are oblivious to what he or she does right!
I love Robert Lewis Stevenson's exhortation for us as we look at our spouses. He says, "Make the most of the best and the least of the worst."
Prayer: That God would make you aware of the true battle and enemy you face each day, and how you need each other on that battlefield.
Discuss: Who is your real enemy? Think back to times when you have forgotten who your real enemy was-how did that impact your marriage and family? Do you treat your mate as a partner or as an enemy?
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Fearing God Part Four
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Posted:Mar 1, 2010 12:19 pm
Last Updated:Mar 15, 2010 8:47 am 8679 Views
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Fearing God (Part Four) Psalm 139:2,4
Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all.
Now that I've told you all about the importance and benefits of fearing God, let me say a few words about how to develop that type of healthy fear. In a nutshell: Begin practicing the presence of God. Bill Gothard says fearing God is "the conscious awareness that God is watching everything and evaluating everything I think, say and do." God sees all. He knows all. He's evaluating all.
Now that does one of two things in your heart right now. That either strikes incredible confidence: Yes, Lord I'm a clean vessel. Thank You Lord that You, by Your grace, are making me whole. That You, by Your grace, are making me Christlike.
Or it makes you feel very uncomfortable-guilty. You might be able to fool others, but you can't snow God. He knows what your attitude is, deep down inside you.
Have you ever noticed how people begin to obey the law when they spot a policeman driving down the freeway? Speed demons suddenly lose their heavy feet and spend a few miles driving at the speed limit-until the policeman is no longer in sight.
God is much bigger and has more authority than any policeman with a radar gun. He knows exactly what you're thinking right now, and whether Christianity for you is just a spare tire or an iron lung. He knows what your real values and attitudes are.
On one hand, God's divine authority and presence in my life is a terrifying thing. But it is also liberating. We are created, after all, for this moment-by-moment relationship with God. When you have a clean conscience, you are able to enjoy His love and freedom.
Remember, you're never alone. God is watching and waiting to spend time with you. Practice His presence moment by moment in your life.
Prayer: That God would make Himself real to you and give you a divine sense that He is watching and waiting to spend time with you.
Discuss: Do you have a regular sense of being in God's presence? What would happen in your life tomorrow if you truly practiced the presence of God?
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Fearing God Part Five
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Posted:Mar 1, 2010 10:50 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:40 am 3416 Views
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Fearing God (Part Five) Psalm 101:2
I will give heed to the blameless way. When wilt Thou come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
Some boys were tempting a young lad to pull a prank with them. The three young men taunted the other lad: "Come on, do this with us. Nobody will find out." Finally, the boy mentioned his father. So they taunted him further. They said, "Oh, you're just afraid because if your father finds out he might hurt you!" And the boy looked back at the others and said, "No, I'm afraid if he finds out, it'll hurt him."
The more you fear God-the more you spend time in His presence-the more you dread displeasing Him. His presence in our lives shouldn't be a heavy yoke around our necks. But we need to have a healthy dread of displeasing or hurting or disappointing Him.
If you could stand before God today in His throne room and watch a video of your life with Him, would there be a smile on His face? Would He be nodding His head in approval, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant?" Would you like to have the confidence right now that God is smiling? You can...by beginning to respect Him, to practice the presence of God daily and to make your choices on the basis of what pleases Him.
At any point of time during the day, I would like to be ready to be ushered into the presence of God and see a smile of approval on His face. I don't want Christianity to be a spare tire, fire insurance or something that is just there to bail me out of trouble. I want to walk with Jesus Christ moment by moment, yielded to the power of the Holy Spirit.
The fear of the Lord, then, should be a powerful, motivating factor in our lives. We shouldn't be legalistic about it-viewing God with a giant flyswatter in the sky, ready to crush us when we displease Him.
Let this new concept of a healthy fear of God refresh you. Let the presence of God refurbish you. Practicing Christ's presence in your life will set you free.
Prayer: That your marriage would be characterized by the benefits of fearing God.
Discuss: What will practicing the presence of God in your life liberate you to do?
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Testing Your Authority
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Posted:Mar 1, 2010 8:05 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:40 am 4896 Views
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Testing Your Authority Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a ; the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
Most people have seen the slogan in an office or on a bumper sticker: Exactly what part of the word "no" don't you understand?
Probably just like you, Barbara and I often get bombarded by our half-dozen banditos trying to persuade us to say yes when we've already said no. If they don't get their way the first time, they'll come back and try a second, third and even fourth pass. If they can't get us with their "superior logic" they'll just try to pester us until we're worn down emotionally.
What is there about the word "no" that they don't understand? Barbara and I have come up with a couple of answers.
First, it's a 's nature to press issues, ignore, defy, rebel, challenge, resist or just flat out disobey. will test you, and it's your responsibility to discipline him or her. Even the Minnesota Crime Commission, a secular group focusing on the reason for rising crime rates, published a startling description of a that included these words: "Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centered....All ...are born delinquents."
A second reason is that we as parents have trained them that way. It has been said that our are better students of us than we are of them. They can spot flaws and manipulate our weaknesses to their advantage. If they discover they can wear you down with their requests, they'll do it.
Perhaps what we need to do is to prayerfully pause and become a student of ourselves, asking whether we are strong parents or easily manipulated tools in this universal conspiracy of .
Prayer: That God will strengthen you to say no when you need to, while communicating to your that the word also means "I love you."
Discuss: On what occasions do your test your authority? What tactics do they usually employ? How do you typically respond when a doesn't take "No" for an answer? How often do you lose your temper in the exchange?
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Fearing God Part Three
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Posted:Feb 26, 2010 11:45 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:40 am 5188 Views
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Fearing God (Part Three) Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
The fear of God is the foundation for developing a godly character. I believe the leadership crisis we are facing today in America is really a crisis of character. There never has been a time in our history when we had perfect leaders. But the difference today is that many "leaders" deny there is anyone to whom they are accountable. The result: Arrogance, being above the law and outright deceit all mark many of our political, civic and spiritual leaders. All of this is because men no longer fear God, and they are convinced they can get away with most anything. If we aren't accountable for our lives to God then why be accountable to our fellow man for our actions today?
Exodus 18:21 points out that fearing God is a prerequisite for leadership. Moses has been taking care of the of Israel when Jethro, his father-in-law, says, "Moses, you are going to wear yourself out, and your family, too. You're going to wear the nation of Israel out" (see v. 1 . From sunrise to bedtime, people were lined up to see Moses about civil disputes and leadership problems because Moses had the corner on truth. He was a candidate for dying of a heart attack.
So Jethro, in verse 21, gives Moses some advice that saves Moses' life: "Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens."
Why did he prescribe leaders like that? You had to trust them. No bribes here. No compromise with darkness.
What would happen in Washington if our leaders there practiced the fear of God? What about the leaders in your church? And what about the leaders of your home?
We need to learn to fear God.
Prayer: Ask God to help you and your mate be the God-fearing leaders of your home.
Discuss: Are you being faithful in the small tasks God has appointed you over? Have you compromised lately?
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Fearing God Part Two
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Posted:Feb 25, 2010 12:39 pm
Last Updated:Mar 9, 2010 12:39 pm 8855 Views
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Fearing God (Part Two) Jeremiah 32:38-40
And they shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good, and for the good of their after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
Why do you think God wants us to fear Him? Perhaps because there are benefits to us for fearing Him. Just look at the verse above. Here we see that God wants to do us good, and promises He will not turn away from us. But He also does not want us to turn away from Him. Let's look at a few reasons why:
First, the fear of God is the fountain of life for the believer. Proverbs 22:4 says the fear of God, along with humility, leads us to wealth and honor and life. And Psalm 111:10 says that it gives us skill in life and provides wisdom. A healthy respect and fear of God is the key to life.
Second, the fear of God builds faithfulness in the believer. That passage in Jeremiah tells me that the fear of God has been riveted into our souls by the Holy Spirit to keep us faithful. The true test of a man or woman is not what you do when everyone is looking. The real test of a man or woman is what you would do if you knew no one would find out.
Fearing God means I practice His presence in my life daily-nothing is hidden from Him. He sees everything. He knows everything. I can't hide in the darkness and sin. I can't sneak away from His all-seeing eyes or omnipotent mind. And, yes, that does keep me faithful.
Third, God fulfills the desires of those who fear Him. Psalm 145:19 says, "He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them." Fearing God doesn't just keep me from sin, it leads me out of trouble.
May God etch the fear of Him on my heart so that I may not turn away from Him.
Prayer: Bow in prayer and confess any of those unseen and unheard thoughts, attitudes and actions now.
Discuss: What have you done (said or thought) recently that you knew no one else would find out about? How does it make you feel to know that the righteous God of the universe saw or heard you?
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Fearing God Part One
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Posted:Feb 24, 2010 12:10 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:40 am 8696 Views
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Fearing God (Part One) Deuteronomy 10:20,21
You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.
One of the saddest commentaries on the state of Christianity in America is that some businessmen would prefer not to do business with a Christian. I know some of them. A friend of mine told me of a brother in Christ, a leader in an evangelical church, who, through unethical dealings, stole a deal worth about $75,000 from him. When confronted, the man registered no sense that he had breached any ethical conduct. In another case, a nonbeliever quit his job and moved out of town because he no longer could work for an employer who worked on the edge of ethical boundaries. "And this guy says he's a born-again Christian!" he said.
Why is this? Why do so many Christians-businessmen or otherwise-slander the name of Christ by their actions? Because they have no fear of God.
The fear of God is reverential awe and respect for Him. It is a heart-felt conviction that He is not only loving and personal, but holy and just.
Proverbs 14:27 says, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death" (NIV). Where there is no fear of God, there is no fear of divine punishment, of incurring divine wrath. I look at the headlines in our newspapers today and lament that our nation has lost its fear of God and divine punishment. I believe God is punishing us as a nation because we won't recognize and fear Him.
We are a people who have turned our backs on God. And change will only occur as each of us renews a holy fear of the God who gave us life. Come with me and learn the fear of God.
Prayer: That God would teach you to have a reverential fear of Him.
Discuss: Do other people trust you? Do you honor the name of Christ by the way you deal with people?
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Avoiding Emotional Adultery
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Posted:Feb 23, 2010 12:45 pm
Last Updated:Mar 5, 2010 8:24 am 9150 Views
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Avoiding Emotional Adultery Jude 24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.
It is far easier to commit emotional adultery than you may realize. You may be converging on a chemical reaction with another person when: You've got a need you feel your mate isn't meeting-a need for attention, approval or affection, for example. You find it easier to unwind with someone other than your spouse by dissecting the day's difficulties over lunch, coffee or a ride home. You begin to talk about problems you are having with your spouse. You rationalize the propriety of this relationship with the opposite sex by saying that surely it must be God's will to talk so openly and honestly with a fellow Christian. You look forward to being with this person more than with your own mate. You hide the relationship from your mate. When you find yourself connecting with another person as a substitute, you've started traveling a road that ends too often in adultery and divorce. But how do you protect yourself to keep this from occurring?
Know your boundaries. You should put fences around your heart that protect sacred ground, reserved only for your spouse. Barbara and I are careful to share our deepest feelings, needs and difficulties with each other, and not with friends of the opposite sex.
Realize the power of your eyes. As has been said, your eyes are the windows to your heart. Pull the shades down if you sense someone is pausing a little too long in front of your windows.
Beware of isolation and concealment. One strategy of the enemy is to isolate you from your spouse, especially by inducing you to keep secrets from your mate.
Extinguish chemical reactions that have already begun. A friendship with the opposite sex that meets the needs your mate should be meeting must be ended quickly. It may be a painful loss at first, but it isn't as painful as dealing with the wreckage caused by a sinful relationship.
Prayer: Daily that God would "keep you from stumbling."
Discuss: What barriers can you observe to avoid dangerous chemical reactions?
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Chemical Reactions
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Posted:Feb 22, 2010 9:00 am
Last Updated:Mar 4, 2010 1:58 pm 9227 Views
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Chemical Reactions Proverbs 5:1,2
My , give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding; that you may observe discretion.
High school chemistry taught me a very valuable lesson: When certain substances come into close contact they can form a chemical reaction. I proved that one day during my senior year of high school when I dropped a jar full of pure sodium off a bridge into a river and nearly blew up the bridge. You'd think I would have at least had enough sense to step off the bridge! What I've learned since then is that many people don't respect the laws of chemistry any more than I did back then. They mix volatile ingredients without giving much thought to the explosion that could occur. In particular, many married people don't understand that a chemical reaction can occur with people other than their mates. Don't misunderstand me here-I'm not just talking about sexual attraction. I'm referring to a reaction of two hearts, the chemistry of two souls.
This is emotional adultery-an intimacy with the opposite sex outside the marriage. Emotional adultery is unfaithfulness of the heart. When two people begin talking of intimate struggles, doubts or feelings, they may be sharing their souls in a way that God intended exclusively for the marriage relationship. Emotional adultery is friendship with the opposite sex that has progressed too far.
Often it begins as a casual relationship at work, school or even church. A husband talks with a female co-worker over coffee and shares some struggles he's facing with his wife or . She tells of similar problems, and soon the emotions ricochet so rapidly that their hearts ignite and can ultimately become fused together as one. To those who have experienced it, this catalytic "bonding" seems too real to deny.
You can take some steps to practice discretion in these matters. That's what I'll discuss in the next devotion.
Prayer: That God will give you wisdom and discernment to know when you might be risking a "chemical reaction."
Discuss: In what situations can Christians find themselves committing emotional adultery?
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