Teach Your Little Lambs

 

At one point during the game, the coach said to one of the young players, “Do you understand what cooperation and what teamwork is all about?” The little boy nodded in the affirmative. “Do you understand that what really matters is not whether we win or lose, but that we play together as a team?” The little boy nodded yes. “Good,” the coach continued. “And when a strike is called, or you’re thrown out at first, you don’t argue, attack the umpire with a bat, or throw dirt in the opposing team member’s faces. Do you understand all that?” Again, the little boy nodded, “Well sure coach. That’s what you taught us.” “Good,” said the coach. “Please go over there and explain all that to your mother.”

I’ve been to a few youth sports games when the above conversation needed to take place. I remember one particular High School football game where one heckler complained about the players and coaches from the stands. Having had his fill of this one parent’s complaints, another voice cried out above all others, “I agree! Y’all are playing like a bunch of High School kids!” It’s sad to see parents act in such an irresponsible manner because you know they are instructing their children (and other’s children) to behave in a similar manner. God has given us who are parents an awesome responsibility – not only to teach our children what is right, but to live in such a way they can see that we are willing to practice what we’ve been teaching them to do.

[Proverbs 22:6] “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Researchers tell us that our ability to greatly influence our children is limited up to about age nine, and that our greatest influence is during the first few years of life. If we wait until our children are troubled teenagers before we decide to become serious about faith in God, we probably will have waited too late to really have a positive impact on their spiritual life. Along this line, several years ago I came across the following poem: “Mary had a little boy; His soul was white as snow. But he never went to Bible school, cause Mary wouldn’t go. He missed the story of the Christ that thrills the childish mind; While other children learned of God this child was left behind. And as he grew from babe to youth, she saw to her dismay; A soul that was once snowy white, became a dingy gray. Realizing now that he was lost, she tried to win him back; But now the soul that once was white had turned an ugly black. She even started back to church, and Bible study too; She begged the preacher, “Isn’t there something you can do?” The preacher tried, and failed, and said, “We’re just too far behind; I tried to tell you years ago, but you would pay no mind.” And so, another soul is lost, that once was white as snow; Bible study would have helped, but Mary wouldn’t go! (Author Unknown)

Moses told the parents of Israel to take the laws which God had given them and “…teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7). It was Jesus who asked, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mom’s and Dad’s, what profit is it to you if you gain the whole world and lose the soul of your children? What would you give in exchange for their eternal life? – career, money, sleep, excuses for being unable to be with them? May God bless those of you who are parents, as you strive to teach your children the love of God, and to love God. Teach them the Bible and lead the family by example - and as a general rule, your children will not depart, when they get older, from what they have learned, from you, and God’s Word.

Not What He Seems

 

An old Native American wanted a loan for $500. The banker pulled out the loan application. “What are your plans for the money?” he asked. “Buy silver, make jewelry, and sell it,” was the response. “What do you have for collateral?” Puzzled, the man says, “Don’t know collateral.” The banker explained, “Well, that’s something of value that would cover the cost of the loan. Have you got any vehicles?” “Yes, 1949 Chevy pick-up.”  “How about livestock?” “Yes, I have a horse.” “How old is it,” “Don’t know, has no teeth,” the man replied. The banker decided to make the $500 loan. Several weeks later the old man comes in the bank, pulls out a roll of money, and pays off the loan. The banker was impressed and tries to convince the man to deposit the rest of his money in the bank. Not sure of the banker’s proposition he asked, “What you got for collateral?”

At Harding University, the mascot is the bison. Its statue seems powerful, aggressive, and intimidating. Some have described this animal’s temperament as unpredictable. It may appear peaceful, concerned, even lazy. Yet, it may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. The bison’s head, with its massive skull, can be used as a battering ram, effectively using the momentum produced by 2,000 pounds moving at thirty miles-per- hour! When the bison ran wild, people rated it second only to the Alaskan brown bear as a potential killer, even more dangerous than the fierce grizzly bear. To a casual observer, a grazing bison appears slow and clumsy, but it can outrun, out-turn, and traverse rougher terrain than all but the fleetest horse. The bison can move at speeds of up to thirty-five miles-per-hour, for as long as thirty minutes. One who hunts the bison might find the bison hunting him.

[John 18:36] “…My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” A Roman cohort, likely consisting of 60 soldiers, went with Judas to Gethsemane. There they arrested Jesus, bound Him, and led Him to Annas. One of the officers dealt Jesus a severe blow, just because He suggested that the High Priest seek first-hand testimony about His words from those who heard Him. They convicted Him even before they tried Him. Under Roman law, the Jews were not permitted to execute anyone, so they needed the Roman’s help. Jesus had said that He would die by being “lifted up,” referring to crucifixion. How could His accusers convince Pilate of Jesus’ guilt? They would call Him an “evildoer,” a blasphemer who claimed to be God’s Son and a king. But what kind of king? To Pontius Pilate, Jesus did not appear mighty, or dangerous. Silent and defenseless, He steadfastly and passively endured treatment that no Roman ruler would ever tolerate. They clothed Him in purple and crowned Him with thorns. They blindfolded, struck, spat upon, and mocked Him. “Hail, King of the Jews!” they laughed.

Like the bison, Jesus has frequently been misunderstood and underestimated. He is a King, but of another realm. That will be evident when this world’s kingdoms have all vanished. He is a King, but He does not allow His troops to defend Him with swords. He is a King, but He willingly surrenders to His enemies that He might die to free His subjects from the slavery of sin. How ironic that they chose the life-taker Barabbas instead of the life-giver Jesus. How strange that they preferred the Roman Caesar over the heaven-sent Savior. How amazing that He who seemed so defeated now sits on the throne at the right hand of God, in all power and glory. Trust Him! Obey Him! Love Him! But never underestimate the King of kings! Glorify His Name! (Revelation 15:3-4)

Are You Ready For "Your Time"?

 

An elderly man lay dying on his bed. In death’s agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs to his room. He gathered his remaining strength and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath he leaned against the doorframe, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for the pain, he would have thought himself already in heaven! There, spread out on the kitchen table, were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it merely one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. His aged and withered hand made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table. But his wife suddenly smacked the back of his hand with a spatula! “Stay out those,” she commanded! “Those are for the funeral!”

She’s not the only one to save something for a funeral that should have been shared long before. It often seems a shame that flowers are sent to a funeral rather than beforehand when they could truly be enjoyed. Many of the comments made at a funeral reflect the realization that we don’t express our feelings adequately to those we love while they were alive: “What a wonderful friend he was!” “I never told her how much I appreciated her and what she meant to me!” “I hope he realized how much I loved him!” If someone means something special to you, don’t save it for the funeral. Share it with that person today.

[Hebrews 9:27] “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement…” A person asked me about this recently. They had heard people say such things as, “It was just their time to go.” There are many folks who believe there is a set time for someone to die. They use this scripture in defense of such a view. However, the original Greek word translated “appointed” in this verse is also translated “laid up” in the three other verses where it is found in the New Testament. The word carries the idea of something reserved or awaiting (Luke 19:20; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 4:8). We have to recognize that this is a general principle since there will be some that will not have died when the Lord returns (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The Bible teaches that God has placed limits on the lifespan of mankind (Psalm 90:10). The limit of seventy or eighty years is not hard fast, but again, a general principle. Even now, with all our medical capabilities, the average lifespan is still around eighty years. Job said, “Since his days are determined, the number of his months are with You; You have appointed his limits so that he cannot pass” (Job 14:5). Job is not discussing a set number of days for each individual, but that God has placed general limits on how long men can live on this earth. Additionally, consider that if a person has a set time to die determined by the Lord it cannot be changed. However, the Bible teaches: A person can shorten his days; Psalm 55:23, “…bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days…” and Proverbs 10:27, “…But the years of the wicked will be shortened.” A person can lengthen his days; Proverbs 10:27, “The fear of the Lord prolongs days…” and Ephesians 6:1-3, “…honor your father and mother…that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” We know the length of our life is not fixed because the Bible teaches that one’s behavior effects his lifespan. We don’t know precisely when it will be “our time,” but we can be certain that it will eventually come. Ask yourself, knowing the certainty of it, how should we behave? (Romans 13:11-14) Are you ready? We must all appear before the throne of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Secrets Of Life

 

A certain farmer told each of his children when they were young that there was a “secret” of life, and it was a mystery that he’d reveal when they reached their 12^th birthday. “I will tell you the secret of life then,” he said. On the day the eldest turned 12, the nervous daughter approached her father and said, “So, tell me the secret.” “Fine,” said her father, “but you must promise not to reveal the secret to your younger brothers and sisters.” The girl promised. He said, “The secret of life is this: The cow does not give milk.” His daughter stared in misbelief, “Wait. What?” “You heard me,” he said. “The cow does not give milk; you have to milk it. You have to get up at four in the morning, go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket, and do the work yourself. That is the secret of life: the cow does not give milk. One must milk her, or you don’t get milk.” There is this generation that thinks cows give milk – that things are automatic and free. The mentality of this generation is that if, ‘I wish it, I ask …I obtain.’ It’s used to getting whatever it wants and getting it the easy way. But no, life is not a matter of wishing, asking, and obtaining. The things that one receives are the cumulative effort of what one does. Happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration. So, share with your children at an early age the secret of life, so they don’t grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, or their cute little faces are going to give them everything they need in life. (Timothy Merrill, HomeTouch, February 4, 2024)

Beekeepers know that a bee’s age is determined by the condition of its wings. Because bees constantly work, their wings get a lot of wear and tear, Young bees have wide, well-formed wings, whereas older bees have narrow, torn, and tattered wings. The bee does not die of old age. It dies when its wings are completely worn out and can no longer work or fly. Near the point of death, the bee points itself away from the beehive and begins to fly, never to return again. The bee literally wears itself out - working!

[James 1:25] Blaise Pascal, the brilliant 17^th century intellectual, who made significant contributions in the fields of science and mathematics, established the groundwork for the development of mechanical calculators and modern hydraulic operations. As a young man, Pascal had a profound experience that changed his life. It motivated him to refocus his studies to theology. Pascal wrote a remarkable prayer that won the praise and admiration of many who were moved by it in facing the many tasks and challenges of life. He prayed: “Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in your name.”

The apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), and “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). These admonitions are to encourage us to depend on God for His power and to view every act as the greatest of importance, since it will reflect on His glory. The next time you face a large undertaking, a huge task – remember that God is your strength. And when you encounter a seemingly insignificant one, determine to do it with excellence to the glory of God. Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God. When your back is against the wall and the odds seem not in your favor, remember …you and God make a majority. There is no task so great that you and God together can’t accomplish. No enemy is so strong that you and God can’t defeat it. Have some works to do? Start it at this very hour. You supply the willingness; God will supply the power. Let us be people who are willing to ‘work our wings off’ in the Lord’s service to the glory of our Creator, God.