Turning Hearts Toward Home
–By Thomas Smith
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6
These are the last words of the Old Testament, and they are a prophecy concerning the ministry of John the Baptist. When the angel disclosed to Zacharias that a child would be born to him and Elisabeth, he said that John would “go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.” (Luke 1:17). This would be a part of John’s message and ministry, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and children to their parents.
Perhaps there has never been a time when this message is more needed than today. We have witnessed such a collapse in our country in the role and responsibility of the home and family. Our society reflects several generations of rebellion toward the biblical model and teaching concerning the family. The importance of the sacred vows of marriage has been replaced with humanistic views of matrimony. Divorce is commonly seen as an easier option rather than working through the conflicts all relationships experience. Children are viewed by many parents as more of a burden than a blessing. Legalized abortion has opened the door for masses of adults to view the unborn as something less than a human life. Mothers and fathers are leaving the rearing of their children to child care professionals, while they place the priority of career above family.
Young people are more disrespectful to their elders in general, and parents in particular, than in any generation we have seen. Brainwashed by the media and the lifestyles of their peers, adolescents are being trained in a world with few examples of parental honor and obedience. Paul warned Timothy that in the last days, the youth would be disobedient to parents. This absence of honor for elders is not a condition limited to young people. Generations of disrespectful youth have grown to become disrespectful adults who are rearing future generations of the same.
May we take serious heed to the words of truth, and turn our hearts toward home. As adults, may we turn our hearts to our children and the children to their parents. In a world of confusion and rebellion, our homes can still be a place of refuge and peace.
SHARING
Godly Standards
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
The word “doubt”, as used in this scripture, means “to judge diversely”, which means the making up of one’s mind according to feelings, preferences, opinions, etc., rather than according to God-given standards. This scripture then declares that God requires that we do what we do by faith, i.e. to ascertain what is right with God based on what is taught in His Word (“all scripture”, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, as it takes both Old and New Testament teachings to get the full picture.) Then He tells us that the failure to do this and not prove what the will of the Lord is, is sin.
Anything we do must be grounded soundly in the Word of God. Faith is not just a belief in Christ (the devils believe and tremble); nor is it just a feeling, but must be founded on what God has said in His Word. Many are advocating that it doesn’t really matter how you dress or live, just so long as you love the Lord. But Christ said that the people that love Him are the ones who keep His commandments. (See John 14:15,21,24) “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” This is the Bible’s answer to those who claim to be saved, but who live contrary to God’s commandments. God says unless we live by faith, which is according to what is taught in God’s Word, we are just living in sin.
Thus, a Christian should be looking for Biblical evidence that what they are doing is right in God’s eyes before they do it. They should not have the haughty attitude that others must first show them they are wrong before they will change.
Many will argue that they don’t agree with what the church is teaching from the Bible, because of some technical difference of interpretation. But at the same time, they do not produce any scripture that sets forth what they are doing as being God’s will and way. This is the doubtful eating that is not according to faith.
God doesn’t direct His children by giving them satisfactory answers to all their objections and opinions. He leads us by the standards that He sets forth in His Word with the admonition that we observe all that He commands us. Since real faith is a genuine belief in God’s righteousness and a firm trust in His will, it only finds peace and contentment in both proving and doing what is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.
We need to follow God’s standard because it will be the rule of judgment. To speak of God’s standard without standing for it, is the dead faith of James 2:26.
SHARINGThe Greatest Gift
There’s a gift not wrapped beautifully
And placed beneath the tree,
Nor is this gift expensive;
It is priceless, yet it’s free.
It’s a gift that’s far more precious
Than the purest chain of gold;
It’s reserved not just for Christmas
And received by young and old.
It’s a gift that never gets too old;
It’s discovered fresh and new,
A gift that’s not forgotten
After used a year or two.
A gift that never can be bought
By riches or great price,
A gift that’s only paid for
By the precious blood of Christ.
And this gift that God has given
Is salvation full and free,
And when you have accepted it,
You’ll be thankful when you see
That at this Christmas season,
With this thought your heart will lift,
For you’ll know that you’ve been given
By far the Greatest Gift.
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
(II Cor. 9:15)
Satan’s Use Of Religion
–Satan used a religious interpretation to deceive Eve: “Yea, hath God said.”
–Satan used Cain’s religious position to ignite him against Abel.
–Satan used the religions of men to repeatedly create spiritual adultery in Israel, which led to the many downfalls of the nation.
–Satan used religion to oppose Christ and initiate His crucifixion.
–Satan used religion to persecute the Lord’s servants (Book of Acts).
–Satan has flooded the world with false religion to oppose and speak evil of the way of truth, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2 Peter 2:1-3.
–Satan has used religion to destroy people’s belief of God’s Word concerning the qualifications for spiritual leadership in church. The Bible says that women are not to teach or have authority over men in the church. They are commanded to remain silent in this department, as also saith the law (1 Corinthians 14:34-35.) In 1 Timothy 3, both the office of bishop (pastor) and deacon, “must be the husband of one wife.” In others words, he must be male. But the religions of men have decided to ignore what the Bible says and rather ordain women as both deacons and pastors. They say this is more in line with Jesus’ interpretations of loving all people equally.
–Satan is using religion to seat sodomy in our society. Building on the premise of using “broader methods of biblical interpretations” on other issues, such as ordaining women as preachers, deacons, etc., they argue it would be a double standard not to use similar methods of interpretation when it involves “gay and lesbian members and their gifts for love and leadership.”
–So, from the beginning, Satan has continued to use religion to lead man to believe he is better off to reject what God’s Word does say, and rather just do the opposite, based on the greater enlightenment of new interpretations.
–Thus, Satan has set himself up as an “angel of light” to enlighten people as to a supposed “insufficiency” of God’s Word, 2 Corinthians 11:14.
Anytime any change is made to God’s Word, it just becomes the premise for more and more changes to be made. This is the religious error that Satan is using to change the Bible under the guise of new and better translations. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20 Don’t add to, and don’t take away from God’s Word. (Revelation 22:18-19)
SHARINGIn Everything Give Thanks
By Paul Hutchens
When clouds of sorrow sweep across my sky of brilliant hue,
When gray and somber, warlike, fierce, they hide away the blue,
I am not bidden to despair or mope with clouded brow;
God’s Word comes shining–’tis His Sun, my courage to endow–
“In every thing give thanks!”
When faced with dire calamity, when driven to despair,
When tempted to cry out, “My God! Thy dealings are unfair!”
He shows me One whose awful grief made Heaven hide its face;
And then His Word comes shining through to give sustaining grace–
“In every thing give thanks!”
When bounties rich and plentiful are lavished from His hand,
When all our needs are met by Him on whom our lives depend,
‘Tis then of all times we are tempted to forget His love,
Forget to offer praise to Him, to lift our eyes above
And “in every thing give thanks!”
God grant that I may learn to walk so humbly with my Lord,
So keep in fellowship with Him, abiding in His Word,
That not one day, but every day, may be Thanksgiving Day,
That life and lips and all I am–may all of me, always,
“In every thing give thanks!”
