Saturday, July 11, 2009

~ Our Legacy

June 21,2009
Sunday

READ:
Psalm 127


Children are a heritage from the Lord.
-Psalm 127:3


A friend of mine wrote recently, "If we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family left behind would feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Why then do we invest so much in out work and so little in our children's lives?"

Why do we sometimes exhaust ourselves rising up early and going late to rest, "eating the bread of anxious toil" (Ps. 127:1-2 ESV), busying ourselves to make our mark on this world, and overlooking the one investment that matters beyond everthing else- our children?

Solomon declared, "Children are a heritage from the LORD"- an invaluable legacy He has bequathed us." Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the childten of one's youth" (v.4) is his striking simile. Nothing is more worthy of our energy and time.

There is no need for "anxious toil," working night and day, the wise man Solomon proclaimed, for the Lord does take care of us (Ps. 127:2). We can make time for our children and trust the Lord will provide for all our physical needs. Children, whether our own or those we disciple, are our lasting legacy- an investment we'll never regret. - David Roper

Our children are a heritage,
A blessing from the Lord;
They bring a richness to our lives-
In each, a treasure stored. - Fasick



Time spent with your children is time wisely invested.

Friday, July 10, 2009

~ A Donkey In Lion's Clothing

July 18,2009
Saturday

READ:
Matthew 7:15-23


Beware of false prophets...in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
-Matthew 7:15


In the final book of C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, a devious ape named Shift finds an old lion's skin and persuades a simpleminded donkey to put it on. Shift then claims that the disgusted donkey is Aslan (the Lion who is the rightful king of Narnia) and forms an alliance with Narnia's enemies. Together they set out to control and enslave the subjects of Narnia. Young King Tirian, however, can't believe that Aslan would actually be involved with such brutal practives. So, with the help of the real Aslan, he defeats Shift and his counterfeit lion.

The Bible tells us that the devil is in the business if imitating God. His goal is "to be like the Most High" (Isa. 14:12-15). Through deception, Satan tries to replace Christ with a substitute. Jesus Himself warned us of false prophets and false christs:" Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many" (Matt.24:4-5).

How can we tell the real Christ from the counterfeit? The only authentic Christ is the one described in Scripture. Anyone or anything that portrays a different Jesus that the One represented in the Bible is promoting "a donkey in lion's clothing."- Dennis Fisher


Beware of anyone who claims
To speak directly from the Lord
If what he says does not agree
With everything that's in God's Word. - Sper



God's Word gives wisdom to discern what is false.