Tag: long life
Great reward in loving enemies!
Scripture reading for March 18th: Deuteronomy 4-5, Luke 6
Luke 6: 32-36 “”If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.””
Jesus had some hard questions for His followers. It is easy to love those who love you and to do good to those who will repay the kindness. We can lend to those we know will repay. But Jesus challenged us to love those who were our enemies and sought to do us harm. He commanded us to do good to those who would misuse us and to lend to those who could never repay. This was a reflection of the Father’s heart of mercy. He loves to show mercy because it is His kindness that leads us to repentance. Those who obey the Father’s leading will reap a great reward! It may be that these enemies will become brothers and sisters living with us for eternity!
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?”
Prayer: Father God, I am always amazed at Your heart of mercy for people. I am learning slowly to obey in these difficult areas of loving my enemies and doing good to those who would hurt me. Patiently help me to reflect Your heart and character towards lost and hurting people and I would love to see them all in heaven enjoying eternal life! What a great reward!
Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”
Safe from the storms!
Scripture reading for March 18th: Deuteronomy 4-5, Luke 6
Key Scriptures: Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well-built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Hearing the Word of God brings great accountability to obey the truth received and revealed. Jesus told this story of a man building a house. Only the one building on the rock of obedience will have a rock foundation. Storms will come breaking against our life. Hearing and obeying is the only safe choice. Failure will be exposed by a great eternal ruin.
Faith confession: I am trusting in Jesus Christ, and His perfect obedience to God’s Word. I build my life on Jesus and trust in the power He gives me through the Holy Spirit and grace to weather the storms of life and possess eternal life.
Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”
Enjoy the promised blessings!
Scripture reading for August 30th: Ephesians 6, Psalm 24, Proverbs 20
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Faithfulness to Christ involves all ages and begins in the family. The family is ordained by God to train and discipline children. To please God, children must honor their parents and obey them. This foundation will lead to a life of God’s blessing and a long life. Fathers are to take care not to treat children harshly and provoke anger, but to instruct them in the things of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Faith Confession: Father, thank You for Your patient instruction and discipline of all Your children and the promise of eternal life! Help me to continue to instruct my children and grandchildren in the fear and love of our heavenly Father, that they might be blessed and have eternal life.
Proverbs 20:7 “The righteous who walks in his integrity–blessed are his children after him.”
Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.”
Thankful for faithful forefathers!
Scripture reading for June 20th: Psalms 75-78
Key Scriptures: Psalm 78:5-7 “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.”
God wants the generations to know Him and His marvelous Word. His plan is for fathers and mothers to instruct the children who would in turn teach their children. It was like a relay race in passing on the knowledge of God and His Word! If one generation dropped the baton and failed, there would be eternal loss!
Thankful for God’s plan: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise–“That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1-4)