Friday, May 20, 2011

Devotional - Snapshot 85- Children are not First

"The world is desperate for a faith that combines two things; awe-struck apprehension of unshakable divine Truth, and utterly practical, round-the-clock power to make a liberating difference in life." Future Grace ....John Piper

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:37, 38

Be extreme for God! To love Him with all your heart, and mind, and strength...this is the first and greatest commandment.

I believe God wants you to put your children not only second, but third--- God, husband, children. A man of God came to Eli in 1Samuel 2:29 and said: "Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and HONOR YOUR SONS MORE THAN ME..."

We are not talking deserting your children or husband, but loving them better by placing the commands of God over the desires of your children.

Wouldn't it be radical instead of football and cheerleading, dance and basketball you had Bible study and scripture memory lined out on a daily basis for your kids and the neighborhood kids? Might you follow Jesus more closely by doing less, slowing down, not attending every school event, having a blackout time on TV; instead dance with your family to praise music, take a walk and talk about God's wonderful creation, read about the fascinating sacrificial lives of missionaries, teach your children to see serving Christ as the greatest job ever!

Guess what? I think we need to teach children that Christians suffer and die for their faith everyday. Some of my friends think that is wrong, but I think it will help to build stronger and braver young people to go anywhere our dear Lord asks them to go. We are weak because we do not teach the hard things. Corrie Ten Boom (a writer, speaker, survivor of the Holocaust) said "America is not ready to suffer, because they are too soft." I want to get a generation ready to suffer. Even children can be tougher in Christ.

No one has a full life apart from Christ. We cover up our emptiness with more busyness. We rationalize our over involvement as our witness to the world, when in reality it is too hard to sit and listen for God's direction on a daily basis. We are afraid life will pass us by if we do nothing, if we get quiet, if we pause. We are afraid people will think we are bad parents if we don't do,do,do and go,go,go. So we just stay busy. And we miss Him.

May the Lord bless you in your struggle to work out with your own particular situation what it looks like to love Him best and most!!!