Tag Archives: strength

Family Foundations – A Child’s Response

20 Wednesday Oct 2021

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“Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction” (Proverbs 19:18, NKJV).

It is a shame to see parents not know how to raise kids, especially those who are convinced they do know how to raise children. The evidence in is the pudding, as they say.

Some parents want to be “best friends” more than they want to develop the young person into a productive mature adult. Evidently, they think that if he or she is a best friend, then the child or children will better respond to them, only to learn the child’s mind is being formed to think, then think with a moral standard, then think with a moral standard that has to be applied, and with all this to learn there are consequences with behavior that fails to live up to what is learned.

“The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray hairs” (20:29).

Strength and vigor are the blessings associated with young people; wisdom is not generally part of this these two qualities, though it is being learned. On the other hand, with older people, their strength and vigor wanes, but through the years their wisdom piles up because of the many experiences.

Parents are to be parents; that is, they are to teach and insist the child learns. Let the consequences have “teeth” if and/or when the child fails to live what is learned. On the other hand, do not let the consequences be such the child rebels to the point of rejecting the parents’ wisdom and love.

Yelling, berating, constant criticism are not virtuous qualities in raising children. Always counter-productive. “They never listen and are always in trouble!” This may be, but they got to this point, how? Parents play more of a role in this than they want to think they do. The evidence of this is in the response of the child / children to the parents.

Just Pray!

07 Thursday Jun 2018

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Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. (James 1:2-3, ASV). The word “temptation” in the ASV is rendered “trials” in the NKJV. The Contemporary English Version (CEV) reads, “…even if you have a lot of trouble” one learns to endure by having their faith “tested.”

One’s faith being put on trial is a challenge for each of us. After the testing period we can look back and see the value of the test and the resulting outcome. Though we might look back on it and see the value of it, while enduring it we hardly see the value. If that test is really hard – we wonder if we will come through it unscathed with any ability to regroup. Knowing such potentials where there is a possibility my faith will be exposed for the weakness “I am covering up” we sometimes hide and hope the sin does not seek us out.

The Holy Spirit want us to consider it a good thing when we are put in tight spots, when we are called upon to make use of the teachings we have learned from the Lord in every-day life. It is a good thing because the trials of life bring us to maturity, the word “perfect’ in 1:4, conveys this idea as expressed in the translation by Charles Williams, “so that you may be fully developed and perfectly equipped, without any defects.”

In an academic setting, in the safety of the room in which I sit reading what James said in a comfortable chair or at a table, perhaps a desk – I understand his point. What about when I am in the midst of failing, when I am in the midst of falling so hard that I won’t be able to look up to see anyone, much less the Lord because of the great shame I brought to His name?

The only solution I know to be the best solution is that which one reads in Luke 18:9-14. Two men approach the Lord; one is highly religious, the other an outcast in society. The highly religious looked upon himself in comparison with the outcast and was pleased with his standing in society, unlike how he saw the outcast in the same community. It is obvious to each of us who read the words of Jesus this is not to be our approach at making a bad situation better. Strangely, however, more of us are guilty of this than we realize. Our approach may not be precisely the same, but there is a similar approach we employ. “I failed miserably, but my failure is not as bad as Sue’s.” “My sin is so serious that I have a hard time showing my face in public, but at least I am not the only one guilty of the same.” “Why are you so hard on me? Mike is just as guilty as I am!”

The outcast who was hardly able to look up to heaven said to the Lord, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Before that, however, James gives the approach we are each to take: it’s called prayer. Not prayer only, but prayer to the Lord, couple with learning from the Lord’s word, making application. James says much about prayer. “The fervent prayer of a righteous man availieth much” (5:16); in speaking of Job’s perseverance, he reminded that Job was a man of much prayer (5:11); those oppressed cry out to the Lord in prayer (5:4); adulterated (impure) prayers to the Lord results in nothing; submission to the Lord in heart and action generates much devotional praise/prayer to the Lord (4:1-10); the use of a sharp tongue to speak against a brother and in the next breath praise the Lord is a tongue of no use from a heart confused (3:8-10).

When you are in a weak spot in life, difficult as it may be to do so, get down on your knees and pray (1:2-8). Pray the Lord will help you overcome the weakness cast upon you, pray the Lord will give you strength to endure, pray the Lord for the ability to walk away and be protected from the frontal attack being thrust at you in the moment. Pray without doubting the Lord is your strength, and He is your only strength.

“My state of mind is not ready to pray when I am in that tough spot!” Perhaps not; if so, then expect to fail. On the other hand, if not you are not ready to pray, but you don’t want to fail, then change your mind and pray! RT

Strength in the Local Church

25 Monday Nov 2013

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The strength of the local congregation, especially small ones, is found in the following areas.

First, there is one’s commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is paramount, and the foundation to it all. Without the foundation in place the strength of a local congregation is only perceived (imagined), not real. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:16, NKJV). Note the following from this simple declaration. Jesus is THE way, he is THE truth, and he is THE life. Thus, if anyone would know of truth, if anyone would know the way, if anyone would enjoy life, then one must go through Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Second, the strength of the local congregation is found in its people. If the members of the local church are committed to Christ, then that commitment will show itself in the lives lived. We understand the significance of Jesus, but this does not always translate into actions completed. In Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, he gave exhortations that was to shape lives in conformity to the Holy Spirit’s will.  These exhortations consisted in seeking those things that are above (the things of God); this means physical life is NOT the answer to one’s satisfaction. Additionally, after seeking those things above, the Christian is to set his (or her) mind on those things that are above (the things of God). This anchors one’s heart in those spiritual things in life that are transcendent. Finally, Christians need to put to death those things on earth that do nothing but corrupt the purity of that which the Lord has prepared for us.

Third, the strength of the local congregation is also found in attendance. There are some who feel as if this is not important. The Holy Spirit knew some would think this way, so he authored these words: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:24-27).

It is this last point that needs to be developed a bit further. The Lord’s church in Sullivan is small; those committed to the Lord and his way will not be discouraged by such a thing. They will, on the other hand, “roll up their sleeves” and set themselves to the Lord’s work. This includes not only evangelistic efforts outside the walls of the building, but also a working effort that tends to the needs of the saints who gather within. In small congregations, young families are of great encouragement; they can be very helpful to the local body by also “rolling up their sleeves” and setting themselves to the work. If they leave, they have removed themselves from being a local solution to what they consider to be a discouraging problem.

The ultimate solution to a congregation, in the final analysis, is: the Lord, one’s commitment to him, one’s willingness to work, and perseverance.