Psalm 110:1 “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’”

WHERE ARE YOU SITTING?

When you were courting your spouse, do you remember sitting so close to them that you appeared, from a distance, to be one person?  The joke is told of an old couple who were riding along in their old pickup truck.  The old man was driving, and the wife was sitting on the other side of the truck.  The wife looked over at her husband of fifty years and said, “Look at us.  When we were dating, we used to sit right next to each other in the car.”  Without taking his eyes off the road, he said, “Well, I haven’t moved.”

Christ is seated at the Father’s right hand, and He isn’t moving.  The Father and the Son are side by side in eternity, waiting on us, watching over us and the Son is interceding for us.  As our enemies attack us, the Son leans over and says to the Father, “I haven’t moved.  I am still right here on behalf of Carl.”  Wow!  I am that precious in His sight.

TEACHING MOMENT

The next time you sit down next to your son or daughter or they jump in the chair next to you, bring this verse up to them.  They know how much you love them, right?  Explain to them that Jesus is sitting next to His Father, too.  And He is talking to God about all His children.  Is your child His child?  I pray they are.  If not, what a great verse to use to explain how much God loves them.

Our children desire closeness.  They want to be hugged and loved on.  Even those children who think they are too old for that still need that.  You may have to be the one to reach out first, but do that.  Remain physically close to them.  Remind them daily how much you love them by showing them the affection they need.

Have you been hugged today?  Has someone told you they love you?  Can I hug you today?  Here it comes.  Can you feel it?  Probably not, but I am sending it to you.  Better yet, let the Lord give you a hug today.  Ask Him.  I know from first-hand experience that He is a hugger.

Psalm 109:8 “Let his days be few; let another take his office.”

You may have heard this verse quoted by others in regard to someone who is serving in a political office whom they didn’t like.  I heard it quoted against President George W. Bush and President Barak Obama.  Depending on your political persuasion you probably wanted one of them out of office.  Right?

However, we as believers, must pray for our leaders.  Although I did not vote for some elected leaders, I am still mandated to pray for them.  God allows leaders to be elected for a purpose.  I truly believe that.  Therefore, I must submit to God’s sovereignty and lift up those He has put in place.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children must learn submission to authority.  That begins with us, of course, but it is applied to all authority.  The recent protests in our country against President Donald Trump is just one indication of anti-authority thought.  Protests on college and high school campuses against speakers who espouse opposing views is another.  Our children must respect authority, regardless.  We must model that for them.

So, how do we do that?  How about praying with your children for their teachers and principals?  How about praying for your mayor or governor, whether you voted for them or not?  How about praying for your boss or supervisor whom you may not always agree?  Your children need to see you showing respect and honor for those leaders, even if they know you don’t agree with them.

This devotion is a little different than most of the ones I have written.  But I have learned to allow the Lord to speak through me whether I understand all He is saying or not.  I trust that someone out there needed to hear these words today.  I know I did.

Respect, honor and submission are important principles for all, but especially for us who call ourselves followers of Yeshua.  Will you bow to His rule today?

Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.”

DAVID’S WORDS FIRST

These words of David, spoken way before Christ, are the same words Christ spoke on the cross.  Did David know his words would be used by the Messiah, the Son of God?  No!  David was just a man like the rest of us, but he did have a heart to please the Lord.  He, in penning these words, was being guided by the Holy Spirit, just like every other author of the Bible.

Don’t you think God can use us in the same way?  Now I don’t mean in writing prophecy.  I mean don’t you think if we are yielded He can use us to speak into the lives of others the truths of His Word?  Of course He can.  But we have to be willing to be used.  We have the advantage of knowing His complete Word, something David didn’t have.  We have the blessing of the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, something David didn’t have.

TEACHING MOMENT

We can teach our children to speak into the lives of others using God’s Word.  Our part is training them in the Word.  We must be deliberate in teaching them to get the Word inside their hearts, not just their minds.  By “ingesting” the Word, they will always have it at their disposal to share with others.

Just last night I was at a funeral visitation and had the opportunity to share a short word with one of the family members.  He was saying how he was about to crash after “being strong” all week for everyone else.  God gave me the opportunity to speak truth into his life (without preaching) in just a few short words using His Word.

Our children need to see us doing that.  And as we do it, they see how God can use us, if we are willing.  Will you allow the Lord to speak His Word through you today?  Will you “ingest” the Word today and then share that with someone?

Be watchful!  God will send those people to you who need you, if you are willing.

Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

PRAISE MINDED

Most men are accused of having one track minds.  They seem to only be able to think about one thing at a time.  Women, on the other hand, can be thinking about several things at once.  I am not sure which is better.  There are definite advantages to each.  But for the purpose of this devotional thought today, let’s just saw the former – one track minds.

Why do I say that?  Because the Psalmist is declaring that his mind is continually on the Lord.  He says “at all times” and “continually.”  I have been memorizing Scripture a lot lately, and I find myself constantly reciting the verses out loud or in my head.  I have become almost obsessed (in a good way) with these verses.  Instead of turning on the radio in my truck I recite verses.  It has been great!

TEACHING MOMENT

So, how do we teach our children to get “Jesus focused”?  How do we show them what it means to keep your eye on Him?  I know you know.  We have to be that way.  We need to find a way to point everything toward Him.  In one Bible study I have been doing it tells us to point everything Godward.  I like that.

When little Elrod comes home with a bad grade, point him to Jesus.  Ask him if he did his best to please Jesus, not you.  When little Gertrude misses the last second shot in soccer and her team loses, point her to Jesus.  Remind her that Jesus loves her whether she wins or loses.  Ask the Lord to give you the words to say in each and every situation that points them back to Him.

Are you living that way?  Are you trusting Him?  Are you letting your mind dwell on Him rather than on the worries of this old world?  He wants to relieve you of all those unfruitful thoughts and desires.  He wants your thoughts to be heavenward.  He desires that you desire Him above all else.

So, do you?  Will you?  Now, set your mind on things above!

Job 16:2 “I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are you all.”

NOT A WORD

Recently I was called to a home where someone’s brother had just died.  I have known this person for 10 years.  I needed to be there to lend comfort, but words were not necessary.  There were no words that were good enough to ease the pain.  So, I told them that.  I did pray, but I did not quote a bunch of verses and wax eloquently.  I just prayed.

Job needed friends to be with him, not try to figure out what he did wrong.  I love his words here.  “I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are you all.”  Haven’t you wanted to say that sometimes?  He is trying to tell that he doesn’t want their advice, just their love and friendship.

TEACHING MOMENT

How do we teach comfort to a child?  They will only learn this first hand.  When you comfort them, they will learn.  When they see you comfort others, they will learn.  Comfort is not taught – it’s caught.  Sometimes we just hold them tight and love on them.  That’s comfort.  Sometimes we pat them on the back.  That’s comfort.  Sometimes we cry crocodile tears with them.  That’s comfort.

Whenever you child is hurting remember they are taking mental notes of how you comfort them.  Over the years they will fine tune their comforting skills by watching you.  If you want a hardhearted child, then be stoic and hard on them.  That’s what you will get.  But if you want a child who recognizes the hurt in others and seeks to comfort them, then be that to them.

Are you hurting today, Mom or Dad?  Are you seeking comfort in something or someone that is not healthy?  Were you brought up to not cry?  Stop right where you are and seek the Great Comforter.  He is always listening to His children.  He wants to use His Holy Spirit in your life to not only convict you but to also comfort you.  Won’t you let Him?

Remember, your children are watching!

Psalm 118:22 “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.”

Do you understand what the cornerstone is?  Ask any mason.  They will tell you.  Watch as they start laying brick or block for a new building.  They always start with a corner.  They start by laying the corner stone.  Then they string lines in two directions to ensure the walls are straight and plumb.

We know about whom the Psalmist was writing.  Jesus is that cornerstone.  He is the foundation for us.  He ensures that our lives are straight and plumb.  If we stay attached to that cornerstone, we will always be standing firm and strong.  The cornerstone isn’t going anywhere.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children need us as their cornerstone when they are young.  They need to know we are stable and strong.  They need to know they can depend on us.  But we can only serve in that role for so long.  They need to know early in life that there is only one, true cornerstone – Jesus.

One great way to talk about this is while you are playing with them.  Playing with blocks or legos works great.  Start by laying that first block or lego to build a wall and then stop.  Talk about this verse and what it means.  Explain how the rest of their building project is built on that first piece and how their life is going to be built on what they lay down as the first piece.  Explain how Jesus wants to be that first piece in their life.

But Parents, it is hard to talk to your kids about that unless you are allowing Him to be first in your life.  Is He your cornerstone?  Have you built your home on Him? Have you built your career on Him?  Does His placement in your “wall” determine the direction you go?  He needs to be.

If Jesus is your cornerstone, the next time you feel the earth shaking beneath your feet, you can rest easy knowing He shall not be moved.

Job 14:4 “”Who can make the clean out of the unclean?  No one!”

JUST PLAIN DIRTY

When I was growing up I worked part time at a local gas station.  I started working there when I was 14.  Yep, back then you could do that.  I was put in the side alley where all I did was wash cars.  They would pull one in, I would wash it and they would pull it out.  Repeat!  Repeat!  I got pretty good and fast at washing cars.

I learned something quickly though.  You HAD to change the wash water after every car.  You could not get a car clean if you used dirty water.  I had to rinse out my wash mitt and pour out the old dirty water before I could begin the next car.

TEACHING MOMENT

There is not a thing we can do to clean up our child’s life.  That is ALL up to the Lord.  He alone has the power to clean them up.  Job was talking to God in our passage today.  He knew no one on earth had the power to cleanse the wicked.  But God….

Our job as parents is to make sure our children are in the right environment where they can hear from God.  We have the responsibility to prepare them so He can cleanse them.  We can pray for them and teach them the Word.  But we cannot clean them.  That is God’s job and His alone.

Are you clean today?  Have you allowed the Lord to cleanse your heart and mind today?  Do you think He can’t cleanse you?  He can!  He is so much more powerful than Mr. Clean.  He cleanses us so we reflect His Son.  And we know that He is clean.

Won’t you let the Lord have His cleansing way today?  Allow Him to throw out all the efforts you have made (the dirty water) and cleanse you the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit (the clean water).  I promise you will shine for Jesus!

Matthew 21:12 “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.”

RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION

Have you ever gotten mad?  Dumb question, right?  We all get mad sometimes.  But usually we don’t have a good reason.  I have always told children I work with, “No one can make you mad.”  You see if we let someone else make us mad, we have given them power over us.  Don’t let them have that power.

However, it is okay to get mad over the right things.  Jesus was mad!  He entered the temple and “drove out” all those folks who were treating it like a market place.  He turned over tables.  He made a scene!  But it was over the right thing.  He was mad how they were treating His Father’s house.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our kids get mad, don’t they?  Sure they do.  We have to teach them how and when to get mad.  Getting mad about losing a ballgame is not appropriate.  Seeing another child getting picked on and made fun of is reason to get “angry.”  We need to teach them that we should be mad about evil in our world.  But we can’t act like the world.  We have to allow the Lord to show us how He wants us to respond.

Now, I kind of doubt He will ask us to go into church and turn tables over and drive people out.  But He may ask us to speak out on behalf of the unborn.  He may ask us to step in and defend the helpless.  You just don’t know what He will ask you to do until you are willing.

Moms and Dads, don’t take this as permission to jump and “defend” your child every time they run into a bully.  Some battles our children must face by themselves (with your support, of course).  But you will teach them so much by how you handle your anger.  Do you snap at people when they jump in front of you in traffic?  Do you yell at the neighbor whose dog just left a “prize” on your lawn?  That is NOT the right kind of anger.

Let the Lord show you how to get mad in the right way.  He knows how!

Psalm 56:9 “You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?”

GOD IS CRYING

I had to look up some scholars’ thoughts on this verse.  What does “tears in Your bottle” mean?  It was an ancient practice for people to take small bottles made of glass or pottery and catch tears they shed due to the loss of a loved one.  They would then place those bottles on the grave of that loved one.  The Psalmist here is saying God grieves for us when we are hurting.  He catches His tears in a bottle.  How precious!

Now, I don’t know if God really does that or not.  We know Jesus wept twice – once over Jerusalem and another time at the grave of Lazarus.  So, we know God weeps, but does He put His tears in a bottle?  We just don’t know. I can imagine, though, if He does that He must have a huge room of tear bottles.  And one of those bottles has your name on it.

TEACHING MOMENT

I believe we must teach our children that it is okay to shed tears.  They need to know to is okay to cry.  As for me, I cry over every little thing.  I cried yesterday, as a matter of fact, as I was praying over a newborn.  Tears heal!  Tears can bring comfort.  Tears can bring us closer together.

Don’t you let your child feel bad for crying.  Tears shed for the right reason are good.  Your child should not use tears to manipulate, of course.  But crying is a natural, healthy thing.  Teach your children to know when it is right.  Sometimes it is hard to hold them back.  Let them flow.

Have you had a good cry lately?  That is usually not a problem for me.  COL (crying out loud).  Let yourself cry. Cry for the brokenness of the world. Cry for the injustice done to the unborn.  Cry for the lives lost due to persecution of the church.  Cry for our nation.  Keep your tear ducts clear.  I think I will get a quart jar for mine.

Job 11:14 “If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;”

LISTEN

There is a truth I have learned through the years.  Even ungodly people can give good advice sometimes.  Notice I didn’t say they give godly advice, just good.  My dad wasn’t saved until he was 80 years old, but he was one of the wisest men I knew.  I loved to get his advice on things.  But I knew I couldn’t rely on him for spiritual wisdom, at least not until he came to Christ.  Those last four years of his life as a believer were wonderful!

In Job 11 Zophar is rebuking Job without knowing the cause of his suffering.  But even Zophar said some things worth remembering.  You know the saying “a blind hog will find an acorn every once in a while.”  Lol.  Zophar makes this statement about iniquity and wickedness which is so true.

TEACHING MOMENT

We would do well to encourage our children to keep iniquity and wickedness far from them.  Sometimes our children like to “flirt” with evil.  That always leads to mistakes.  Put iniquity far from you.  Get it out of your hands.  If necessary, run from it.

The trouble our children face is that a lot of the time the wickedness is literally in their hands.  Smart phones and Ipads can bring the wickedness of this world right into their hands and flood their minds with evil.  It is your job as parents to guard them against that.

Are you allowing the iniquity and wickedness of the world to enter your “tent”?  Are you just sampling the edges of that?  Don’t be fooled, Mom and Dad.  Everything you allow to enter your life WILL influence your children.  You may not even be aware that it is, but it does.  You will begin to loosen your standards of morality or excellence, and soon your children will see it.

Be careful – little eyes are watching!  Be careful – little ears are listening!