Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

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PROTECTION THROUGH OBEDIENCE

Joshua 20:6 “‘He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.’”

 STAY PROTECTED

 The cities of refuge idea was pretty cool.  Back in the Old Testament days, if someone killed someone, their family was normally pretty quick to seek revenge.  It didn’t matter if it was an accident or not.  The accused would be hunted down and murdered for killing their family member.

The cities of refuge provided a safe place for the accused to state his innocence. The elders of that city would not allow him to be killed.  But…there was one stipulation.  The accused had to stay in the city until the death of the current high priest.  That might be years!  But the umbrella of protection was only good if they abided by the rules.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children need to understand that the protection you provide them is only as good as their willingness to obey.  If they refuse to listen to your guidance, they place themselves in harm’s way.  You can only protect those who want to be protected.

I have seen far too many parents enable their rebellious children simply by continuing to bail them out of trouble.  The problem with this is the trouble gets deeper and deeper.  Teach your children the rewards of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.  That’s biblical!

Are you suffering the pain of disobedience in your life right now?  Turn back to the One who can provide you protection.  He wants to defend you.  He wants to give you refuge, but you must follow His commands. He cannot protect those who refuse to follow.

O God, I know far too well the pain of not following You.  I am grateful for Your arms of protection over me when I submit to Your leadership and direction.  Help me show others the benefits of being under Your protection.

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SLEEPY HEAD

Acts 20:9 “And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.”

 CAREFUL WHERE YOU SLEEP

 I have been guilty of falling asleep in church. I have also seen a lot of people fall asleep while I was preaching (which I am sure did not reflect at all on the quality of my preaching, lol).  But this young man, Eutychus, should have been more careful where he was sitting. He was not embarrassed for falling asleep, he died!

 The story doesn’t end there, though.  Paul went down and raised him from the dead.  He told the people “his life is in him.” How did Paul do that?  He didn’t!  God in him did.  Paul didn’t raise Eutychus to get fame and honor.  He raised him to continue to live for Christ.

 TEACHING MOMENT

 Isn’t it the cutest thing when your little Susie gets so sleepy she can’t hold her eyes open?  You may have even had a child fall asleep during a meal.  Be careful where they lay their head.  Ha Ha!  Don’t try to teach them our verse today at that moment.  Wait until they wake up.

What’s the lesson for this verse?  I mean, why was this story recorded by Luke?  One lesson, I think, is to let us know that falling asleep accidentally in church is not a sin.  Kids should know that.  Now, I don’t mean stretching out on the pew and bringing a pillow.  That wouldn’t be an accident.  But getting sleepy in church can happen.  Kids should not be made to feel bad if that happens.

Eutychus will always be remembered as the boy who fell asleep during Pauls’ sermon and died and was brought back to life.  We don’t know anything else about him.  But I have to believe that he told of the power of God the rest of his life.  He was dead and lived to tell about it.

Father, Your power amazes me.  You bring life to the spiritually dead.  Thank You for “raising” me.

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REGRETS

Joshua 16:10 “But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers.”

 SHOULD HAVE OBEYED

Have you ever not done something you were told to do?  How many times did you live to regret that?  Probably every time.  The Israelites were told to wipe out the people of the Promised Land.  The Lord did not want anyone influencing His chosen children negatively.  He wanted them to be focused on Him and not lured away by pagan gods.

 God gives us pretty clear directions too.  He tells us to not be “yoked” with unbelievers. We are told to avoid evil.  It is not very complicated.  But it is necessary.  We can’t “wallow with the pigs and not get mud on us,” as my uncle used to say.  We have to stay pure and undefiled.

 TEACHING MOMENT

 The next time you have a great rainstorm let your kids out to play in it (as long as there is no lightning).  But tell them they can’t step in any mud puddles.  What do you think is going to happen?  Just as soon as you turn your head little Johnny is going to be right in the middle of that puddle.

 Show him how dirty he is now.  He probably won’t care.  As you are cleaning him up, talk to him about this story.  Just as they were told to avoid evil and to get rid of the pagans, Johnny was told to avoid the mud.  But they didn’t do that, and he didn’t do that.  Their lack of obedience had long lasting.  Getting dirty is temporary, but he can learn from it.

 Don’t have regrets about not doing what you should have done.  Do it now.  Do it the first time.  Don’t wait. You never know the consequences that may come your way from simply not following directions.

Father, I know Your Word is true and always points me in the right direction. Help me be more ready to respond when You ask me.  Let me lead others in obedience.

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RETRIBUTION

Joshua 13:22 “The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword among the rest of their slain.”

 GOD’S BUSINESS

God finally brought judgment on Balaam for his sin. Everyone loves the story of the talking donkey, but that is NOT the point of the story.  Balaam basically sold out his ministry.  He knew better than to go but kept listening to the invitation until he went.

How many times have you said “no” to sin but finally relented after the constant temptation.  I can walk past a coconut cake once, but if it’s still there every time I walk past, I will eventually succumb to the temptation.  I just can’t help myself, or can I?

TEACHING MOMENT

 Do you children blame their failings, their sins, on the devil?  You know, the devil made me do it.  Do they blame their siblings?  How about the school?  They can always blame someone else for their sin.  We must point out that everyone has a choice.  They choose to sin.

But we know we have a way of escape in Jesus. He will show us the way out of this tempting situation, if we will just go to Him.  That’s what we have to teach our children.  They cannot rely on their own power and strength.  That will NEVER work.  They have to rely on Him.

If Balaam had relied on the Lord, he would have never gone to see the Israelites.  He would have stayed put.  What will you do?  When you face that temptation to sin, go to the Lord.  No, run to the Lord.  He will show you the way of escape.

My Rescuer, I know I can depend on You for deliverance. Help me to stop and listen to You for clear directions.  Thank You!

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AGREE TO DISAGREE

Acts 15:39-40 “39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 

 DISAGREEMENTS

We don’t talk about this a lot.  Christians disagree.  We don’t all agree on everything.  Different denominations have different traditions and practices.  There are some things that we must ALL agree on, and there are others that really aren’t doctrinally critical.  Whatever we do, we must agree to disagree in unity.

Paul and Barnabas disagreed about Mark.  Barnabas wanted to take him back (he had deserted them earlier), but Paul didn’t trust Mark yet.  Later on, however, towards the end of Paul’s life, he actually asked Timothy to bring Mark to see him.  So, they must have made up.

TEACHING MOMENT

 As parents, we must teach our children how to disagree agreeably.  The world is watching us, and we must not do anything to confuse them.  When they see believers fighting over stuff they are not drawn to the Lord.  In fact, they are repulsed.  Your children can learn at an early age how to get along with others, so they will not be a stumbling block to others.

That means you have to live that way, too.  You can’t be seen and heard by your children putting down or demeaning another person.  You especially need to be observed building up other believers.  Children will model what they see in their parents. When they see you being ugly to someone else at church, they will believe that is okay behavior.  Don’t be guilty of that.

Do you need to go to someone and make things right?  Perhaps you had a falling out some years back and you still don’t see eye to eye.  That’s okay, but you must learn to live in unity.  Others, especially the lost, are watching.

Father, help me love others as You do.  Help me put aside my petty differences for the sake of Your kingdom.  Let me be the one to make things right.

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COUNT THEM

Joshua 12:1a, 24b “1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel defeated,…24…in all, thirty-one kings.”

 EACH ONE MATTERED

 Thirty-one kings!  That’s a lot of kings.  That’s a lot of kingdoms.  But God gave them victory over each and every one.  Why do you think king number 30 or 31 didn’t just try to make peace?  Why did they all choose to fight?  Because God had determined that they all had to be defeated and removed from the land.  He wanted the children of Israel to have complete control.

Isn’t it the same with us?  God does not want us to live among those who will cause us harm.  He will not allow His children to be led astray by those who blaspheme His name. He gives us a way out.  He tells us how to insulate ourselves against such attacks.  Sadly, we choose to embrace the world’s lifestyles and rationalize it as being culturally sensitive.

TEACHING MOMENT

 There is probably no greater lesson to teach your children than to live sanctified.  Now, you can’t tell them to be sanctified and go your way.  No!  You have to model sanctified living.  You have to choose God’s way and not the worlds.  That may mean appearing “intolerant” or “old fashioned” to them.  That’s okay.

You have probably heard the saying, “If you don’t stand for anything, you will stand for nothing.”  That adage, although not biblical, does agree with Scripture.  We have to stand for truth.  We must defend the faith.  And when we do, our children see that.  They will learn to be bold in their witness.

Do you stand boldly in your community? Do you refuse to bow down to cultural pressure?  We do not have to be antagonistic, but we do have to be true to the Word. Don’t compromise your faith.  Stand for truth.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the courage to stand. Thank you for having my back when I face the enemy.  I know You are still fighting our battles.

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GOING IN CIRCLES

Joshua 6:3-4 “‘’3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. 4 Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.’”

 MAKES NO SENSE

 Have you ever felt like you were just going in circles with your life?  You don’t seem to be getting anywhere.  You cry out, “Will someone please stop this merry-go-round?”  But have you ever stopped to think that you have been placed in this vicious circle you are in for a purpose?

I bet the people of Israel thought Joshua had lost his mind.  “Here we go. The new kid has no clue what he is doing.”  Walking in circles around a walled city didn’t sound like much of a battle plan. Doing that for seven days and blowing trumpets and shouting didn’t exactly give them a military advantage. But God had a plan – His plan.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Your little Johnny may not understand some of the things he will have to do in life that will fulfill God’s plan for him.  Going to school for 13 years just to get a high school diploma may not sound like a great plan.  He may feel he is just going in circles.  But there is a bigger picture.  Each step he takes is part of the journey.

That’s your job!  You have to reassure him there’s a plan.  He can’t see it yet, but he is being prepared for a greater purpose.  Who knows what God may choose to for him.  The important thing is to be obedient to do whatever the Lord tells him, trusting that He knows best.

 Are you questioning your journey?  Are you marching in circles?  Ask the Lord to show you what He has in store for you.  He might just give you a glimpse.  You can rest assured that whatever He has for you is good and perfect.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me my marching orders.  I may not always understand them, but I trust You.  May I encourage others to do the same.

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SCATTERED

Acts 8:4 “Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.”

 NOT SHAKEN

 After Stephen’s stoning in Jerusalem, persecution began to get intense.  This was the point at which Paul (known as Saul then) began persecuting the church. But God had a plan.  He allowed the persecution to force the believers to flee Jerusalem.  Look what happened.  They left Jerusalem, but as they did they “went about preaching the word.”

These changed lives could change their physical location but not their spiritual calling.  They could abandon their earthly dwellings but not their heavenly purpose.  They took the Gospel out of Jerusalem into a world that had not yet heard the message. God was going to use them to change the world.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Our children will suffer persecution if they choose to follow Christ.  The extent of the persecution will vary depending on where the live and how radical a life for Christ they live.  It is sad to me that many believers can live in this fallen world and never face any kind of persecution.  “What? Carl, that sounds crazy.”  Well, here me out.

We should live lives so holy and different that unbelievers feel uncomfortable around us.  The light of Jesus in us should expose the darkness around us.  If your children live like that, get ready for persecution.  Welcome it. Embrace it.

You are probably thinking right now that you do NOT want that for your children.  Had you rather have them just melt into the crowd and not stand out for Jesus?  We, as parents, should desire that our children stick out at school as a sold-out believer.  Pray they will be bold and courageous in their walk.

Father God, give me the courage to stand firm for Your Son.  Help me spread the good news through my suffering.  Let others see the difference in me and ask how to change their lives.

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NO MORE MANNA

 Joshua 5:12 “The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.”

 REAL FOOD

 For forty years, the Lord fed the children of Israel manna from heaven.  The day, the very day, they ate produce in the Promised Land, the manna stopped.  I wonder how many of them went out the next morning looking for it.  Even though they were probably tired of “manna stew” I bet they still looked for it for days.

God sustained them for forty years with manna.  They would not soon forget that.  What would the women do with all those manna recipes?  But now it was time for real food.  Can you imagine their gratitude for their awakening taste buds?  The kids who had been born in the wilderness had only heard about this kind of food.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Try this experiment with your kids. Cook something for dinner they have NEVER had before.  When they come to the table and ask what it is, tell them it is a surprise.  After you coax them into eating it, tell them it is going to replace their favorite food.  You will never cook their favorite food again.  It’s gone forever.

After they quit crying (lol), read them this passage and explain that the kids back then may have felt the same way. Then you can tell them you were kidding about their favorite food. Making a verse personal can often make it stick in their minds.

Can you relate to this verse?  Have you gotten so accustomed to the normal that you can’t appreciate the better stuff from God?  Our “manna” may be okay, but God has so much more for us if we will just enter our “Promised Land.”  He wants to bless us.

Provider of all, thank You for giving me all I need. Thank You for giving me more than I deserve, often more than I expect.  You are too good to me.

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A VOW IS A VOW

Numbers 30:2 “‘If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.’”

 KEEP YOUR WORD

 My dad was a man of his word. When he said something, he meant it. Now, for us kids, that could be good or bad.  If he promised a spanking, well….  Ouch! And if he promised he would be at your game, he was there.  Yay!

The Lord told us way back the importance of keeping a vow you have made.  Too many people make promises to the Lord when they are in a pinch and as soon as they get out of the bind, they forget it.  Not cool!  God isn’t deaf.  He hears those cries for help.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children need to be held accountable for promises they make.  All too often we let them slide.  Don’t!!!! The bad habit this produces could lead them poorly as adults.  Don’t say, “Well, they are just children.”  Teach them how to keep their word.

And the best way to teach that is to do it yourself.  Keep your promises to them and to God.  Make promises you know you can keep.  This teaches them.  Make promises that may stretch you at times to show them the depth of your vow to them. That teaches them.

Are you trustworthy?  Do you keep your vows?  If so, great.  If not, start today.  Vow to God right now that you will follow Him daily.  Give your family your word that you will lead them faithfully.

Lord, I vow today to live my life for You.  I give my word to You that I will be faithful.  Help me live in such a way that I always draw others to you through my faithful living.

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