James 4:17 “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

You have probably heard of the “sin of omission.” Well, here it is spelled out for us in this verse. We need to understand that striving to avoid sin is not just not doing certain things. It also includes doing what we know the Lord would have us do.

Let me give you an example in my life. Now I say “my life” because this might not be an omission on your part. That’s between you and the Lord. But for me this was. I was disobedient to the Spirit that I felt telling me to respond. Here’s what happened.

A week or so ago I was in a local grocery store about 15 minutes before closing. I had run in to buy a couple of items for a meal my wife was preparing for the family. You know – dash in and dash out.

One of the items was a pie (by the way, I love pie) that I had to get back in the Bakery/Deli area. When I got to that area there was one young man, probably in his late teens, who was busy restocking the pies and cookies. As usual, I said “Hey, how’s it going?” He replied very sarcastically, “Oh you know, just living the dream!”

Instantly, I felt the Spirit tell me to inquire further about what dream that was which could have easily led to a witnessing opportunity (the right thing to do). Instead, I said, “Okay, have a great night.” FAIL!!! I sinned. I should have taken the time to inquire.

I’m went back to that store to see if I can see that young man again and make this right. I couldn’t locate him. I prayed for him in the store, even though I didn’t know his name. I also prayed for forgiveness for this, because I want to “do the right thing.” How about you?

TEACHING MOMENT

Teach your children to be sensitive to God’s leading and respond immediately. Don’t wait for a convenient time. If God is leading you, He will give the words to say. If He has opened a door, walk through it.

Jeremiah 1:5 “’Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.’”

HEARTBEAT

I have heard all the arguments to defend abortion. “It’s a woman’s choice. It’s not a life yet. It’s not fair to force a woman to carry a child she doesn’t want. It ‘s all about women’s health.” None of these excuses for ending a life can explain away our verse today. The Lord says through Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.”

As science progresses more and more we discover earlier physical activity of the child in the womb. A baby’s heart begins to beat 18 days from conception, and by 21 days the heart is pumping blood through a closed circulatory system. If a Pro-choice person believes a stopped heart indicates the end of life, why can’t they acknowledge that when the heart starts beating life begins?

TEACHING MOMENT

We have the responsibility to teach our children the truth about life. They will be bombarded with the world’s view of life. When they study biology they will read all about the development of the child. They must hear from God’s Word also. It is clear from His truths that life begins at conception, not just when a child is born.

How many parents begin talking to their child the moment they learn they are expecting? When my wife was pregnant with our son I would sing Amazing Grace to him. When he was born the one song that would calm him when I rocked him was that song. I could hold him on my chest and sing, and he would stop is crying. He recognized my voice and the song. It was a comfort to him. So don’t tell me babies aren’t a life inside that womb.

Won’t you join me today in the celebration of life? If you see someone today, stranger or friend, who is expecting, take a moment and pray for that child. If you feel led, ask them for permission to pray for their child. What an assurance of God’s blessing and consecration.

James 2:14-17 “14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”

LOVE TRIUMPHS

Can others see your faith? I believe that is the essential question asked here by James. He is not saying you have to “do” for God. Salvation is completely God’s work. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Remember, Scripture does not conflict or contradict itself. There is one central theme throughout.

But if we are truly surrendered to Christ, His love for us drives us to put our faith to work. We want to “do” for Him. It is not out of obligation. It is out of our love for Him. We should desire to serve Him wherever and to whomever He directs. So, is your faith so private that it is invisible? Would people know you are a believer by your actions? They should!

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children need to be taught that there is nothing they can do to earn God’s love. He doesn’t give His love based on how much we do for Him. Just like (but in a much superior way) we love our children simply because they are our children, God loves His children. He loves all His creation, even those who turn their nose up to Him. He longs for them to come to Him.

So, how can you help your children show their faith? Well, look at the passage again. Verses 15-16 give us a great example. Let your children visit a homeless shelter and take some clothing. Let them help serve a meal there. Let them give as the Lord directs them. Let them pack that shoebox for Christmas for a little boy or girl. And of course the best way for them to learn to live out their faith is to do it right beside you.

Don’t let your faith be invisible. Let the whole world know you love the Lord and want to share Him with them.

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners;”

JESUS KNEW

Our verse today was quoted by Jesus when John the Baptist’s disciples came to Jesus asking if He was the Messiah. Jesus knew His purpose. He knew exactly why He had come to earth. People may argue at what point in His life He knew, since He was fully human and fully God. I believe He knew all the time. His purpose (sacrificial death for all mankind) was set from His birth (incarnate beginning for all mankind).

TEACHING MOMENT

How do we help our children discover their purpose in life? How can we point them in the direction God has for them? We know their true purpose cannot be revealed until they submit to Him, so that’s our first step. We need to point them daily to the Purpose Giver. Once they have surrendered their will to His Will, God will begin to reveal to them how He wants to use them.

This is when we, as believing parents, need to watch for those signs of the gifts and abilities God is pouring into them. Then we can start directing them towards the fulfillment of the plan God has for them. God gifts us all differently in order to provide all the parts for the kingdom’s work here on earth. Your child has been given, as a believer in Christ, certain gifts that God wants them to exercise for Him. There is no greater joy for a parent than to see their child using those to glorify the Father.

But let me ask you a question too. Are you using your gifts for Him? Have you surrendered your will to His so He can use you? Has the Lord shown you the purpose He has for you? Are you willing to do ANYTHING to fulfill that purpose in your life? You see, your children can learn a lot watching you allow God to use you. As you submit, they will learn to submit, not only to God, but to you too.

Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

I HELPED WHO?

Have you ever thought about the reality of this verse? According to this verse, which we know to be true since it from God’s Word, we may be responding to an angel when we help someone. All those people you see on the side of the road or the person who walks up to you in the parking asking for help could be angels God has placed in your path to gauge your response.

Now I am NOT implying that you should help everyone you see. I don’t. What I am saying is that we should be sensitive enough to the Spirit of God to allow Him to guide us. Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing to get to heaven and find out that the person you felt led to help today was indeed an angel?

TEACHING MOMENT

We need to teach our children that angels are real. We shouldn’t teach them to rely on angels. That’s just plain bad theology. Our faith is in Christ, not Michael or Gabriel. But they need to know they are true creatures of God who can and do play a part in our everyday lives. I could share with you a number of stories I have been told in which angels appeared to someone or they saw one. But those aren’t my stories to tell.

What we need to teach our kids about angels is to be sensitive enough to God’s leading that we can see them through His eyes. God wants to reveal Himself to us in deeper ways every day. But we have to be willing to accept the new things He shows us. Perhaps today God will send one of the myriads of angels to encounter you. Will you be open to receiving that? Will you welcome him (the angel) as an ambassador of our Father? Will you respond in faith, not worshipping the angel, but in adoration of the Father?

Keep your eyes and heart open today. Who knows who may appear!

Isaiah 55:11 “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

BASS FISHING

Anyone who knows me knows I love to bass fish. There is just something about hooking a bass and landing it. My son says, “The tug’s the drug.” I guess that about sums it up.

But there is one key to catching bass – using the right bait. I have thrown everything imaginable in an attempt to get one to bite. I have used top water frogs and poppers, plastic worms rigged in several different ways, crank baits, spinner baits and swim baits. When I find the right bait, my casts seldom come back empty. But it is never a sure thing.

Our verse today is talking about the Word of God being cast out to the hearers. The Lord says through Isaiah, “It will not return to Me empty.” The Lord will always reel in a lost soul. His Word is powerful. It is a tasty morsel to those who are hungry for peace. But it is our job, as believers, to cast it to them. We must share the Word of God in order for them to hear it and respond to it.

TEACHING MOMENT

What are you putting before your children each day? I bet you are very careful to educate them with the required subjects to finish school. I bet some of you are very careful to teach them a skill to help them repair something. I even bet some of you teach them how to do chores. But are you teaching them how to use the Word of God?

We won’t always be around. We must teach our children how to handle the Word. We must teach them to cast the Word out so others can respond. We must show them the best times and places to cast the Word. We must teach them how to respond when someone “bites” the Word. You can have the most beautiful cast in the world, but unless you know how to retrieve the lost soul (assist them in responding to the Word) you may only frustrate them.

Let’s cast the Word to a lost a dying world. Let’s be sure to teach our children the necessary “fishing” skills to “land” the ones who respond. The joy we receive by leading someone to Christ is only surpassed by the one who is making the decision to follow Him.

Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

LOST PUPPIES

I can still remember one of the last spankings I received from my Dad. Our dog, Pepper, had given birth to a litter of puppies. I think there were eight of them. But Pepper was not a good mother. If we didn’t keep her penned up, she would take her puppies into the woods behind our house and leave them. Strange behavior, huh?

Well, she did it again, and we could hear the puppies whimpering down in the woods. My Mom told me NOT to go in the woods to get them since it was summer and the snakes were out. Now, you have to know that I grew up in Southwest Georgia that is home to cotton-mouthed moccasins and rattlesnakes. You can guess what I did – I went anyway.

I will never forget coming out of the woods with my shirt full of puppies and seeing my Dad standing there waiting for me. He tore me up for disobeying my Mom and putting myself in harm’s way. I learned a lesson that day that I will never forget – Do what your Mom says, no matter what.

TEACHING MOMENT

What discipline are you imposing on your child? Do you hold off on the discipline because you don’t want to hear them cry? Don’t do that. We are after the end result of this verse which says, “those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Our job as parents is to direct our children towards righteousness. The Word says discipline is required for that.

I find a lot of parents are fine with disciplining their little children, but when they get older they “let them make their own mind up about stuff.” NOOOOOO! Discipline never stops. Until the day they leave home for good, you must continue disciplining them. It is for their good! Don’t stop training them through discipline. It is the Lord’s work you are doing. Be diligent, knowing that He will complete the work in your child’s life.

Isaiah 52:7 “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

JUST FEET

I don’t know about you, but I have never seen very many pretty feet. Some are just down right ugly. My feet are kind of normal, I guess, but they still aren’t pretty. My dad had wide, flat feet. He wore an 11 EEE shoe. As he got older he had some minor foot issues that made his feet hurt. My point is feet are just a part of the body that we just don’t look at much. At least, I don’t.

But this verse glamorizes feet. “How lovely…are the feet…” Really? Now look at the verse. They are not recognized for how they look. The Lord is talking about what they do – bring good news. Now that makes anything look better. They announce peace and bring good news of happiness. They announce salvation and say “Your God reigns.” What a great message to deliver.

TEACHING MOMENT

We have a gaga ball pit at our church that our kids love. They will play for hours. But when they are in that pit playing, dirt is flying and kids are getting dirty. Feet that aren’t covered by shoes and socks get filthy. The kids don’t care. They are having the time of their lives. The next time you wash your kids feet (or have to remind them to wash them) talk about how they can use their feet to deliver the gospel message to someone. People cannot hear unless we go. Sure, we can deliver the message electronically, but there is still nothing like taking the message of the cross personally to someone.

Are your feet dirty from walking the path delivering the message to someone? Have you soiled your feet getting to some out of the way place to preach Jesus? Have you risked ruining a pair of shoes walking through water to bring the good news to someone who needs to hear it? Get your feet dirty! Get on the road! Step out in faith and allow the Lord to lead you as you walk the path He has for you!

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

WHO OWNS IT?

Have you ever purchased a car on credit? Most of us have. The entire time you are paying on that car, it does not belong to you. Sure, you have the keys. You put gas in it. You get it serviced. You wash and wax it. But it isn’t yours. It belongs to the Finance Company. However, the day you pay that car off you receive a title with your name on it signifying that it is now yours to do with as you see fit. That is a pretty good feeling. No more payments. The car is yours. However, the value of that car has dropped considerably since you purchased it. It is not worth what you paid for it.

The word “assurance” carries that meaning. Our faith in Christ is the “title” we hold for our future glorification. Jesus paid the debt years ago, and we can claim title to it. The difference between our faith and a car title though is that our faith will never rust or be destroyed. Our faith is secure because it is not our faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). We hold the title, but the faith comes from God Himself. And our faith never loses its value. In fact, the longer we hold it, the more valuable it becomes to us, as we grow and grow in our love for Christ.

TEACHING MOMENT

Why don’t you practice this with your child? Christmas is fast approaching. I bet they have already been giving you hints about gifts they want this year. Why not attach a “title” to one of those gifts. You purchased the gift so technically you own it, not them. But by giving it to them you are giving them ownership of it. Write out a title stating that. Explain to them how they did not do anything to deserve the gift, except the simple action of asking. Once they asked, it was given to them freely with no expectation of them “earning” it.

There are so many opportunities for us to “act out” the Scriptures to our kids. I have found through the years that a visual example helps them grasp the truth we are trying to explain. Most children are concrete learners. Nail it down for them with something they can touch and see. I promise they will remember it for years to come.

Isaiah 48:4 “’Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead bronze,’”

JUST LISTEN

I know some hard-headed people, myself excluded, of course. Lol. Have you ever been accused of being hard-headed? The Lord is calling the people of Israel that right here in this verse. They were obstinate, stick necked and hard-headed. Wow! Talking about calling names – the Lord does that here.

The Lord is about to lead them into exile for their hard-headedness. Look at these two verses later in the chapter. “18 ‘If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants would have been like the sand, And your offspring like its grains; Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.’” He wanted to bless them, but they just refused to listen.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do you have a hard-headed child? Maybe they are strong willed. Most of the time those children can grow up to be strong leaders who aren’t afraid to make the tough decisions. They can be self confident and sure of themselves. Don’t you want them to be that way? But we have to steer them in the right way to make those decisions. Strong willed children can be a challenge. They can be obstinate, stiff necked and hard-headed, just like Israel. We have to hold them accountable for their actions. We bless them for the right ones and discipline them for the wrong ones. Don’t be afraid to do that.

Whenever possible, let those strong willed kids make their own decisions. Explain to them the possible outcomes of their decisions. They have to live with them. Even if the outcome is not the one you want for them, if it is not life threatening, give them room to make the wrong decision. Yep, I said that. That is hard. We want to avoid those uncomfortable situations. But we have to let them make their decisions or they will never learn how to do that. It is much better for those decisions to be made while they have you to direct them.

Trust the Lord that He loves your children much more than you do. He wants what is best. Point them in His direction and let Him has His perfect will done in their lives. Only He can make them compliant, flexible and clear headed.