Category Archives: Family

Advice, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Family, Fatherhood, Inspirational, Love, Mentoring, Ministry, Modeling, Motherhood, Parenting, Praise, Thanksgiving

ATABOY


1 THESSALONIANS 5:13

“and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” 

Do you know that term – Ataboy? Well, it refers to patting someone on the back for a job well done. It means holding someone in high regard. Or as Paul says, “esteem them very highly.” Have you done that lately to someone? Have you given them an “ataboy”?

Of course, Paul is referring to those in verse 12, to those who teach us and lead us. Go up to your Pastor next week and give him a pat on the back and say, “Pastor, I really appreciate all you do for our church and for me personally. I am praying for you today.” You cannot imagine how much that will mean to him. Most of the time he hears negative stuff and complaints. You will truly bless him.

APPLICATION

Help your little Gertrude or Elrod make a list of people they want to give an “ataboy” to. It could be a teacher, preacher, babysitter or another leader in their life. After you make the list help them make a homemade card of thanks. Those homemade cards are not only fun to make, but they carry a special meaning to the recipient.

I keep a “Smile File” in my office where I keep all the cards I receive from children. I got one recently from a group of girls in our AWANA program. Knowing they took the time to color it and write a personal message meant so much to me. It was a simple gesture, but it blessed my socks off.  Teach your children to do that – to bless others.

Is there someone today you could bless that way? I bet they need it. Shoot them an email card or GIF or a personal text. It is so easy to do that in our digital world. Make a list of people you want to bless in that way. Then do it and sit back and watch them receive it. I promise you will be blessed as much.

I want to thank You first of all, Lord. You deserve all my praise and adoration for salvation. I esteem You very highly in love.

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Child Raising, Child Rearing, Christianity, Commands, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Evangelism, Family, Fatherhood, Inspirational, Love, Ministry, Modeling, Motherhood, Obedience, Parenting, Praise, Thanksgiving, Witnessing

WHO DO YOU APPRECIATE?


1 THESSALONIANS 5:12

“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,” 

If you have ever attended a middle school or high school ballgame, whether it be basketball or football, you have probably heard this cheer.  “2, 4, 6, 8, who do you appreciate…” Am I right?  It didn’t matter if your team was good or bad. The fans were going cheer for them. 

Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians and us to show our appreciation (literally, to remember) those who teach and lead us in our faith. Many churches and communities have “Clergy Appreciation Days.” This is a day set aside to recognize and show appreciation to our spiritual leaders. We would do well to do that in some way.

APPLICATION

“Carl, this isn’t a very spiritual devotion today.” Well, hang on. Let’s make this apply to us and our families. One thing that is sorely missing today in our society is valuing our spiritual mentors. We must teach our children to honor and respect those people God has placed over them. Lack of respect for authority is running rampant in our country. Of all people, Christians should lead the way in honoring our leaders.

How do we teach that? It begins at home. Holding your children accountable for disrespectful behavior must be done. Modeling respect for your leaders, even if you disagree with them, teaches our children to do the same. I truly believe God places people over us in life to teach us. We may question that sometime, but if we trust the Lord, we will honor Him by honoring those He has chosen as His instrument of instruction in our lives.

Whom are you complaining about right now? Are you picking apart your Pastor without any measure of honor and respect? Apply this verse to your life today. Ask the Lord to show you when you are NOT appreciating those who teach and lead you.

I am thankful, Lord, for those whom You have placed over me. I repent of any disrespect or dishonor I may have shown. Help me to learn from them what You would have me learn.

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BE A BUILDER


1 THESSALONIANS 5:11

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 

Imagery can be so important when you are trying to explain something to someone. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, is doing that so well in this verse. He instructs us to literally build up others (to help them stand firm) and also to encourage them (to come alongside them). I get this picture of a tree that is planted in the ground and then braced and supported tightly until it takes firm root.

Unfortunately, too many of us are too concerned with tearing others down and kicking the supports out from under them. We don’t want others “standing over” us. We would rather see them fall that appear to be over us. I pray anyone I have the privilege to mentor becomes MUCH more than me.

APPLICATION

Let me ask you a question. Do you want your children to succeed? Do you want them to achieve more than you? Most parents would quickly say, “Well, of course, Carl.” Their achievement over your achievements makes you proud, not jealous. Their surpassing of your goals is a reflection of you, not an overshadowing of anything you have done.

Why is it, then, that we can’t do the same thing with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ? Why do we compete with them for the top rung on the ladder? Teach your children to be that person who, for the betterment of the Body, is willing to stay at the bottom of the ladder to hold and support it, rather than kick people off on the way up.

How do you encourage and build up your fellow believers? Who are you personally mentoring right now? If you aren’t sure what the answer is to either of those questions, let me encourage you right now to take a moment to ask the Lord to put someone in your life to whom you can do that. We can’t do this Christian life alone and neither can others.

Lord, You have created us to need each other. Let me encourage someone today. Instead of tearing someone down, help me build someone up.

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Child Rearing, Christ's Return, Christianity, Comfort, Death, Disciplemaking, Evangelism, Family, Fatherhood, Forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, Love, Mentoring, Ministry, Modeling, Motherhood, Parenting, Praise, Rapture, Resurrection, Sanctification, Thanksgiving, Witnessing

HEAVENLY LIVING


1 THESSALONIANS 5:10

“who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” 

I just cAn’t get over the imagery of Christ’s death. It is His death on the cross that gives us the opportunity for life, life eternal. Paul is assuring the Thessalonians and us that whether they are alive when Christ returns or are asleep (as we saw in chapter 4), we WILL be with Christ for eternity.

There are not many people I can think of I would want to live with here on earth. Living with people requires you to share space. It requires you to communicate with them about household stuff. People you live with now just get in your stuff, don’t they? But eternal living will be different. Why? Because our focus will NOT be on us. It will be on Him. 

APPLICATION

Why not ask your children how they like living in their family. Get ready for some crazy answers. Ask them if they could, who would they add or leave out. Now, this is not a time for scolding or correcting. Just let them answer and tell why. You could learn a lot by their answers. 

After you have heard all their answers, talk about our eternal home. Explain how living here is really just preparation for living there. Getting along with family here is preparing us for eternal living. Encourage them to be more forgiving of that brother or sister whom they may spend eternity with. Model this for them by treating your spouse with the kind of affection you will receive from Jesus in your heavenly home. 

Are you ready for eternal living? If you are a believer, God is trying to get you ready each day down here. He is attempting to mold you into a perfect eternal kingdom citizen. Just think how sweet it would be if we could start living heavenly down here. Heaven on earth is possible if we let Him live in and through us.

Father God, give me the wisdom today to live heavenly. Let me treat my earthly family like I will treat my heavenly family. Give me Your eyes today to see them as You see them.

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NO WRATH


1 THESSALONIANS 5:9

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 

Isn’t this an incredible promise of God? He, and only He, does not set us up or place us in wrath. The word “destined” is written in such a way that it means ONLY HE makes this decision. Why is it written that way? Because Satan would love to destine us for wrath. If he had a say in it, we all would. 

But we are destined to obtain salvation. Oh, listen to this. That word “obtaining” is used in Ephesians 1:14 and 1 Peter 2:9 to refer to “God’s own possession.” Do you get it? God has destined us, He has established us, He has determined that we will be HIS! Praise be to God!

APPLICATION

Do you have video of your child’s birth? Has your child seen it? If not, show it to them and explain to them that God determined to place them into your family long before they were born. The birth just made it reality. The Lord brought you and your husband or wife together and through that union established a family into which they would be born.

Explain to them that their birth into God’s family brings into reality what God had already established. It is God’s will, His desire that all men be saved. And because of that desire, whenever anyone enters the family, it brings into place what was destined to begin with. God WANTS all of His creation to come to Him.

I pray you have made that decision. I don’t assume for a second that just because you are reading this devotional that you are a believer. You may have just stumbled onto it through one of the hundreds of search engines out there on the web. Make God’s Will for you reality today. Accept His Son Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. You are NOT destined for wrath. He has destined you for salvation.

What a comforting thought, O Savior of my soul. I praise You for saving me. I thank You for allowing me to come into Your family and experience Your salvation.

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PROTECT YOURSELF


1 THESSALONIANS 5:8

“But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.” 

I love Paul’s words to describe our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. In today’s verse he explains that we are protected by a breastplate of faith and love and a helmet he calls the hope of salvation.  Let’s think a moment about what that means to us as believers.

The breastplate protects our vital organs from being struck and injured. The stronger the material, the better we are protected. I own a bulletproof vest which can withstand most bullets which could strike me in the chest and back area. I am protected. But I am also protected by my faith and love for my Savior. It is His protective shield about me that guards my spiritual heart from the fiery darts of the enemy.

My head, where all my thoughts and prayers originate, is protected by the hope I have in my salvation. Now understand this – I may not completely understand all that salvation has done, is doing or will do for me, but I know I am protected by it. No evil force can make me believe otherwise.

APPLICATION

Get some cardboard and make your kids and yourself a breastplate and helmet. You will have a blast doing it with them, I promise. And once you have them made, play battle. Get some pool noodles and make swords or spears.  Purposely strike each other in the chest and head (playfully I must say).

When you are worn out from this, read this verse to them and explain how our trust in the Lord works just like the cardboard to protect us. Now cardboard won’t last forever, but it is good enough to get the point across.  Your kids won’t soon forget this lesson.

Do you have your armor on today? Or are you trying to wage war with the devil using your own shield and sword? Stop doing that and use the Lord’s armor. His is much stronger. His is eternal. His will protect you. Trust Him.

Thank you, Father, that You have the breastplate and helmet to fit me. I am thankful You protect me daily from any attacks by the evil one. Guard my heart and mind.

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THE DARK SIDE OF NIGHT


1 THESSALONIANS 5:7

“For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.” 

My daddy used to say, “There is not a thing you can do after 11 p.m. that you can’t do before 11 p.m.” In other words, you don’t need to be out past 11 p.m. Those late hours just lead to trouble. And it’s true. People seem to stop thinking straight late at night.

And most people do their sleeping at night. I feel sorry for people who have to try to sleep during the day. That must be hard to adjust to. What is Paul saying here? When you are sleeping or drunk, you are not focused on Christ. Your mind shuts off or your mind is altered. He is telling us to remain alert.

APPLICATION

When you put your little Johnny or Susie to bed tonight teach them to have the Lord as their last thought before they drift off into sleep. Plant good thoughts in their heads. Read them something from God’s Word. If you read this verse, you may want to just read the first half to avoid a long discussion at bedtime about getting drunk, lol.

I know a lot of parents who play scripture songs very low at night for their children to sleep by. I like that. Even during the middle of the night, they can wake up to His Word. We just need to keep our children centered on righteous living. We need to teach them to focus on God and His Word at all times. It will direct them on the righteous path.

To whom are you listening? Are you “sleeping” too much? Are you staying “drunk”? Now, I don’t mean to imply you are always in your bed or drinking. But many of us act as if that is what we are doing due to our apathetic view of God. We don’t have any use for Him until we need Him. Remain alert today. Look heavenward today. He may just surprise you.

Keep me alert and ready to respond, Lord. I want to be used by You, and that means I must be ready at all times. Help me to make sure each of my actions are pleasing to You.

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DON’T PASS OUT


1 THESSALONIANS 5:6

“so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” 

Paul is admonishing us to stay awake, to not get lazy, to remain “alert and sober.” But for how long? As long as it takes. Paul doesn’t specify a timeframe. He just says, through the Holy Spirit, to not sleep, to say alert and to stay sober. 

When you are asleep you aren’t aware of what is going on around you. When you are drunk you don’t have control of your senses. You get confused. As believers, we have to be alert at all times. This isn’t just in reference to Christ’s return, but it applies to everyday life. 

APPLICATION

I had the privilege to take my great nephew out hunting last season. One thing I told him as we climbed the tree to get into our tree stands was to stay alert. He couldn’t sleep and expect to see any deer approaching. He couldn’t start daydreaming and spot that allusive white-tail buck creeping up.  He had to stay alert and undistracted.

Most children are easily distracted. The latest fad or video game will consume them. Make sure your children spend time every day in His Word and in prayer. That doesn’t have to be for hours, but there should specific time set aside for this every day. And as they go through the rest of their day, they should stay alert for God moments. He is at work all around us.

Are you alert and sober? Are you awake? Allow the Holy Spirit to give you the energy to stay focused on Him. We don’t have a “5 hour energy” drink for God. It has to be a deliberate decision on your part to look toward God and allow Him to work in and through you. Do that today.

I need You, O Lord, to stay alert and sober. I need You to keep me focused on heavenly things. I praise You for Your strength to do this today.

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LIGHT OR DARKNESS


1 THESSALONIANS 5:5

“for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;” 

That is basically the question. Do you choose the light or darkness? Do you want to live in the night or day? I don’t mind darkness or night in a physical sense. But I sure don’t want to be in it spiritually. That is what Paul is referring to here. 

As believers in Christ, we walk with THE Light. His light shines in and through us. We should be lighting the path for others. The light in us should brighten not only our path but those around us. Why would you choose to walk in darkness? There is only one reason – to hide your sin.

APPLICATION

Are your children afraid of the dark? Do they require a night light in their bedrooms? My teenage grandson chose a room in their new house without windows so it would be dark. He’s not threatened by the darkness. Neither should any of your children or grandchildren.

So, how do you get your little Johnny or Susie to walk in the day or in the light instead of the night or darkness? By modeling it yourself. Your behavior and lifestyle will show them the value of staying in the light. It is much easier to walk in light than darkness. Darkness trips you. Darkness makes you suspicious. Teach your children to live out in the open in the light.

Where are you walking right now? Do you resemble light or darkness? Yield all your desires and wishes to Him. Let Jesus shine through you daily. Let your face shine for Him. Let your words shine for Him. Let every part of your being shine for Him.

Father of light, shine through me. Let Your light be the beacon that draws men to You. Use me to do that.

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GET READY, GET SET, …


1 THESSALONIANS 5:4

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;” 

The last several verses in 1 Thessalonians have been focused on the return of Christ. We know, as believers, that we are going. We know He is coming quickly. But in this verse Paul tells us that we won’t be surprised IF… If what? If we are not in darkness.

All through Scripture darkness is an analogy for sin. Think about it – if we are walking in darkness (sin), we will be preoccupied with our self. We won’t have our minds set on things above, as Colossians 3 tells us. When we are in sin our focus is completely off Christ. But if we are walking in light and living expectedly for His return, we won’t be caught off guard.

APPLICATION

Children love tag games. Remember being “it” and having to count to 100 or so. Then you would yell, “Ready or not, here I come.” They love to race each other. Someone lines up the racers and shouts, “Get ready, get set, GO!”

With both of these examples you have a warning. With both of these examples there is no surprise. That’s how it is for the believer who is watching for Christ’s return. It’s almost like the Father in heaven is saying, “Get ready, get set…” When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are ready and set. All that is left is “Go.”

Are you ready and set to go? Are you walking in the light so that you will not be surprised? If you are walking in darkness right now, get out of it. Get back into the light of God’s Word. Get into fellowship with Him and other believers. Ready or not, here HE comes.

O Lord, You will be a welcomed sight. I want to stay in the light so that I can clearly see You. Help me stay out of the darkness of sin.

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