Category Archives: Surrender

Advice, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Christianity, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Family, Fatherhood, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, Love, Mentoring, Modeling, Motherhood, Obedience, Parenting, Sanctification, Surrender

GOD COMPLEX

2 THESSALONIANS 2:4

“who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” 

Some people think they are above everyone, including God. They have what I call a God complex. Everyone should bow to them. Everyone is beneath them. What they think and say is the ONLY thing that matters. Well, this is nothing new. Paul even says that this “man of lawlessness” will be this way. 

The problem with these sorts of people is you really can’t talk to them. There is no reasoning with them. They look at you from upturned noses. They seem to resent that you are even talking to them. But guess what? God sent His Son to die for them just like He did for you. Every soul is precious to God. He wants everyone created in His image to come home to Him. 

APPLICATION

As parents, we have the responsibility to teach our children how NOT to be that way. Now, I am not suggesting that your little Elrod is the “man of lawlessness.” But he can sure act like it if you don’t discipline and correct him. Our little Susie can be hard to live with if we don’t teach her respect for others. The sin nature is strong and will not be tamed on its own.

Teaching respect for others is such an important thing for a parent to do. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Our children will be tempted to see themselves as better than others at times. But humility is a much stronger trait than pride. Focus on that. Model that to them.

Do you know someone who places themselves on that pedestal? You may have a boss who comes across that way. Just be Jesus to them. Submission is hard for most, if not all, people. But if we allow the Spirit of God to live through us, we will have the attitude necessary to yield. Pray for that person. Ask the Lord to humble them as only He can. That’s not your job. Trust Him.

Father, guard my heart from self-glorification. Keep me focused on my humility before You. I know all I am is only because of You.

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OUTLAWS

2 THESSALONIANS 2:3

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” 

Who is this “man of lawlessness” or this “son of destruction”? Well, you could read a dozen commentaries and probably get two dozen opinions. Some believe it referred to one of the Caesars. Others think it was the Pope. Others believe it represented a group of men through history. We won’t know Paul’s exacts thoughts through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit until we see him in glory.

Paul is telling the Thessalonians that certain things must take place before Christ returned. The same still holds true today. We shall always have lawless and destructive men around us. Some men have no other desire than to try to destroy anything holy. That is what Paul is talking about. They are outlaws of the faith. They want nothing to do with it.

APPLICATION

Warning our children of these men’s deception is critical. These types of “outlaws” don’t necessarily wear black hats. They come disguised so as to deceive and lead away unsuspecting people. Our children need to be prepared to recognize and detect these individuals. Leaving them defenseless is not smart and could cost them their very eternity.

“Wow, Carl, you are getting pretty heavy.” You think? Well, that’s the beauty of going verse by verse in the Bible. This is NOT my soapbox. It’s God’s. I didn’t write this. He did. And He still wants to warn us to be watchful and prepared. Parents for generations have taught their children the truth to protect them from evil men. We must do the same.

Let me ask you a question. Can you recognize these evil men? Are you grounded in the Word enough that you can discern when one of these “outlaws” tries to lead you astray? I pray you are. One good way to know is ask yourself if what you are being asked to do will glorify Jesus. If it won’t, then don’t go down that road. We should always be pointing others to Him.

Thank You, Lord, that Your Holy Spirit can tell me when I am wrong. Help me listen more closely to His voice. Give me the wisdom and discernment to spot evil and wicked people who desire to lead me astray.

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HIS GLORY

2 THESSALONIANS 1:12

“so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and theLord Jesus Christ.”

Some people just glow for Jesus. You can tell they are believers the moment you meet them. Their smile, their countenance and their demeanor all exemplify Him. He is being glorified through them. I love watching for that in people I meet for the first time. I like to look for an opening in the conversation to ask about their personal relationship with our Lord.

Paul’s prayer, which he began in verse 11, continues here. This is the reason why he prayed for those things. His sole purpose for praying for the Thessalonians is so the Lord would be glorified in and through them. Shouldn’t that be our desire for ourselves and others? Shouldn’t we want others to see Jesus in us?

APPLICATION

Little Gertrude and Elrod will watch how you respond to people. I guarantee you that. When you respond like Jesus, they take note of that. When you talk like Jesus, they listen. When you reach out to someone like Jesus, they will file away that moment. We are the ones who must exemplify Jesus to point our children to Him. 

So, ask yourself, “As a parent, am I glorifying Jesus in my everyday life?” If you aren’t, you need to start, for your children. When our children hear us talk about Jesus but never see us live for Him, they get a very confusing message. That confusion can lead to rebellion and on to denial. Be the vessel of glory He wants to use.

But being used as a vessel of glory means we may have to let some stuff go. We can’t very well be glorifying Him and participating in behaviors which Jesus would NEVER do. I don’t have to name these. You know them. Let go of those habits or activities that cannot be attributed to Him. He will show you what and how to live to give Him glory. Just be willing to be used. He will do the rest.

Here I am, Lord. Take me and use me however You desire. I want others to see You in me.

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SEPARATION

2 THESSALONIANS 1:9

“These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”

What could be worse than eternal separation from God? No forgiveness, no redemption and, as it says here, eternal destruction. Now, you have to understand something about that word “destruction.” It does not mean that you will cease to be. It really means total ruin without extinction. Who wants that?

When I moved back to Chattanooga in 2007, I moved ahead of my family due to my daughter’s last year in high school. We didn’t want to pull her out that situation. So, we commuted back and forth to Lakeland, FL for eleven and a half months. We made it work but being separated for that amount of time on a daily basis was horrible. I can’t imagine an eternal separation.

APPLICATION

The next time you have to be away from your children draw out a countdown for them to mark off. For each day you are away they can put an “X” on that day when it is complete. This way they can see the days getting closer when you return to them. When you get home ask them how it felt to be apart for that time. Hopefully, they will tell you how much they missed you.

The Father feels the same way. He wants us home. He can’t wait until we are in His presence. He can’t make us come home, but He will do everything in His power to lead us that way. But, because He is a holy God, He can’t allow us to enter into His presence if we haven’t surrendered to His Son. We, in fact, force our own eternal destruction and separation by choosing to ignore His commands to repent.

Are you surrendered to Him? Are you headed home? I pray you are. If you aren’t, would you make that right today? If you aren’t sure, make it sure today. There is no greater peace than knowing your eternal destiny. And as you make sure of that, spread the news to others. Help them make sure too.

I know where I am headed one day, Lord. I look forward to seeing Your face. Help me spread the good news to as many as possible along the way.

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CONSEQUENCES

2 THESSALONIANS 1:8

“dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

When you were a child did you ever get in trouble for not listening to your parents? Boy, I sure did. I could be a disobedient little booger. I would clearly hear my dad’s or mom’s instructions and do the exact opposite. I knew the risk, weighed my options and proceeded to do what I wanted. Sometimes, I got away with it. But other times, I paid for it.

You can’t read this verse separate from the previous verse. Jesus is going to return, and when He does, He will deal out retribution on those who did not listen to His instructions. That’s what the word “obey” means. It is actually a very strong verb (hupakouo). The hupon the beginning of that word intensifies the verb akouo. So, it means to really listen so you will obey.

APPLICATION

If you can’t figure out how to apply this verse to your kids, well…. Don’t we constantly deal with getting our kids to listen to us? Aren’t we always teaching them to obey our instructions? When was the last time you gave them directions on something? Two seconds ago, lol? It’s constant, but purposeful.

Why not read them this verse? Jesus expects the same, but the consequences for not listening to His instructions are eternal. There is no time out or loss of privileges. No! If your children disobey Him by not listening to His commands, they risk spending eternity without Him. That’s harsh, but it’s the truth. Remember, our teaching our children to obey is preparation for obeying their Heavenly Father.

Enough about children. Are you obeying? We, as adults, must continue to obey the Lord’s commands. We don’t graduate out of this. In fact, it is often harder for us to obey because we are adults. As a man, I don’t want anyone to tell me what to do. I want to make my own choices. And I can, but I cannot choice my own consequences. I choose obedience today.

Father God, thank You for clear instructions. Thank You for saving me from myself. I choose to follow You and obey.

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THE AVENGER

2 THESSALONIANS 1:6

“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,”

Super heroes are popular today in the movies. Who doesn’t like seeing the bad guy defeated by the good guy? There is even a movie called “The Avengers.” Several super heroes come together to save the world. They all have their special skills, but they also have their own egos and challenges. They end up working together but not before great loss.

But look at today’s verse. God is our ultimate avenger. He repays “with affliction those who afflict you.” God doesn’t need help. He can handle it. He doesn’t have an ego that needs to be stroked. He doesn’t have any limitations. The only problem God has is us getting out of the way. We want to avenge ourselves. 

APPLICATION

Children naturally want to “get back” at someone who has hurt them. I have worked with children for forty years now. Girls are notorious for plotting their revenge. They may wait weeks, months or even years for just the right opportunity to strike back. I have seen girls in a cottage wait until the day a girl was leaving to get back at her for something she had done months ago. 

So, we must teach our children to allow the Lord to handle that “payback.” He knows exactly how to do it, while at the same time giving that person the opportunity to turn to Him. After all, that is His ultimate desire. He wants even our enemies to come to Him. 

Is there someone right now in your life whom you are plotting to get back at? Let it go! Turn it over to the Lord. Let Him handle it. He may tell you to just forgive them. In fact, the issue you are having with this person could be all on you. You might be the problem. Seek the Lord on the matter. Let Him reveal to you what He wants you to do.

Lord, I can always trust You to handle the situation perfectly. Teach me, again, to get out of the way. Allow me to place it into Your capable hands.

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WORTHY TO SUFFER

2 THESSALONIANS 1:5

“This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.” 

Did you catch that? Because they were suffering, they were worthy of the kingdom. Now, wait just a minute Paul. That’s not what I expected when I got into this Jesus stuff. I thought He would just forgive me of my sins, and I would go on living a perfect life. That’s the problem most of us have. We want to live for Jesus until it requires suffering or persecution. Then it’s too hard.

The phrase “considered worthy” is only used three times in the New Testament. In all three times, it refers to suffering or death. It means to be weighed accurately. In other words, God has you on a scale and finds that you measure up to this. He won’t put more on the other side of the scale than you can handle. He knows your limits, so just trust Him.

APPLICATION

Children don’t know their limits of suffering yet. They have to experience pain and suffering before they know how much they can take. I remember when I was in high school, I broke my ankle at football camp. I walked on that ankle for a week and half before I knew it was broken. I just dealt with the pain. I discovered then that I have a pretty high pain tolerance. 

But physical pain is a lot different than emotional or mental pain. There are all kinds of suffering. Your children will face a multitude of opportunities to “suffer” for Jesus. If you will teach them to trust Him, they will be able to endure the sufferings that come their way. As they watch you endure, they will learn.

Are you going through a time of suffering right now? Thank the Lord for the opportunity to trust Him. Let Him know right now that you are His to mold and make into whatever He chooses. I promise if you trust Him, you will come out the other side of this suffering a more useable vessel. He always perfects. He never condemns.

Knowing You are in control of my every suffering gives me peace. I trust You, Lord, to teach me through my sufferings. I count it a privilege to considered worthy of suffering for You.

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STRETCHY PANTS

2 THESSALONIANS 1:3

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows evergreater;” 

I think kind of strange at times. I know, shock, shock! But look at this verse – fitting (think fitting room), enlarged, grows…greater. Come on! You can see that too, right? I had this image of going into a fitting room in a store and finding out I had to go to a larger size because I had, well, grown larger. I am sure you have never had that problem, lol.

But Paul isn’t talking about clothing. He’s talking about the Thessalonians’ faith. He had received word back from the messengers stating that their faith had grown larger. What encouraging words for Paul. He was concerned about their spiritual health and had to be relieved to hear they were getting stronger.

APPLICATION

As parents, we all want our children to grown stronger. We feed them, give them vitamins and supplements, take them to the doctor and do everything necessary and within reason to ensure their physical health.  After all, who wants medical bills due to our neglect of their health? But are you as concerned about their spiritual health? Parents have said to me, “Well, I want them to make up their own mind.” Seriously, if you did that about education, what would your child decide?

We have to be more concerned about raising spiritually healthy children. Sure, we can’t MAKE them become a follower of Christ. But we have to make sure we are preparing them every way possible. We give them everything necessary to allow them to respond to His call. God wants them in His family as much as you want them in yours. But He wants us to lead them there.

Can you “double down” on your child’s spiritual growth? What do you need to do to further prepare your child to respond? Ask the Lord today what “supplement” your child needs to lead them in His direction. Give your child a spiritual checkup. Ask them the difficult questions. Then you can rest knowing you have done everything you can do. The rest is up to the Lord.

Father, help me be the kind of parent I need to be for my children and grandchildren. Help me lead them toward You. Teach me as I am teaching them.

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NO FOOLING

2 THESSALONIANS 1:2

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

God’s grace and peace are no joke. When Paul wished that upon the Thessalonians, he wasn’t making a wish that could not be kept. We do that a lot, don’t we? We tell people things that we know we can’t keep. We have good intentions, but it is just outside the realm of possibility.

Grace and peace are not like that. Why? Because we aren’t the ones giving it. Our desire, just like God’s, should be that all men be saved. When someone receives Christ as their Savior and Lord, they experience His grace and His peace. God gives it freely and liberally. Paul is desiring that for them and us.

APPLICATION

What is something you can give to your child that they cannot get for themselves? Think of something. Perhaps it is a new bike. Well…nope. They could save their money and get that. How about a new cell phone (God forbid, lol)? Nope again. They could buy that if they had the money.

You can give them a godly parent. They can’t make that happen. You can give them love and respect. They can’t earn that. You can give them discipline and direction. They will learn to self-discipline later, but only after you give it first. These are the things you need to focus on, not material things.

Is there something in your life which you are clamoring for that really doesn’t matter in the eternal order of things? We all have some things like that. Give it up. Let God take over. Let Him determine what you need in your life. He knows best anyway. Don’t you think?  Let Him give you His grace and peace today. 

They never get old.Father of grace and peace, rain down on me today. Let me experience afresh Your grace and Your peace. Then, Lord, let me share that with others.

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INSTANT REPLY

2 THESSALONIANS 1:1

“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:” 

Most scholars agree that 2 Thessalonians was written very shortly after 1 Thessalonians and was a reply to the reply Paul had received from the church about his first letter. Have you have done that? You text or email someone, and after they reply back to you, you reply back to them. That’s what this is except it was done by letter and a messenger (not Instant Message, lol).

Whatever stirred his heart to write again, Paul still held these believers as dear to his heart. He cared deeply about them and wanted to make sure they had the correct understanding of their position in Christ. Silvanus and Timothy are still with him in Corinth, so he includes them in the opening. They all cared for this young, fledgling church.

APPLICATION

We should show our children the importance of communicating clearly for the sake of Christ. When we hear of someone we know who is not walking with Christ, we should talk with them. If we really love them, we don’t want them to continue down a path that will take them further away from Christ. We should have an instant reply.

“But Carl, they may get mad at me.” So what! Isn’t it better for them to get mad at you than to not say something and watch them go off the cliff? If you are replying in love to them, they will know it. Just like Paul, respond for their good.

Is there someone in your life right now whom you need to approach in love and steer back on the right course? Do it in love. Do it quickly. Just do it. Don’t sit back and watch them follow the wrong person or do the wrong thing without at least confronting them. Let the Holy Spirit tell you when and what to say.

O Lord, I am thankful I have people in my life to confront me when I am off course. Help me do the same without the fear of rejection. I truly want those whom I love to follow You.

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