Best Verse: Zechariah 3: 1-2 “1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’”

THE ACCUSER BECOMES THE ACCUSED

Don’t you just love what happened in these two short verses.  Satan is standing there before the “angel of the LORD” (which we know to be the Messiah, the Lord Jesus) ready to accuse Joshua, but the tables are turned on him.  The Lord accuses him.  I would have loved to have seen his face.  This is a prelude to the future when Jesus would defeat death, and the accuser would be defeated.

Jesus is our defender before the great accuser. Don’t forget that.  Satan wants to whisper doubt and disbelief in you.  He wants you to believe that the Lord has deserted you.  Don’t believe those lies.  Jesus is defending you and accusing the devil of HIS crimes against you.  The devil CANNOT win!

TEACHING MOMENT

Your children are going to have those moments of doubt.  Their peers are going to turn on them.  They are going to be accused by the great accuser.  Your job is to speak truth to them through God’s Word.  Your job is to remind them how much the Lord loves them and will never leave them.  Your job is to show them how the Lord,  just like He did for Joshua, will exchange their filthy robes for clean ones.

There is nothing worse for a parent than to see their child feeling defeated, as if they have no way out.  You must do all you can to point them back to Jesus.  Satan can’t have them.  If your child is a believer, Satan knows he has already lost them.  If your child has not asked Christ in their heart, then you need to show them and live for them the gospel of Christ every day.  There is nothing more important.  NOTHING!!!

Are you living a defeated life?  Are you allowing the old accuser to accuse you?  Are you believing his lies?  Stop it NOW!  In the name of Jesus, rebuke him, just as the Lord did in these above verses.  Satan has NO claim on you as a child of God.  And he knows that.

My Defender and Lord, thank you for rescuing me.  Thank You for rebuking Satan on my behalf.

Haggai 1:5-6 “5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Consider your ways! 6 You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.’”

CALLED TO ACTION

Haggai is a short, little book with only two chapters.  It is often overlooked.  I don’t think I have ever heard a sermon preached on Haggai.  Why is that?  Well, it’s kind of a harsh message.  The people were allowing the house of the Lord to lie in ruins while they went about their everyday life.  Haggai, speaking for the Lord, called them on it.

You see, the condition of the temple was a symptom of the problem.  The people weren’t dedicated and surrendered to Jehovah.  They were complacent and full of apathy.  They were too busy trying to live their own lives to give much attention to the Lord, to the One to whom they owed their very lives.

TEACHING MOMENT

Teaching our children respect for a Holy God is so important.  Going through life without sacrifice to and for Him is possible, but dangerous.  Your little Johnny needs to learn to give, not just his financial blessings, but also his very life.  Complete surrender is the key to the Christ life, not “playing church.”

How do you show your children to give their all to the Lord?  By being the example.  They need to see you making sacrifices for God.  They need to see you choosing Him over your own desires.  They will learn more by observing you being obedient than they will ever learn by lecture or coercion.

So, how are you doing with that?  Are you comfortable in “your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”   That’s the question asked in Haggai.  It still needs to be asked today.  We (myself included) are so comfortable that we forget to sacrifice.  God has not called us to riches.  He may choose to bless us that way, but His intention for blessing us is for us to bless others.

O God of the Universe, show me how to sacrifice for You.  Help me be the example my children see in self-sacrifice.  And when they see that, let them see Jesus!

James 3:5-6 “5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”

BETTER TO BE TONGUE-TIED

Oh the tongue!  It can get us in so much trouble.  Have you ever known someone (it may be you) who didn’t have a filter between their brain and their tongue?  Whatever came to mind came out of their mouth.  They just said whatever was on their mind.  Not smart!

These verses are just two of the verses on the tongue which James writes.  The first 12 verses of chapter 3 deal with this.  James gives some great examples of the tongue (ship’s rudder, bridle, flame).  But as clear as James makes this warning, we all still struggle with it.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do you spend a lot of time correcting your children in this area?  Name calling, tattling and “poor choice” of words are just a few of the things parents deal with, right?  Take your kids to this chapter of James.  Show them it is not just your rule. God demands we control our tongues for the benefit of others.

Little Elrod or Susie need to know that words have consequences.  They can’t say one thing to one person and the exact opposite to someone else (bitter and sweet waters).  They can’t say they love God and then spew hatred towards someone that hurt them.  James is very clear on this.  Even a child can read this chapter and get it.

Have you done that lately?  Have you spoken evil of someone?  “Not me, Carl. I would never do that.”  Right!  Sure you haven’t.  We may not call it “evil,” but if it is not building that person up then it is better to keep our mouths shut.  It is better to bite our tongue.  In those situations, it is better to be tongue-tied.

Father, you created this tongue to praise You.  Give me the power through Your Holy Spirit to control it and use it only in ways that honor You.

James 1:19: “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;” 

BEST ADVICE EVER

There are so many great verses in James 1.  I really struggled which one to choose today.  The Lord was speaking through all of them.  But verse 19 is such a great verse for us and for our children.  It just kind of leapt off the page at me.

How many times have you engaged your mouth before you had all the facts?  If you are like me, you start formulating your response to someone before they even finish speaking.  The word “slow” in this verse means to be deliberate or to be unhurried while still moving forward after considering all the facts.  Whoa!  Is that what you do?  That’s not me most of the time.

TEACHING MOMENT

If there is one important skill for our children to learn, it is listening.  Remind them that’s why God gave them two ears and one mouth.  Listening well is a learned art.  It does not come naturally.  We must teach them to stop talking and listen.  You can hear while you talk, but it so much easier to REALLY hear what is being said if you are quiet and listen.

Do your children accuse you of not listening to them?  I believe every parent who has ever lived has been accused of that at some time by their child.  The next time you hear that from your child, stop and look at them, take their little cherub cheeks in your hands and say, “I am sorry, honey.  I am listening now.”  That will teach them so much about listening to others.

Our prayer life also involves listening.  We are often so busy talking to God that we are not quiet enough to hear Him speak.  Does God still speak?  You had better believe He does.  Use those ears of your heart.  Listen intently.  Be silent before Him.  He has much to say to you.

Father, thank You for creating me with the ability to hear.  But I am even more thankful that I can hear You without ears.  You have given me the Holy Spirit Who speaks into my heart Your very Words.  Help me listen well today.

Titus 1:7 “For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,”

BULLY

I recently taught this verse to our kids at church.  We’re studying the book of Titus, and we are calling the series “Intentional.”  One word – one long word – one intentional word – to describe a short, three chapter book from Paul to Titus.  I walked the children through this long list of do’s and don’ts regarding the qualifications of an elder.  But guess what?  These qualities really apply to everyone who wants to walk with Christ.

One word really got their attention – pugnacious.  I don’t think I had EVER used that word in my vocabulary before.  The word means bully, striker, or someone who fights.  Now who, besides a prize fighter, wants to be like that?  What believer wants to be a bully?  No one should.  It goes totally against the character of Christ.  But so many of us can’t wait for a good fight. Of course, we rationalize every one of those fights.

TEACHING MOMENT

You probably think this is an easy trait to teach our kids.  They fight, and we discipline.  Simple as that!  But what kind of fighting are we talking about?  Is it really as simple as that?  There are all kinds of fighting and bullying.  Today, that can happen online.  Thousands of kids a day are being bullied through social media.  You can fight without saying a word.  I’ve seen girls who bully other girls without saying a word.

Being pugnacious has nothing to do with Christ.  That word should not describe us either.  No one should see your child coming and think, “Here comes that bully.”  How horrible that would be.  So how do you prevent it?  You model being unpugnacious (not sure that is a word, lol) yourself and you hold them accountable if you see a glimmer of that in them.  Easier said than done, I know.  But that is why you are getting paid the big bucks as a parent.

Father, give us the wisdom as parents to recognize and correct any ungodly character we see in our children.  Help us to point them towards You, the most UNPUGNACIOUS of all.

Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

LOOK WHO’S ON OUR SIDE!

Don’t you just love this verse? After two chapters of casting warnings and judgments on Judah, Israel and their neighbors, God tells Zephaniah to write these words.  Even though God is going to judge the earth one day, He still has us on His mind.  He will defend His people.  He is in our midst.  He is our victorious warrior.  He loves us.  He rejoices over us.

Why?  Why does God care about us?  Why doesn’t He just wipe us off the face of the earth?  Because He promised to protect those who turn to Him.  No matter what we have done, if we turn to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, He will defend us.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children must learn this about God.  Many people will come and go in their lives.  Unfortunately, sometimes even parents will leave them.  I pray that has not been the case with your children.  They need to know, however, that God will NEVER desert them.  If they give their lives over to Him, He promises, just like in the day of Zephaniah to be on their side.

The next time you attend one of little Johnny’s or little Susie’s events (soccer, school play, recital) talk with them about how you were cheering for them.  If you are like me, they probably heard you, lol.  Explain to them that God is doing the same thing as they follow Him.  He is rejoicing over them.  He is their biggest cheerleader.

Don’t you need a cheerleader sometime?  I sure do.  And it is so good to know that God is not cheering just to “make me feel better.”  He is truly rejoicing in me.  He is cheering because He truly loves me.  He is not trying to get on my good side.  He IS my good side.  He is my most loyal and trustworthy cheerleader.

O Father, knowing You are cheering me on gives me the confidence to walk with You.  Thank You for being loyal to Your Word.  You love me despite my failures.  You are my everything.

Habakkuk 2:20: “But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.”

Not A Sound

Have you ever just sat and listened?  I mean, have you ever really listened.  Habakkuk is prophesying about the destruction of Judah by the Chaldeans, and right in the middle he says this.  He wanted them all to stop and listen for the Lord’s word.

But look where God is.  He is in His holy temple, where He belongs.  He is still on the throne.  No matter what we face, we can rest assured that God is still in charge.  It may seem like He has deserted us, but He hasn’t.  He is still speaking.  We must get quiet to hear Him.

TEACHING MOMENT

God’s omnipresence is probably one of the most comforting attributes of God we can teach our children.  Little Susie needs to know that God is always there for her.  He will never leave or forsake His children.  The key is, of course, do your children qualify as His children.

No amount of begging God can bring them into safety.  Now hear me out.  We must pray for their salvation and do everything in our power to usher them into the very presence of God.  But ultimately, they have to believe on their own.  And once they surrender, God will reign in their lives, just as He has in yours.

Are you being quiet today?  Are you really listening to God today?  Are you leading your children to hear God today?  Remind them (and yourself) that God has NOT moved.  He is still God.  Nothing can change that.  The world may seem out of control, but God is not.

God, You are the only God!  You are on Your throne reigning supreme.  Thank You for being my God and my Savior.  Draw my children and loved ones into Your presence so they will hear You clearly.

Nahum 1:3: “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.”

Aren’t you glad our God is slow to anger?  If He responded quickly to my every mess up, I would be a smoldering ember.  But instead He is patient and kind.  That does not diminish His power or His character of truth, as the verse says.  We can rest assured that He will punish those who are against Him.  He has no choice.  He demands holiness.

But thanks be to God, He has sent the Rescuer, His own Son Jesus Christ.  He showed us how to respond in the face of persecution.  He showed us how to deal with those who would want to harm us.  Jesus could have “zapped” all His enemies.  He could have literally stepped down off the cross.  But He was forgiving, instead.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children must learn this skill.  They must learn to respond to those who hurl insults at them.  They must learn how to allow the Lord to deal with those who would want to harm them.  There really is no other way.  The Lord is the One with the power, not us.  He will use us, but only in a way that brings glory to Him.

The next time your child comes homes with the report that little Jimmy at school is picking on them, use this verse to teach them. They may never see Jimmy dealt with regarding His behavior.  That’s okay.  God will handle it when He is ready to handle it.  Help them pray for Jimmy.  Teach them to be Jesus to him.

Now, this sounds easy, right?  Well, it’s not.  It’s impossible.  You can’t do it.  But you don’t have to.  He will do it through you.  Nahum was prophesying about God’s power and His ability to do what was right at the right time.  He is still that same God.

O God, give me the ability today to not lash out at those who speak evil against me.  Help me instead to pray for their salvation.  Teach me to trust You as You deal with those who speak evil against those who follow You.

Psalm 29:3 “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters.”

LISTEN

Some people’s voice is just so recognizable.  Think of some famous people you know by their voice alone.  Howard Cosell, John Wayne and Jimmy Durante are just a few I would recognize even though they have been dead for years.  Their voices were so unique I would know them anywhere.

Seven times in Psalm 29 the voice of the Lord is referred to.  His voice, too, is recognizable if you are listening.  If you know the Lord there is no denying His voice.  When He speaks we hear Him.  When He speaks things happen.  When He speaks our enemies quake.  What a voice!

TEACHING MOMENT

I bet your children know your voice.  Better yet, I bet they know which voice you are using at any certain time.  You know what I mean?  They know the tone of your voice and what it means.  They either come running or run away, depending on the tone of your voice.  They can tell if they are being called to dinner or to judgment.  Lol.

But the better question is “Do your children know the voice of the Lord?”  Do they recognize His voice?  If He is speaking, do they hear Him?  We must teach them to hear Him.  That is only done by spending time in His Word and preparing your home to be a place where God speaks freely.

Are you listening to Him today?  When is the last time you heard the Lord’s voice clearly?  We get so busy that we fail to hear Him screaming at us.  He wants to talk to you.  Will you stop what you are doing right now, get quiet and listen?  (Pause)  Did you hear that?

Thank You, Lord, for making my ears sensitive to Your voice.  Help me today to listen closely to Your words.

Amos 7:8 “The LORD said to me, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘Behold I am about to put a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.’”

KEEPING IT PLUMB

Most of us today have no idea what a plumb line is?  Do you?  It was a tool used by a builder to make sure the walls were straight and not leaning.  It could be just about anything with weight tied to a string which would hang down from a stick or board right next to the wall you were building. Now we have laser levels and all other kinds of devices to do the same thing.

The bottom line is if you don’t keep the wall straight (plumb) as you are building, it won’t stand and the structure will be unsafe.  The same is true with our spiritual lives.  We have to keep our lives built on the sure foundation. We must make sure we are standing true.  We must keep checking our “plumb line” of faith to ensure we aren’t leaning to the right or to the left.

TEACHING MOMENT

This is a fun verse to show our kids and demonstrate.  Get a plumb line or a level and go around and check out the walls in your house.  See if you can find an unlevel wall.  Show them a picture of the leaning tower of Pisa, probably the most well known “unplumb” building in the world.

But don’t make this just a structural exercise.  Bring out the Word.  Explain that the Word is the ONLY sure foundation.  It is also the “device” we use to make sure we are staying plumb.  It will keep us straight if we are in it daily.  It will make sure we don’t crumble into a heap on the ground.

Have you checked your level lately?  Are you staying true to God’s Word?  God has given you the tools to make sure of that.  Prayer, His Word, and Christian brothers and sisters can all help us stay on the level.  But we also have to allow Him, when we get off plumb, to tear us down and rebuild us.  He wants us to be standing firm, not leaning in the wrong direction.

O Father, You are the great architect of my life.  Help me see Your corrective action in my life as a form of love and care and not punishment.  Keep me true.