Isaiah 25:4a “For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat;”

PLAYING DEFENSE

When I hear the word “defense” my mind automatically goes to football. Sorry, but I just can’t help myself. I played high school football and loved playing linebacker. The linebacker normally has the responsibility to be the “quarterback” of the defense. He is watching the “attack” of the offense and directs his defense to move this way or that to prepare for the next play.

But the verse here isn’t talking about us doing anything. It is referring to God as our defense. He is our defense when we are helpless and needy. He is our refuge in the storm and our shade in the heat. What a beautiful portrayal of God for us. God is the “linebacker” who is ALWAYS guarding against the onslaught of the evil one. He knows his playbook and always has the defensive move to block his attacks. But we have to listen to Him.

TEACHING MOMENT

Your children are going to face the enemy sooner or later, probably sooner. They need to know to trust the Lord as He directs them. They need to know that He always knows the best play to run. They need to know to do exactly what He says when He says. If they don’t, they run the risk of letting the enemy score one on them.

Okay, enough with the football analogies, right? But isn’t it comforting to know that the Lord is defending us day and night. We only have to surrender and let Him do it. If we stay under the umbrella of His protection by submitting to His will, He’s got us covered, no matter what. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer to let Him handle the adversary. The Lord will ALWAYS win!

Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

WING MAN

The writer of Hebrews instructs us here to encourage one another. Have you ever been encouraged by someone? You may have been at your lowest, but a friend comes alongside you and reminds you that they have your back. They remind you that they will stick by you, no matter what. Man, friends like that are rare.

But why do we, as believers, need to do that for each other. The author says, “so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We need to watch out for each other so the devil won’t deceive us. Wow! Now that sure changes the tune, doesn’t it? It is not just to be an encourager. It’s to help us stay on the straight and narrow.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do your children have that natural tendency to be an encourager? Some do. Others don’t. But this verse isn’t meant for just a few. It is directed at all of us. So we need to be showing our children what it means to be an encourager. Have you done that this week? Have you encouraged a fellow believer in their walk?

I am as guilty as anyone of doing that for people outside my family, but not doing it for my family members. For that I ask forgiveness. We need to be so encouraging to those closest to us. They need it for no other reason than that they have to live with us, right? I can test the best of the bunch sometimes.

The writer also says do this “as long as it is still called ‘Today.’” In other words, do it quickly. Don’t let the sun go down before you do it. Don’t put it off to tomorrow. That person may just need that voice of encouragement that very moment. Don’t wait. Act! Let the Lord be your encourager to be an encourager. He can give you the words and the wisdom.

Isaiah 20:2 “at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet.” And he did so, going naked and barefoot.”

YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING, GOD!

Naked! Did the Lord say, “Take off your clothes”? I don’t know about you, but if the Lord had told me to walk around naked and barefoot for THREE YEARS, I might have questioned His wisdom. Not Isaiah! He just did it. He obeyed. I am sure he must have been a little embarrassed. He had to be. I am sure he got cold. I am sure people pointed and laughed. But he stayed true to the Lord’s command.

Now, hopefully, the Lord won’t ask you to strip down and walk around. You would get arrested today if you did. But what else has He asked you to do that you think sounds crazy? What command is He directing you to obey that you have thoroughly ignored?

TEACHING MOMENT

I am sure you give your children directives each day. They probably think your commands are just as stupid. They may have even said so. But does that change the fact that you asked them to do it? No! The next time this occurs in your household, use this verse to explain to them the necessity to follow the commands of God no matter how ridiculous they may sound. God has a purpose in everything He asks us to do.

In the day we are living most of the Lord’s commands sound stupid in comparison to the world’s outlook on life. Most of what the world is doing is in direct contrast to the Lord’s commands. We may appear to them to be “walking around naked and barefoot.” But we are supposed to be just like Isaiah here. He obeyed to send a message to the nation. The message was “if you don’t repent, you are going to end up looking just like me, being led into exile.”

We have a message for the world. It’s the same message. If the world does not repent and begin following the Lord’s commands, as we are trying to do ourselves, they too will end up in exile. But their exile will be eternal. So, keep preaching the message. Do whatever the Lord commands so you can be used, like Isaiah, to reach a unrepentant nation.

Hebrews 2:14 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,”

DOG GONE

When I was a boy growing up in Pelham, GA, we could ride our bikes all over our small town. My buddies and I did just that. There was only one problem. The shortest distance from my house to downtown was right past a house where a white German Shephard dog lived. That dog loved to chase us on our bikes. Initially we were all so scared. We would get up our speed as fast as possible so we could zoom past him, hoping to get by before he got to us.

Then we discovered something about that dog. He didn’t have any teeth. One of my buddies got grabbed by the dog’s mouth, and he just slid right off his leg. That changed everything. From that point on we almost welcomed that old dog. He still barked and chased us, but we weren’t scared of his bite anymore.

TEACHING MOMENT

God has made the devil toothless. Sure, he barks and chases us with the hope of instilling fear in us. But he has no bite in the life of a Christian. He is powerless to harm us, not because of anything we have done, but because of the shed blood, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. When Jesus came out of that grave, He kicked the teeth out of Satan.

Our children need to know this. They need to know that Satan has no bite. They have no need to fear the “man in the red suit with horns and the pointy tail.” He may look scary, but he is already defeated. And he knows it. That’s why he is always so mad.

So let me ask you, “Are you scared of the devil? Do you fear him?” Why? Don’t! He can’t touch you unless the Lord allows it. And if he does, the Lord has a plan to make you better. A defeated foe is just that – defeated. We have already won. Act like it.

Isaiah 17:10a “For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the rock of your refuge.”

WHERE IS HE?

You have probably heard the old adage, “Gone, but not forgotten.” Well, it seems today that God is forgotten, but let me promise you – He is NOT gone. He is still there. He hasn’t gone anywhere. However, everywhere you look it seems He has been forgotten. Our nation has kicked Him out of every place – schools, court houses, and even in some churches.

Why do we treat God that way and then call to Him in times of distress? Take for instance this week. We have a massive hurricane bearing down on the east coast of Florida. People are asking for prayer. Many of those would not even think of prayer on most days, but bring in a storm and they are on their knees. Don’t misunderstand my words. We need to pray. I truly believe God allows these kinds of events to wake us up. But praying just to pray doesn’t cut it. God requires repentance and remorse. He demands holiness and surrender.

TEACHING MOMENT

This is a perfect lesson for our children. We need to teach them the importance of praying at all times. But we need to teach them that we first have to confess that we are sinners in need of salvation. We need to ask the Lord Jesus in our hearts. We need to surrender to His will. Then and only then can the God of all creation begin to work in our lives. If our children want the Lord to bless them they must turn to Him in obedience. Through the river of obedience (surrender) flows blessings.

I am as guilty as the rest. I often pray habitually without truly confessing my filthiness and flesh. Father, forgive me! Cleanse me! Purify me! Wash me whiter than snow! Then Father, let me be Your vessel to reach a lost and dying world.

Will you pray that prayer with me today? Oh, how He wants to hear from you.

Philemon 4 “I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,”

BURDENS

I just finished praying for my family and for some missionary friends who are facing a hurricane today or tomorrow. I am burdened for their safety and the safety of others in the path of the storm. So this verse was so appropriate for today for me. I am constantly amazed at the timing of God’s Word in my life.

For whom do you pray? Are you so focused on your own needs that you fail to lift others before the throne? Are you so self-centered in your prayer life that all God ever hears from you is your wish list of blessings? Beloved, the joy of prayer is praying for others.

Don’t get me wrong. I do send my own requests to the Father. But they aren’t my focus. I have learned through years of praying that when I focus on others’ needs, God burdens others for me. I have been told so many times, from someone I have prayed for, that they have been praying for me. What a blessing!

TEACHING MOMENT

Now, how do you teach your children that? Make a list with them of people they want to pray for. Now be prepared to make a long list. Lol. Children love to pray. Let them decide for whom to pray. Once that list is made, divide it into days of the week or days of the month, depending on the number of people listed. Keep that list handy. Put it on their bedroom mirror or beside their bed. Each night pray for those on that list for that day. Your children will learn the joy of praying for others.

Let the people know you are praying for them. That will bless their socks off. And when a specific prayer request is answered, make sure your child knows that. What a reassurance from the Father! Answered prayers elicit praise! But it also spurs us on to continued prayers.

Now, I need to go do some more praying! Dear Father…..

Isaiah 11:6-9 “6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. 7 Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

BEAUTIFUL SCENE

This is a great passage to read to your children. Can you imagine this scene one day? Look at the cast of characters, especially the normally hostile and aggressive ones. We will see wolves, leopards, lions, bears, cobras and vipers. Then the meek ones are the lamb, young goats (so appropriately named kids, lol), little boy, cow, ox, nursing child and weaned child. Two very different groups. One hostile and the other one meek and gentle.

One day these groups will live together in perfect harmony without any desire to harm each other or flee in fear. Why can’t we live that way now? Because we live in the presence of sin which affects even the animals. This is a perfect passage to share with your kids (not the baby goats, lol) the next time they get into a fight with their sibling or a friend. It’s a great passage to share the next time they witness two dogs fighting or a dog/cat fight. These incidents will all cease one day.

But remember, that is possible only because of the absence of sin. We live daily with the inherited sin nature, which is only conquerable through Jesus. Your children need to know that they can walk in peace with others through His power. That does NOT guarantee that others won’t try to attack them, but we can determine our response if we surrender to His control daily.

Don’t you want to live in peace? Wouldn’t you like to live in perfect harmony with your spouse and children? It is possible, if you all surrender. I know I can’t do it on my own. I can’t last one minute. I tell people all the time that the ONLY thing good about me is Jesus. I am pretty sure that is true for you too. Am I right? So, let Him reign and let yourself drain. Hey, that rhymes!

Titus 2:11-12 “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,”

CELEBRATIONS

Last year I had the opportunity to observe from a hotel balcony a Ugandan wedding reception. It was quite an elaborate event. The courtyard of the hotel was outfitted with three large white tents. There were tables and tables of food. But the main event was the arrival of the bride and groom. The wedding party marched in first to loud music. They actually danced into the courtyard. But then….the bride and groom arrived. Everyone stood and clapped as they entered. The main people of the celebration had finally arrived. Celebration!

We have witnessed the grandest entrance! The arrival of the grace of God in our lives! At least, I hope you have witnessed that. My guess is that all who were at that wedding reception knew either the bride or the groom. So their arrival meant something. Unless you know the Giver of grace, its arrival means nothing. But if you do, well then, you celebrate its arrival.

TEACHING MOMENT

We have the opportunity to teach our children what this means to them and all believers. They have to have first hand knowledge of the Giver of grace to appreciate it. With the grace comes the wisdom “to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly.” Wow! Isn’t that better than the entrance of a wedding party?

We can’t complain that we can’t handle this world, because we aren’t supposed to. God is! Through His wisdom we can handle anything the world throws at us. Our children, armed with this knowledge, can take on the biggest foes. They can defeat the enemies of the cross. They can make the right decision as they face trials and temptations.

Will you allow the Lord to give you the grace you need today? Will you allow Him to teach you? Let Him instruct you today and you will have the power you need to face anything hurled at you today. Amen? Amen!

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

RIGHT IS WRONG

When I read this verse I thought, “Wow! This is exactly what is going on today all around us.” Our society has everything backwards. The things that the Lord says are evil, the world says are okay. You are considered intolerant and wrong if you insist that marriage is between one man and one woman. You are told you are closed-minded if you insist that abortion is wrong. I could go and on, but you get the picture.

How do we combat this constant barrage on the truth of God’s Word. Simple! We just keep preaching God’s Word. His Word speaks for itself. We do not have to defend it. We just have to believe it. Even in Isaiah’s day he fought this battle. He simply spoke God’s Word and waited for God to move in His mighty power.

TEACHING MOMENT

It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children the difference between good and evil, not according to the world’s view, but according to God’s view. We have the upper hand since we have the playbook. Our children need to be taught that His Word is the only source of truth and that it contains the answers to all life’s questions.

What has your child encountered lately from friends or school that runs contrary to the teachings of Christ? Don’t use your wisdom to counter that. Use God’s Word to show your child the answer. Constantly bring them back to His divine counsel. Help your child develop their own defense for the lies that are hurled at them. If your child hasn’t faced that yet, just wait. It’s coming. Be prepared.

How about you? Are you prepared? Are you able to recognize untruth when you see or hear it? Don’t believe every preacher or teacher. Check them out with the Word of God. Can I give you one hint? If that preacher or teacher does not use the Word as his text, stop listening. Too many today are “referring” to the Scriptures, but not teaching them. They make a passing comment about a verse or a part of a verse to back up their main points. God’s Word doesn’t need help to convey truth. It is truth. Be mindful of the old bait and switch. Be on the alert!

2 Timothy 4:14 “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.”

DON’T STRIKE BACK

Vengeance is mine! That’s a true statement. But the only one who should be saying that is the Lord, not us! Why do we think we have the right to execute judgment on others? It is sad that too many believers do not leave the correction of wrong doings to the Lord. They tend to justify their actions because they are striking out against sin. Read the verse again. Paul, who we know God used in miraculous ways, left Alexander to the Lord. Paul had more pressing things to do, like sharing the Gospel.

This is another one of those life moments that we need to diligently teach our children. It is only natural (sin nature natural) to want to get back at someone who has wronged us. We want to take matters in our own hands. When we do, we are basically saying, “God, I don’t think you can handle this.” Do we really want to our children growing up with that view of God. Isn’t He able to handle anything?

TEACHING MOMENT

The next time little Susie has her feelings crushed by someone, take the time to explain this principle to her. We need to pray for our enemies. We need to ask ourselves, “Who hurt them to make them this way?” We need to extend the hand of Jesus without placing ourselves in the situation again to be hurt. Jesus told us to be wise, but gentle.

I am not saying this is easy. I wish it was. My flesh wants to reach out and touch some people, of course all in the name of Jesus. I tell myself how good it would feel. But the Holy Spirit in me won’t let me. He constantly tells me to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Somehow I can’t seem to fit beating someone to a pulp in that. Lol.

Will you forgive your enemies? Will you pray for them? Will you be Jesus to them? God wants to use you as His instrument of peace in a chaotic and hurtful world. Come on, He left Glory for you! Can’t you leave your anger for Him?