Job 4:5 “But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; It touches you, and you are dismayed.”

I have often wondered what I could get out of Job’s chapters in which his friends speak.  Their counsel was so misinformed.  They truly believed, because Job was suffering, he had some secret sin that he just refused to confess.

But here, Eliphaz, one of his friends, says something that can be so true, even today.  Have you ever encouraged someone who was suffering, but when the tables are turned you forget the comforting words you shared with others?  It’s one thing to see others hurting and to reach out to them.  It’s a whole other world when it’s you.  Right?  That is what Eliphaz is saying to Job.  “Take your own advice.”

TEACHING MOMENT

I have seen this so much in children through the years.  When a child’s friend is hurting they are quick to come alongside them and try to comfort them.  But when they get hurt, say by being dumped by a boyfriend or girlfriend, their whole world crumbles.

Mom and Dad, you must be like Eliphaz here and remind your children how compassionate they were for their friends.  Remind them of the words they used to comfort their friends.  Allow them to grieve appropriately, but remind them of their greatest friend, Jesus.  He always has the right words to say.

How about yourselves?  Are you allowing the comforting words of the Lord to advise you?  Are you seeking wisdom from His Word daily?  There is no better source of guidance and truth.  Friends can help you through hard times, but there is one who sticks closer than a brother, remember?  Let Him be your advisor and comforter.

Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

SPIRIT LED

Does it seem odd to you that Jesus was led up by the Spirit to be tempted?  What?  Why?  Doesn’t that fly in the face of everything we have ever heard about God and the Holy Spirit?   Well, you have to know what the word “tempted” really means.  It can also mean test, as in a positive way.

Jesus wasn’t tempted toward evil.  He was being tested, not for His benefit, but to show the devil that he had no power over the Son of God in human form.  Satan probably thought this was his chance.  Surely, the fleshly body of God would yield to the physical and emotional temptations.  But nope, not this time and not any time.  Jesus was above any test or temptation.

TEACHING MOMENT

As parents we have the responsibility to teach our children how to resist the temptations to do wrong.  The older they get, the harder it gets.  I am so thankful my kids are grown and that I didn’t have to grow up in this age.  But God is still God.  He still has the power over temptations.

As believers, your children have all the power necessary to yield to the Spirit of God rather than to the temptations of the world.  If they aren’t believers or are not yielded, they have no ability to refrain from the evil influences.  We have to be so diligent to teach them to surrender daily, moment by moment, to the Holy Spirit.  They are virtually running on empty against the forces of evil without the Holy Spirit in their lives.  But thanks be to God, that He is able to draw them and influence them toward heavenly things.

We are a part of that.  We have to live our lives pointing our children heavenward.  We have to guard our tongues and our actions so they see Jesus in us.  We are helping the Lord to shape their spirits by the way we ourselves yield to Him daily.

Have you yielded your life today?  Have you asked the God of the universe to fill you with a fresh filling of His Spirit to resist the temptations of the world around you?  Little eyes and little ears are watching and listening.

Matthew 2:17 “and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’”

WELL DONE

Have you ever wondered why Jesus was baptized?  He had no need to be.  We get baptized to show everyone we have made a public profession of faith in Christ as our Savior.  He certainly wasn’t doing that.  So why?  Simple – He wanted to please His Father.

And what did God do?  He spoke from heaven.  God, the Father, said to God, the Son, that He was pleased.  One part of God said to the other part of God, “That was good.”  I don’t even begin to understand all the complexities of the Trinity.  I just know Jesus was being obedient to His Father.

TEACHING MOMENT

I think this lesson could teach itself to our children.  Obedience is the theme.  Do your children need to learn obedience?  Perhaps your children are getting into the tween or teen years.  Obedience is certainly a major issue with most kids at that age.  You should show them this passage.  If they are believers, they need to see that even Jesus chose obedience.

Kids today are less and less obedient, it seems.  But I don’t blame the children.  Children have always been children.  We parents are the ones who have allowed our children to become disobedient, for the most part.  I know there are exceptions, but we are the ones who have allowed the world to dictate to us how to raise our children.  Stop it.  Let the Word guide you.

But maybe the problem isn’t the children.  Are you being obedient?  Are you allowing the Lord to guide you?  Do you rebel at His commands?  We must allow the Lord to speak to our hearts and direct our path.  After all, don’t you want to hear, “This is My beloved child, in whom I am well-pleased”?

Matthew 1:5 “Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.”

GOD CAN USE ANYONE

The first part of Matthew gives us the genealogy of Jesus. You may find that boring, but I think it is so interesting.  I have been trying to research my family tree, so anytime I see a genealogy I try to learn something.

This verse caught my eye today because of the women mentioned.  Do you see it?  King David’s father was Jesse.  But look who his great grandmother was – Ruth, the Moabite.  And David’s great, great grandmother was Rahab, the harlot from Jericho.  Wow!  Tell me God can’t use you!  If the God of the universe used a harlot and a Moabite in line of Jesus, He can use anyone He wants.

TEACHING MOMENT

This is a great story to share with our kids.  You may not want to go into great detail about Rahab’s career choice, but you can definitely talk about them being pagans whom God called into His family.  Your children need to know that God can use them, just like they are. He has a plan for their lives. They just have to yield to Him.

Perhaps your little Leroy is farsighted.  So what?  God can use that.  Maybe Susie is short.  Big deal!  God can use that.  It does not matter what “deficiency” the world may say your child has.  God can take them and use them for greatness.  Do you really think Rahab and Ruth knew the Messiah would come through them?  I don’t think so.

Are you allowing the Lord to use you, Mom and Dad?  Are you allowing Him to take your shortcomings and make them strengths?  Are you bowing your will to His?  Stop making excuses and let Him use you.  He will!

Proverbs 31:30 “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

REAL BEAUTY

God makes beautiful women.  But it has NOTHING to do with how they look.  They say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”  Well, whomever God beholds is beautiful.  There!  Enough said about that!  Period!  Exclamation mark!

I get so tired of the world’s view of beauty.  You have to be this height or that weight.  You have to have sparkling teeth and shiny hair.  Phooey!  You need to read Proverbs 31:10-31 to get a real picture of what beauty is.  I can’t begin to describe it better than the writer.

TEACHING MOMENT

So, what has this to do with our children?  A lot!  Don’t let them buy into the world’s view of beauty.  You need to tell your little girl EVERY DAY that she is beautiful because God made her.  You need to tell your little boy how handsome he is because he is made in the image of God.

If we don’t build their self-esteem in a holy manner, the world will tear them apart.  We need to inform them of how God sees them.  They need to experience praise for their walk with Christ, not their “cuteness.”

Don’t hear me bashing attractive people.  I am one.  Lol.  Seriously, I appreciate that people take care of themselves and want to look their best.  Just don’t spend more time “decorating” yourself than you do in God’s Word.

So, Moms and Dads, what example are you showing your kids?  Are they modeling your walk with Christ or how you walk?  Are they playing dress up to look like you or loving others as they have seen you love them?  Now – go be beautiful!

Hebrews 9:16 “For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.”

MY FATHER’S WILL

My sweet daddy died a few years ago. He worked hard all his life and accumulated some things to leave behind to his children in his will.  I never knew what my dad had, in regards to insurance or money.  I just knew he loved me, my brother and my two sisters.  All he had he left to us.

The funny thing is though none of his possessions became ours until he died.  He had it all written down in a will, but it didn’t become ours until he died.  That’s the hard thing about wills.  Someone has to die for it to become active.

TEACHING MOMENT

As your children get older, and consequently you do too, I am sure you will go over your will with them.  You should, if you don’t already, have a written will to provide for them in case something happens to you.  But enough legal advice, lol.

Jesus cut a covenant with us which could only become active when He died on the cross for us.  His death ensured us of our inheritance.  He provided for us eternally through His death and shed blood.  Your children need to know that Jesus died for them and that our inheritance in Him will NEVER expire or be depleted.  It will last for eternity.

Have you claimed that inheritance?  Do you realize how rich you are in Him?  Will you allow Jesus to bless you by being a part of His family?  Only those in His family will receive the blessings of His covenant.  I am thankful that He died for me.  Aren’t you?

Hebrews 6:19 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,”

UNMOVABLE

I was fishing recently in a nearby lake on a very windy day.  We finally found some fish right out in the middle of the lake where the wind was horrible.  Have you ever tried to stay in one spot and fish when the wind was blowing?  It’s not easy, even with a trolling motor.  We caught several but had to give it up after a while.  What we really needed was about a twenty-pound anchor.  Lol

Aren’t you glad that Jesus is the anchor of our soul?  When He is your Savior, there is NO force in heaven or hell that can move you.  He has you anchored solid.  He is immovable.  You may feel you are being shaken, but if you stay connected to the anchor you are secure.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children are going to face some storms in their lives.  There will be winds of trials that hit them.  They need to know that Jesus is there for them – ALWAYS.  He is the anchor that can keep them grounded.  He is the One Who will NEVER move.  They can depend on Him.

Many children have had to deal with the divorce of their parents.  Their lives have been turned upside down.  Divorce is hard.  Divorce is tough.  Those children may feel all hope is gone.  But we have to remind them of the anchor.  Jesus will never leave them.  He can be that father or mother who is not there now.  Don’t let them forget that.

Are you drifting, Mom or Dad?  Has your anchor rope slipped?  Notice I said the anchor rope.  You see, you have to keep the anchor tied to the boat in order to stay put.  We tend to loosen the rope sometimes because we think we can handle the wind.  Keep the rope tight.  Jesus is the Anchor.  Let Him keep you steady!

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

You are probably thinking, “What is Carl going to say about piercings?”  Fooled you!  This is NOT about body piercings.  I will save that topic for another day.  This is about the piercings of God’s Word in our life.  Look at the verse – “piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit.”  What is the writer of Hebrews (I believe it’s Paul) saying here?

Every time I pick up the Word my soul and spirit is pierced.  I am convicted.  I am redirected.  It never fails.  God’s word is “sharper than any two-edged sword.”  It cuts me to the quick.  But it is not a ragged, ugly cut.  It is smooth and to the exact point in my life.  It knows exactly what I need.  The Holy Spirit penned these words generations ago through a multitude of writers for me and you.

TEACHING MOMENT

That is why we need to teach our children how important the Word is to us and them.  We need to show them every day how to read a portion of Scripture to guide them.  It doesn’t matter whether that is done in the morning or evening.  Just pick a time to ingest the Word.  Help them find the time that’s best for them to study a passage.

We are all, as parents, so diligent to force our kids to study their school subjects and to read that assigned book for a teacher.  But the Word is the only book they will read ALL their lives and that will NEVER get old.  They can learn from this book every day.  That’s the key.  Every day piercings!

Are you diving daily into the Word yourself?  Are you making the time to grow?  Are you allowing the Word to slice through your hard skull to your spirit and soul?  Why not?  Let the Lord perform spiritual surgery on you each day.  I promise He will guide the sword of the Word with perfect skill and heal what ails you.

Hebrews 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

MY ANGEL

I know you have heard people say their angel is watching over them.  I can still see clearly the framed picture my parents had of two small children walking over a scary bridge with an angel watching over them.  I have never forgotten that image, but have never been very sure of its theological truth.

But here we see in Hebrews 1:14 that the angels are indeed sent by God to serve the believers.  Their duty is to follow the Lord’s commands, and we are part of those duties.  The Lord, not only sends the Holy Spirit to indwell us, but He also sends His angels to watch over us.  That’s pretty cool, huh?

TEACHING MOMENT

I don’t think we need to tell our children that they have a guardian angel.  I am not sure that is technically true.  I don’t believe there is any Scriptural evidence that we each have our own angel.  But we can tell them that the Lord is watching over us, and He will use whatever means necessary to care for us.

Does that mean they will never face hurt?  No!  But even in the midst of tragedy He is there to comfort us with comfort that goes beyond words.  Will He use angels to comfort us?  I am sure He will.  We may never realize it.  We probably will never see an angel this side of eternity, but they are there, and they exist to serve the Lord by serving us as He commands.

Do you need an angel today?  Talk to the Lord.  Tell Him your needs. He may just send one to meet your needs.  He may just send one to comfort you with comfort too special for words.  And when you experience that, don’t be shocked to find that you may have “entertained angels unaware.”  Blessings!

Numbers 35:10-11 “10 ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there.’”

A SAFE PLACE

I love the fact that the Lord gave detailed instructions for the cities of refuge, places where an accused person could flee for safety until his case was heard by the elders.  God didn’t want people to seek revenge ignorantly.  He didn’t create these cities where the guilty could hide, though.  It was never intended for that.  He meant it for justice.

You may not realize it, but when these cities were designated their location allowed just about anyone access within 50 miles from where they were.  When I served in Florida, the ministry I was serving had a Sanctity of Life program.  One of our goals was to help create Pregnancy Counseling Centers within 50 miles of anyone in Florida.  Basically, we wanted places of refuge where a woman could seek counsel about an unplanned pregnancy and help her choose life for that child.  We wanted a safe place for the child.

TEACHING MOMENT

So, you are probably thinking, “Okay Carl, how in the world can I apply this to my kids?”  I’m glad you asked.  Our children need to know that we have a place of refuge, a safe place, in Christ.  It is to Him we run for protection and comfort.  It is to Him we run for forgiveness of sin.  It is to Him we run to plead our case.  And the beauty of it is we don’t have to go 50 miles.  He is just a prayer away.

One of the most precious truths we can teach our children is the accessibility of Jesus.  His Spirit is always within reach.  There is no place He can’t reach.  No matter how far our children may have strayed, they can still contact Him.  Teach them to reach out to Him whenever and wherever they are.

And you?  Do you know that?  Or have you believed the lie of Satan that you are too far gone?  Turn to Him today.  Reach out to your Lord and allow Him to draw you to safety.  He IS our refuge!