The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

I posted this Daily Prescription on August 10, 2014. As many college students are getting ready for in-person or online classes, I thought this was still very appropriate.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

It was a course that Matt had to take in his college freshman year. This was no elective; rather, it was a mandatory course of biology. The professor was a “renowned” scientist who firmly embraced the tenants of evolution and who scoffed at those who claimed to be creationists. On and on he would lecture on evolution and conduct himself with abrasive arrogance. Matt was happy to be able to come home for a few days and spend time with his extended family. While enjoying a picnic with his parents, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, and cousins, something happened that left an indelible impression upon Matt’s life. His five-year-old niece, Julia, hopped up and sat on his lap and hugged him. She always had been just a little on the dramatic side, but everyone loved her! “Oh Uncle Matty, I have missed you so since you went to college. Want to know the verse I memorized in JOY Club this week?” she asked. “Why of course I do!” a wise Uncle Matt answered. Julia cleared her throat. “It’s Genesis 1:1, ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,’” Julia answered loud enough so that most of the party could hear her. Uncle Matt replied, “Julia, my sweet Julia, you are smarter than my college professor.” How about you, friend? Aren’t you glad that you’re not a product of chance or evolution? Aren’t you glad that God created the heaven and the earth?

For today: There’s no greater joy than to be redeemed by the One Who created us!

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

This is just exactly Who the LORD is and what the LORD desires to be in your life today. When life is going well, the bills are paid, the family is healthy, and work is great, it is easy to have a song in the heart. It is when life is not going as we would have planned it and when troubles and difficulties arise that we really discover in new and powerful ways a lot more about the Who and the what concerning the Lord. There are times in life when things are very confusing. In such times, intentionally trust Him. Be confident in Him. At the right time, it will be like He is light, salvation, and strength. I am speaking from experience. Many who are reading this Daily Prescription can point to various experiences where the Who and the what of our awesome God became very clear and powerful.

For today: While you might have many needs today, your greatest need is still the LORD.

“Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction” (Proverbs 10:14).

Two young men grew as next door neighbors. I’ll call them Richie and Randy. As youngsters they were to be found together nearly every day and every moment that they could be. Though not seriously naughty, they could get into some mischief when not supervised. As the years passed by, the boys started going in different directions. Rich made a decision that he was going to follow the Lord Jesus and placed his faith in Christ alone for salvation. This decision was deepened throughout his later teenage years, and as a result, Randy started avoiding him more and more. Rich was never pushy or arrogant in his Christian life and walk, but his convictions prevented him from going to the same places that Randy enjoyed. Similarly, Randy turned down the invitations to come with Rich to some of the youth activities at his church. Those two lives starting heading in different directions. That’s the way it is with the wise and the foolish. Nearly fifteen years later, police officer Rich was responding to a domestic disturbance. When he arrived, to his horror he saw that it involved his old friend Randy. Placing him in the back seat of his squad car, a sobbing Randy poured out his heart to his old friend. “I’ve ruined my life, the life of my family, and everything I’ve touched,” Randy said earnestly. He was very near destruction. But I can also tell you that the grace of God could change his heart and life. It can change your heart as well.

For today: Be wise! Trust Christ. Believe His Word. Let His power transform you.

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 34:1-2).

Our country seems to be increasingly given over to making excuses rather than accepting the responsibility that life demands. Think of how many excuses you have heard being offered as people shift the blame for their actions and offer reasons why the sinful situation is not their fault. Not so with King Josiah. Can you imagine coming to the throne at the age of eight years old? I remember being eight years old. I was sitting out in the hall of our school on many days when I was eight. But Josiah not only reigned, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. How will this simple and yet profound statement affect your life today? He was eight and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord! I am challenged. How about you?

For today: Lord, please help me to do that which is right in Your sight. What a grand challenge for today.

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 34:1-2).

Our country seems to be increasingly given over to making excuses rather than accepting the responsibility that life demands. Think of how many excuses you have heard being offered as people shift the blame for their actions and offer reasons why the sinful situation is not their fault. Not so with King Josiah. Can you imagine coming to the throne at the age of eight years old? I remember being eight years old. I was sitting out in the hall of our school on many days when I was eight. But Josiah not only reigned, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. How will this simple and yet profound statement affect your life today? He was eight and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord! I am challenged. How about you?

For today: Lord, please help me to do that which is right in Your sight. What a grand challenge for today.