The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“In Whom we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11).

It was a busy day in the office of Pastor Kenward. It seemed like the Wednesday evening prayer meetings and the Sunday worship services arrived faster and faster each week. After several counseling appointments, letters that had to be written, Facebook messages to be answered concerning spiritual things, seven phone calls, and one person dropping by to “see what you are up to today,” his secretary brought a letter from an attorney’s office. “I nearly threw it away thinking it was junk mail,” Carol told the pastor. “Wait until you read it. You’ll thank me for not throwing it away.” Pastor Kenward took the letter from the secretary and read it almost in disbelief. Part of the letter stated, “My client passed away six weeks ago. He always appreciated the fact that you never requested funds on your radio program. Now it is my privilege to let you know that he has remembered your church in his will.” Pastor Kenward was amazed. That Sunday he was to preach from Ephesians chapter one, focusing on our precious inheritance. How timely it was for him to convene a brief meeting after the morning service with his deacons and trustees about the inheritance! How about you? Probably you will not receive a letter from an attorney informing you that a person unknown to you has remembered you in his will. But far greater is the joy that the One we do know has given us an eternal inheritance.

For today: Don’t you just want to thank the Lord all day long for His incredible generosity to us?

“A wise son hears his father’s instruction: but a scorner hears not rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1).

Two young boys grew up together. Cody and Steve were best friends throughout their years in elementary school and even into the middle school years. Somewhere around fourteen or fifteen something started to happen that set the two best friends on a different course for their lives. Cody became a Christian and really committed his life to loving the Lord and honoring his parents. Steve scoffed at his friend and called him a fool. Though Cody would reach out to him, Steve distanced himself. He rebelled against his parents and ridiculed their ways. Finally the day came when he walked out of their lives. Twenty years later, police office Cody was dispatched to a noisy party. Knocking on the door, Cody identified himself as a police officer. The door opened to a drunken man who reeked of the results of sin. It was Steve. What a sobering moment. Both men stared at the other in disbelief. The choice between two lifestyles could not be more pronounced than it was at that moment. Steve stepped outside and looked Cody in the eye. “I have made a mess of my life Cody. I called you a fool, but look at just who the fool really is. Is it too late for me?” Cody had a wonderful opportunity to help his former friend. If you are a parent, continue to instruct your child wisely. If you are still under your parents’ roof, listen carefully to their wise instruction and heed it. In fact, even if you are grown and gone from your parents’ home, while you are not commanded to obey them, it often is wise to listen to their counsel.

For today: Wise people do not regret making wise choices! Choose wisely today so that you will not regret it later.

“A wise son hears his father’s instruction: but a scorner hears not rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1).

Two young boys grew up together. Cody and Steve were best friends throughout their years in elementary school and even into the middle school years. Somewhere around the age of fourteen or fifteen something started to happen that set the two best friends on a different course for their lives. Cody listened to his parents, and although he didn’t always make the right choices, he was quick to want to learn from his parents and follow their instruction. Steve was just the opposite. No matter how much his parents tried to teach him, Steve would have none of it. He rebelled, turned his back, ridiculed his parents and their ways, and finally walked out of their lives. Twenty years later, police office Cody was dispatched to a noisy party. Knocking on the door, Cody identified himself as a police officer. The door opened to a drunken man who reeked of the results of sin. It was Steve. Tomorrow we will continue the story, but for today, think of this. If you are a parent, instruct your child wisely. If you are still under your parents’ roof, listen to their instruction carefully and do it! In fact, even if you are grown and gone from your parents’ home, while you are not commanded to obey them, it often is wise to listen to their counsel.

For today: Wise people don’t plug their ears when good instruction is being given.

“Should such a man as I flee? And who is there that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in” (Nehemiah 6:11).

Tobiah, Sanballat, and Geshem tried every trick in their books to get Nehemiah to fail in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. To be honest, they wanted him dead. But if they couldn’t kill him, they would try one last desperate trick to disqualify him. Tobiah and Sanballat sent word to Nehemiah through Shemaiah that his life was in great danger. He was told to come quickly and get into the temple where he surely would be spared. Nehemiah would not go where the Lord didn’t want him. Not even under such an emergency situation would Nehemiah step over the line. What a great testimony to us today. What lines are drawn in your life over which, by the grace and help of the Lord, you will not step? Beware friend. Your enemy has not changed his methods in thousands of years. Don’t let him persuade you that just this one time it will be all right to step over the line.

For today: Guard our steps, dear Lord, that we will not fail You in anything that we say and do.

“O LORD, how great are Thy works!” (Psalm 92:5)

Alicia and Ken were overwhelmed with the various homes that Mitchell and Sons offered to build. Page after page of homes were available to this young couple. Hank Mitchell sat across the table from them and spoke very patiently. “I know that it is hard to picture some of the rooms by looking at the drawings on paper. You told me what you would like in a home, but I think it would be helpful for me to line up a couple of our homes for you to walk through and see for yourselves. Several of our customers have a special agreement with us, that I can show their homes by arranging it ahead of time.” After a Saturday morning of touring the homes, the young couple came back to Hank’s office. Alicia was the first to speak. “Mr. Mitchell, we looked at the plans, but when we stood in the actual houses and started to look at your work, all I can say is that, well, it is great.” Likewise, the Godly believer reads the Word and looks around to see how great the Lord’s works are! We belong to the awesome Lord.

For today: Read the Word and look around. Aren’t the Lord’s works great?