The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

The world is watching. This principle is still the same and maybe even more relevant than ever. How we live in the happy days when everything is going well is fine. But friends, it is in the hard times that the way we believers live demonstrates the reality of our faith and what the Lord has done in our lives. Paul was facing some of the most difficult times of his life. The books of Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and Ephesians are the four epistles that Paul wrote from prison where he was being held on false charges. These verses were written during this time of Paul’s life. Following the Lord and walking in love are the remarkable evidences of genuinely belonging to Him. Consistently living this way demonstrates the change that the Lord makes in His people. Your neighbors need to see this change!

For today: What a privilege to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. Isn’t your heart filled with gratitude toward the Lord for the blessing of belonging to Him?

“And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

Aren’t you glad that the Lord Jesus does not view people as inconvenient interruptions? Aren’t you glad that our awesome Lord doesn’t become aggravated with us and consider us to be a nuisance? Please understand that such knowledge doesn’t lead to careless living. In fact, it is just the opposite. Loving and appreciating the Lord’s graciousness only causes the believer to seek to honor Him in greater ways.

This was truly the blessing that Mark and Jessica (names changed!) came to exemplify. One night as they had the opportunity to share their story with a friend, Mark quietly said, “We were wandering in life. Everything seemed to be without purpose for us. Slowly we started learning about Christ, and we discovered that He indeed is compassionate and that He has reached out to us. What an amazing Savior He is! We’re so glad that He is our Savior and Shepherd. What a wonderful salvation He offers on the basis of His death, the shedding of His blood and His victorious resurrection! We just wish everyone knew Him!”

For today: Aren’t you glad that the Lord is awesome and compassionate? Don’t you wish everyone knew Him?

My waste basket is nearly full even though it was emptied two days ago. It’s full of junk mail. You have the same thing happen to you, don’t you?

We didn’t ask for this mail.
We didn’t solicit the product advertised.
We didn’t ask to be put on the list.
We didn’t need most of the mail that comes to us.

We call it “junk mail.” How different is God’s Word.

It always is just exactly what we need.
“So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

It is always lifechanging.
“For the Word of God is quick {alive, active, powerful, fresh} and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12a).

It is food for our soul.
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Trust me. It is just what you need. Pick it up. Ask the Lord to bless your reading. If you don’t know where to start, try John chapter one. Read it slowly, thoughtfully, and carefully. I promise, it is just what you and I need today.

When was the last time you read the twenty-third Psalm? In one of my old preaching Bibles, I wrote the following outline in the margin. Peek over my shoulder and let me share these with you today. POSSESSION. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (23:1). PROVISION. “He maketh me to lie down […]

I’ve been reading through the Gospel of Luke in my quiet time Bible reading. Recently I read from Luke 15 where the Lord Jesus shared a parable. He told a story to speak to people about their situation in life.

We have the rebellious/repentant son.
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. And am no more worthy to be call thy son: make me as one of the hired servants. And he arose and came to his father” (Luke 15:18-20a).

We have the brokenhearted/watching Father.
”But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20b).

We have the angry/resentful older brother.
“And he was angry, and would not go in” (Luke 15:28).

Does that sound like a family scenario that might be rather familiar today? Homes and families are being ripped apart over money, jealousy, suspicion, and downright hostility. You might be or you might know the role of prodigal who has lived estranged from family and the Lord. You might be or you might know of the anguished parent praying and watching for their child to come home. Or you might be or you might know an angry, resentful child who is not ready to welcome home the prodigal.

May the Lord help you and bless you with what ever family dynamics you are facing today. I can tell you that it starts with coming into a right relationship and fellowship with the Lord. That is the starting point.