The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).

You can tell a lot about a person by the company he keeps. Solomon gave some very good advice (that he later in life did not keep very well) about the subject of friendship. Do our very best friends love the Lord and respect His Word? Do our best friends have a commitment to the local church? Are our friends a spiritual encouragement to us? Karen and I have tried to teach our children that the only reason we strike up a friendship with unsaved people is for evangelism. How about it? Are your friends the target of your evangelistic effort, or are they the wrong crowd with whom you are hanging around?

For today: Choose your friends wisely, for soon you will become one of them, if you are not careful.

“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty” (Proverbs 3:9-10).

There is a marvelous principle for every believer to grasp in these verses. It is impossible to outgive God! When we are generous in our tithes and offerings to the Lord, He is generous with us. When our motives are right and our attitude is one of gratitude, our giving to the Lord will be cheerful. His blessings come back in ways that are too many to describe. I have met people who have learned this wonderful principle. Their lives are a testimony of God’s amazing provision.

For today: Someone has said that the best way to know a person’s spiritual condition is to read their checkbook!

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

A police officer knocks on your door and shows you her identification and badge. This proves to you that you are speaking to a real life, honest, and genuine police officer. Without the badge, anyone could say he or she is the law. But the badge proves it. Likewise, anyone can claim to be a Christian. Jesus taught us that the one thing that most clearly demonstrates to others our legitimacy is the badge of our love for one another. Genuine Christians must consistently demonstrate their authenticity. This is accomplished through our love.

For today: If you were arrested on charges of being a Christian, is there enough evidence to convict you?

“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins” (Luke 5:24).

There is no greater joy than to know the joy of sins forgiven. Sin is a terrible burden to bear. It is a weight that is crushing, a shame that is tormenting, and a burden that is never ending. Men and women do everything imaginable to find relief from the heartache and humiliation of sin. There is only one solution. Sin can be forgiven by Christ alone. He has the power or authority to forgive sin. Have you experienced the sheer delight of His forgiveness?

For today: Sense the joy of sins forgiven. You no longer have to carry around the weight of guilt and shame.

“And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

The Lord Jesus asks His disciples a probing question. After all they saw, heard, and experienced, how was it that they so quickly doubted? Isn’t it interesting that we are very quick to point out the disbelief of the disciples and are very slow to include ourselves? Do we ever respond with a sense of disbelief? Do we ever doubt? Would the Lord Jesus ask us this very same question? I am really convicted about this. God wants me to trust. He wants me to believe. God said it, and that should settle it for us!

For today: Oh dear Lord, please help us with our unbelief. We want to trust you.