Do you care about the next generation?

A good friend of mine told me that his strong disciplines of continual study and reading 1-2 books per month come from the disciplines that his grandmother instilled in him. She would make sure that he daily spent time reading books from various arenas of life. Today, his teachings and messages are always fresh and relevant. He attributes much of his success to his grandmother! The Apostle Paul revealed this about Timothy’s upbringing: “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy went on to be a great leader in his generation. However, it was his mother and grandmother that imparted their faith onto Timothy. If we really love our children, we will not withhold from them the needed disciplines that they will need when they grow up. Disciplines like: love for the word of God, prayer, applying God’s word to their lifestyles, living honestly, honor for their elders and other authority figures, reading and study, going to sleep early and waking up early, etc. If you do this, they will thank you when they grow up. You will be giving them the tools they need to succeed in this complex world.

Proverbs 13:24 – Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

Could you comprehend this love?

The Scriptures declare that without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is a necessary component of our walk with God. However, the Scriptures also state the Faith works by love (Galations 5:6). So as important as faith is, without love, our faith is powerless. 1 Corinthians 13:13 states “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love”. God loves us with an never-ending love. His love is perfect. His love reaches out to us even when we don’t realize it. In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11), the Father had been waiting for His lost son, and had been wanting His son to return back home. When his son came back, defeated, dirty and smelling like pig food, the Father ran to him and hugged him. He restored His son back to His home and  authority. This parable describes God’s love for us. The Lord Jesus told us that when we pray, we should begin the prayer by saying “Our Father.” We are His children and He loves us more than we’ll ever know. Never forget, even in the midst of all your “busyness,” God, your Heavenly Father loves you and is waiting to fellowship with you. Never be too busy for your Heavenly Father!

Ephesians 2:4-6But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”