Tag Archive | Jesus

A Family Needs a Firm Foundation

Jun12

Question:  In these challenging social times, how do I help my children be strong Christians?

Answer:  It’s true that traditional Christian values are being challenged from every direction.  If your son or daughter attends public schools or universities, they are most likely being taught to believe ideas and ways that are contrary to God’s biblical teachings…in addition to the regular reading, writing, and math.  Most parents are not aware of this.  That’s why parents need to be very active in keeping up with what’s going on in their child’s school.  However, the bottom line is that parents cannot be with their child every minute.  Therefore, it becomes even more important that parents are teaching their children from a very early age what exactly their family believes.  Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  This training will be their firm foundation.

Sadly, too many Christians today don’t even know themselves what God teaches us in His Word-The Holy Bible.  As Christians, we need to read and study the Bible for ourselves.  Plus, it is extremely important to attend a true Bible believing, Bible teaching church.  Be aware that many places call themselves a church, but they don’t even teach that the Bible is true.  If you are in a church like this, you and your family need to leave NOW!  Learn God’s Word!  Being strong in the Lord starts with you and your children understanding that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.  Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, is that Savior.  Once we ask Jesus to forgive us our sins, repent, and accept Him as our Savior, we can go on to grow in our faith in the Lord!  Know that we cannot strive in this world by our own strength.  God gives us His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us through this life…until we die from this world, and move on to eternal life in Heaven!

(Re-posted from March 2012)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family          www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries  www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network  www.cbn.com

World Magazine          www.worldmag.com

Are you all talk and no action?

May17

Question: When I go along with things my friends do that I know are wrong, I feel like such a hypocrite. But should I feel this way?  After all, I really don’t want them to get mad at me, and God knows what’s really in my heart.

Answer: Yes. You should feel like a hypocrite because you are being a hypocrite! You admit that as a Christian you know these actions by your friends are wrong, yet you participate with them anyway.  And you are absolutely correct when you say that God knows what’s in our heart. So He knows that you willingly choose to do wrong to please your friends instead of doing the right thing to please God! (See Romans 12:9)

Too often, many Christians will say they believe and love the word of God, but then choose to act in ways that go against the teachings of God.  For example, parents rightfully teach their children that lying is wrong.  Then, their children hear them lying to someone – like a bill collector – or find out they’ve been lying on their tax returns. These parents are teaching their children that it’s fine to say one thing yet do the opposite.

Other examples would be when we pray to God to heal us of sickness caused by our unhealthy lifestyles or to get us out of financial debt. We rightfully say that God wants us to be both physically and financially healthy. Yet, we choose to keep overeating foods we know are bad for us and charging up our credit cards to the max with items we don’t need!

Or when Christians say they want to put God first in their lives, then in reality put Him second! This can happen, for example, when you admire your favorite celebrities and politicians so much that you disregard the sinful causes they promote and give them your support and your vote! You do this even when you know what they unashamedly support goes against the word of God! You are saying you put God first, but by these actions are actually putting them first and Him second.

Still more examples include how you treat other people. You may say that God wants us to show His love to everyone, yet you fail to treat people who look different than you with respect. Or you fail to be kind to or even speak to people you feel are somehow unworthy. You may even fail to show God’s love to members of your own family!

In all of these examples and in many others, you are talking the talk but not walking the walk!  You are being a hypocrite and therefore not pleasing God!

But there is good news! Our God is full of grace and mercy! Because of His great love for us He has made a way for us to make our relationship right with Him. It starts with you accepting God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior! ( Romans 10:9) Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and stop being a hypocrite!

It’s true that we will not be perfect in this life — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  (Romans 3:23).  But we want to take steps to keep us on the right track. We must regularly pray for God’s Holy Spirit to guide us through our days so that we make the right decisions.  And we must take the time to regularly read and study the Bible so that we will know God’s word for ourselves.

So stop being all talk and no action. Start really putting God first in your life. Every day, pray to know what is pleasing to Him.  Then do it!

Amen

 

Your secret is out!

Apr20

Question: I’m a leader in my community hiding a terrible secret. I’m addicted to pornography. I try to hide it from my family by watching it after everyone goes to bed. How do I free myself from this sinful habit?

Answer: Sadly, your addiction is shared by billions of people around the world. For example, one popular pornography site gets 42 billion visits yearly! This site includes videos of young girls being raped, trafficked, and abused! (Source:  American Family Association Journal, May 2020 Edition, Page 7)  And this is just one of numerous sites!

But like every  other sinful behavior we try to hide, it really isn’t a secret at all.  None of us can hide any of our behavior from the One who sees all and knows all – the Lord God Almighty! We’re told in 1 John 3:20, “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” (NKJV)

Therefore, God knows about everything from our sexual immorality to our greed and evil-mindedness (see Romans Ch. 1:18-32).  He also knows the “hidden” sins of the heart– when we are “undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful…” (v.31)  These scriptures go on to say that even when people aren’t actually committing these shameful behaviors themselves, they still sin when they “approve of those who practice them.” (v.32)  Even many Believers fall into these sinful behaviors. (Ephesians 5:5-12)

Thankfully, God has provided us all with the way to truly be free from our sins – including pornography addiction and every other sin.  That one and only way is through His only Son, Jesus Christ!  Jesus died on the cross – and rose on the third day –  to take the punishment of death we deserved for our sins. That’s why we must accept Jesus as our one and only Savior. We are to ask Him to forgive us of our sins. And, we are to repent (turn away) from our sins, and live our lives to please God!

Through His Holy Word, the Bible, we learn how and why we are to live to please God. We also learn the importance of praying for God’s help. By the power of His Holy Spirit, we are given the will-power and guidance we need to turn from our sins and grow in the knowledge of God’s Word.

Knowing God’s Word is very important in helping us stay strong against the evil in our lives. The Word reminds us that we can’t hide from God.  Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

So, if you still think you’re hiding your sin, you’re not. Your secret is out to God!  And know that the only way to truly set yourself free from your sins starts with accepting Jesus as your Savior and asking Him to set you free!

As Jesus, Himself, said:  “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

Amen!

 

Why aren’t you talking about it?

Mar12

Question: My adult children no longer want me to talk to them about God. Should I stop bringing up the subject?

Answer:  No.  If you are still talking to them about any other subject, you should still be talking to them about the subject that is the most important of all!  Just think how easy you give them advice you’ve learned over the years about handling  money.  Or, you still remind them to eat healthy and get enough rest. Isn’t their eternal salvation and living their lives to please the Lord far more important than anything else?

The final message Jesus left with His disciples was to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I (Jesus) have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

If we are to be taking the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation around the world, shouldn’t our sharing include – even begin with – the ones we know and love?Just as easy as we talk to them about the latest topics in the news, we must share with them about the greatest news of all!

Understandably, when you try to speak to them about the Lord, they may try to push back against what you say.  They may try to make you feel like you are old-fashioned, out-of-touch with the  more “inclusive” times, or just plain hateful!  Or, they might make you try to defend hypocrites or others who have sinned while serving in the church.  Don’t fall into their trap! Explain the Gospel to them so that they understand that we are all sinners who need a Savior. Let them know that God’s word tells us that our one and only Savior is His Son, Jesus Christ!

Another thing they may use against you is your own sinful past. They may try to make you feel unworthy to call them out about their sinful behavior. They may even quote scripture to you. For example, they may say, “Judge not, that you may not be judged.”  (Matthew 7:1) But they will not acknowledge the rest of that passage that says, “First remove the plank from your own eye (that is, ask Jesus to forgive your sins and repent of your own sins) and then you will see clearly to remove the plank out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)  In other words, while we are not to be hypocrites,  we are to call out sin as sin!

Most importantly, we must always share the Gospel in ways that reflect the love of Christ in us!  We must start this early by lovingly teaching our children about God. God’s word tells us to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

And when they are adults, continue to encourage them to read the Bible for themselves so that they will grow in the understanding of God’s word. Also, encourage them to join a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church.  This will allow them to grow with a community of fellow Believers.

And when opportunities come for you to share the Gospel with your adult children, don’t worry about their rejection or what you should say.  Simply pray for God’s Holy Spirit to give you the right words to say. Don’t speak to them in anger or try to force your beliefs on them.  Pray that God will open their hearts so that they will freely choose to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

Also, pray that they will understand that choosing a life of unrepentant sin will only lead to death – eternal damnation separated from God in Heaven!  And, pray they’ll see that Jesus Christ is our Savior because He died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins.  He loved us that much! (John 3:16)

So go ahead. Don’t be afraid. Be bold for Jesus and start talking!

Did Jesus really say that?

Dec10

QUESTION:  Did Jesus say that we should keep our religious beliefs private?

ANSWER:  No. As Christians, we can’t keep silent about our faith if we are to follow the Great Commission of Jesus. Matthew 28:19-20 quotes Jesus giving this final message to His disciples.

Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV)

Since Jesus did say this, then indeed, we are to tell others of the “Good News” of God’s Word.  But, we also must remember to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help us to know the right times to speak about our faith to others and the right times to stay quiet and just pray for them.

God wants everyone to understand that our sin separates us from Him, because He is holy, and the wages of sin is death.  But because of God’s great love for us, He sent His Son to die on the Cross to take the punishment we all deserve for our sins.

Jesus rose from death on the third day and lives in heaven. If we accept Jesus as our Savior, ask Him to forgive our sins and repent, and live our lives for Him, we too, will go to heaven one day.  See John 3:16.

This salvation is available to all who choose to believe it as the only way to heaven.  Thank God for His grace and mercy!  We must tell others of God’s great love for them.  Pray that they accept His Son, Jesus as their Savior.

Good News like this must be told, not hidden! Jesus said so! Therefore go. Spread His Good News!

(Reposted from my 12/14/17 Blog)

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace

 

It’s About Time!

Feb8

Question:  I want to spend more quality time with my family and reading the Bible daily, but my day seems to go by so fast. Should I feel guilty?

Answer:  Often, people complain about not having enough time in a day to do all the things they want to do. For many people, they really don’t have a lot of extra time if they work full-time jobs and sometimes additional part-time jobs. Or, some people spend their day busy as stay-at-home moms or as full-time caretakers for adults in their homes. Again, these people may find having spare time in their day a challenge.

However, for many people – even people with busy schedules – finding at least some extra time in their day might be as simple as paying more attention to what they are actually spending their time doing.  For example, if you normally get up at 6:00am, you could get up at 5:30am instead. That extra 30 minutes could be used for Bible reading.

If you take time after work to stop by a store or run errands, you might be able to spend only one day during the week and part of the weekend doing those chores.  Or, cook multiple meals on the weekend, so you can just heat them up quickly during the week.  Use this extra time to spend with your family and for Bible reading.

But, if we really want to be honest, we feel guilty because we know that we do have extra time in our day. It’s just that we choose to spend that extra time on other things. We spend that time on things like socializing after work with friends, watching sports, checking out social media, or on other activities.  While these things are not necessarily bad, they may be taking a lot more of your time than you realize.  Start taking note of how much time you are spending on these extra activities and decide if some of this time would be better spent with your family.

If you really think about it, we usually find time to do the things we really care about – things like favorite hobbies.  We must realize that the things we spend our extra time on tend to reflect the value in which we hold these things.  And, as Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NKJV)

Therefore, stop feeling guilty, and start making time for the things your heart should truly treasure like God and family! Start today because it really is about time!

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Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!

Dec4

Question:  In the hustle and bustle of the season, how can I make sure I’m keeping Christ in Christmas?

Answer:  Even dedicated Christians can sometimes find themselves consumed with every tradition of the holiday season except what’s most important.  They can forget that Jesus really is the reason for the season!  Christians know that this is the time of the year we choose to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should make the time and make the effort to keep Christ in our Christmas!  But, if we know this, then why don’t we do it?

Unfortunately, some Christians can get as consumed with creating the picture-perfect Christmas experience as the world does. They fill themselves with anxiety trying to get the best super sales on the most popular gifts.  Adults get worked up over seeing their peers gifting themselves with the latest “must-have” gadgets and new technology.  They wear themselves out trying to keep up with the trends of the crowd. They forget to  pause, reflect, and be thankful for the greatest gift – Jesus Christ.

Likewise, many Christian families find themselves in turmoil during this season.  Married couples fight over which in-laws they are going to spend Christmas Day with.  Parents argue over how much money they are going to spend to make sure their children have this year’s hottest toys. They fill the family calendar with so many seasonal activities that they find themselves exhausted.  Yet, they fail to make time for the most important things – reading, meditating on, and discussing God’s Word.

Most importantly, during this season of spending extra time with family and friends, too many Christians fail to include in their discussions talk of their walk with the Lord.  They tend not to share with their family and friends how God has brought them faithfully through this year.  They are willing to talk about everything else but Jesus.  It doesn’t have to be this way.

Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!  See that you and your family are keeping Christ in Christmas. There are many ways you can do this.  For example, plan to take your family to a church Christmas program that tells the story of Christ’s birth.  While decorating the tree, play or sing Christmas hymns that give praise to our Lord.  Make sure to share with your family and friends how God has blessed you this year.  And, always make sure your family knows the story of the birth of our Savior.  Luke 2: 1-20 spells out in detail how Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  This Bible passage may be one you’d even want to read aloud together.

And, have a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Updated from my December 11, 2014 Post

“We’re with you, Jesus…as long as we don’t get a better offer.”

Feb18

Question:  Why are some Christians siding with those who stand against biblical teachings?

Answer:  Sadly, many Christians have more of a “What’s in it for me?” attitude than a “put God first” attitude. They don’t take the time to examine themselves to see if they are making choices that please God.  Instead, when they make choices on how best to deal with society’s issues, they mostly consider how the outcome will benefit them or the people they care more about.  They don’t put the priority on what is right according to God’s Holy Word.  If the two sides don’t match, it’s God’s side that takes a back seat in their choices.

For too many Christians, not only are they looking out for themselves first, but they also tend to side with what is popular with those they admire.  For example, when some Christians are at parties with friends who are drinking heavily, making crude jokes, or belittling those who don’t embrace their sinful views on social issues,  these Christians will likely remain silent.  They don’t want to look unintelligent or seem like a religious extremist if they offer a biblical view on these topics.  They also fear being excluded from future party invite lists or being labeled intolerant because they aren’t seen as embracing sinful lifestyles.

Other Christians fear losing favor with their boss at work.  They’ve caught on to the unwritten rule that you never openly disagree with the boss if you want to get promoted.  So, to stay in the good graces of their boss, they might choose to simply go along with employers or co-workers’ requests to donate to causes or organizations that the boss supports.  They’ll  agree to donate their money and even their time to these causes even if these causes promote views that go against the teachings of God’s Word.  They choose getting ahead on the job before standing for their faith and refusing to participate in these sin-promoting activities.

Even more far-reaching in impact is when these Christians vote for politicians who clearly state that they are planning to push for legislation that goes against biblical teaching. These politicians promise good things like creating more jobs or helping the poor. Therefore, these Christians are willing to overlook  the sinful things they also promise to do, like supporting abortions and redefining marriage to be something other than the biblical marriage of one man with one woman.  Again, they choose to make God’s teachings take a back seat to the political promises they hope to get.  These choices not only negatively affect them, they negatively affect the entire society and lead them away from God.

Christians must stop being hypocrites — praising Jesus and declaring their love for God on Sunday, then turning their backs on God when they think they’re getting a “better” offer on Monday!   They must remember that Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (NKJV)   In Exodus 20:3, God says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  When Christians choose social status, money, power, or any other thing that makes them put God after it, they are making these things more important than God is in their lives.  They are making Jesus take a back seat to what they think is a better offer.  We must always remember, though, that there is no better offer than receiving God’s gift of the saving grace of His Son, Jesus Christ!

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Beware! You’re being watched!

Jan21

Question:  How do I get over my resentment of church people after witnessing hypocritical behavior by some of them?

Answer:  Unfortunately, many people have blamed the entire church body for bad behavior they’ve seen or experienced from some in the church. Some have even used this reason to explain why they don’t want to attend church. But they need to know that like everybody else, when members of the church do wrong or treat people wrong, they sin against God.  And, like everyone else, they will answer to God for their actions if they don’t ask forgiveness for and repent of their sins. Those Believers who have truly grown in their relationship with God already know this.

But you need to understand that your own relationship with God should not be based on the actions of humans.  Your relationship with God must be based on your acceptance of the actions of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ!  Jesus is the only one God sent to die on the cross and take the punishment we deserved for our sins.  We can be thankful for His sacrificial death and resurrection.  Only by accepting Jesus as our Savior, asking Him to forgive our sins and repenting from our sins, are we saved from eternal damnation. Then, we can look forward to going to heaven.  And we make the first steps needed to develop godly feelings towards other people.

Because God’s Holy Spirit will then be guiding you and helping you to have the correct feelings towards others — whether they are doing the right things or doing the wrong things.  You’ll learn to hate the sins and not the sinner.  You’ll learn that you are to pray for people who are doing wrong instead of resenting them.  Pray that they repent and do right.  Love them because God loves them and wants them to live their lives for Him.

As Christians, we must remember that we are being watched by both fellow Believers as well as unbelievers.  And just as the Pharisees watched Jesus hoping to find something they could use against Him (see Luke 6:6-11),  our actions will also be used for and against us by others.  Our actions can help draw people to Christ or push them away from Christ.  The Bible teaches us in Matthew 5:13-16 that we are to represent the love of Jesus Christ to others by being “salt and light.”  It says in verse 16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)

Beware, Christians!  You’re being watched!  So, make sure what others see is the love of Jesus Christ in you!

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace.com