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I Want My Family in “The Family”–Matthew 16:13-17

October 12, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Becoming a Christ Follower, Biblical Principles, Christian Living, Divorce, Family, Friendship, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Luke, Mark, Marriage, Matthew, Parenting, Prayer, The Hurting World, Workplace with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Mark 8:22-30, Matthew 16:13-20, Luke 9:18-20, Mark 8:31-9:1, Matthew 16:21-28, Luke 9:21-27, Mark 9:2-13, Matthew 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36

I want everyone I love and care about to be a part of the Family of God! I want them to have the free gift of eternal life!

Do you have family members, friends, or co-workers who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior?  I know I do.  I was having a conversation this past week-end with some of our family.  We were discussing our great desire for our all our family, friends and loved ones to “know Him.”

We were wondering

What we could say…

What we could do…

To help them to know Christ;

…maybe we could give them a DVD, a song, or a book.

Or maybe getting someone to talk with them,

yea, maybe that’ll  work!

After reading today’s scriptures it seems we should spend more time praying and asking God to reveal Himself to our loved ones in the method He thinks is best, and less time fretting, scheming and plotting to “get them saved.”

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. –Matthew 16:13-17 (emphasis mine)

The apostle John also reminded us how we come to Jesus:

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. –John 6:44 (emphasis mine)

Less than twelve hours after that family conversation, God confirmed His Word by allowing us to witness a divinely orchestrated “God moment” in the lives of the very family members we were discussing.  Did they accept Jesus as their Savior?  I don’t know, we didn’t see any visible signs of interest.  But after what we saw, we KNOW God is working in their lives!

I’m still in awe of the way our God moved in this situation.

Let’s make a pact to pray more, worry less, and believe God to draw our loved ones to Himself.  Let’s take the God point of view rather than the human point of view.

Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” –Mark 8:33 (emphasis mine)

Heavenly Father, we want our family, friends, co-workers, and the whole world to know You.  Help us to continually pray for their salvation and then expect You to orchestrate it!  We ask You to work in their lives so that they will come to accept You as their Savior.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen.

 

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Mark 9:14-29, Matthew 17:14-21, Luke 9:37-43a, Mark 9:30-32, Matthew 17:22-23, Luke 9:43b-45, Matthew 17:24-27, Mark 9:33-37, Matthew 18:1-6, Luke 9:46-48, Mark 9:38-41, Luke 9:49-50, Mark 9:42-50, Matthew 18:7-35

Oops! Did I Really Say That? 2 Lessons from Herod — Mark 6:26

October 9, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Family, Issues Women Face, John, leadership, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Workplace with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 9:7-9; Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:1-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15; Mark 6:45-52; Matthew 14:22-33; John 6:16-21; Marl 6:53-66; Matthew 14:34-36

How many times have I opened my mouth and either stated my opinion, offered to help, or made a commitment to someone, and  then when the heat of the moment fades I’m left saying, “Did I really say that?”

But

the

good news

I never lost my head because of one of my “Oops, did I really say that?” moments.

For Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip.  John the Baptist had said to Herod, “It is wrong for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not.  Herod was afraid of John. He knew he was a good man and right with God, and he kept John from being hurt or killed. He liked to listen to John preach. But when he did, he became troubled.

Then Herodias found a way to have John killed. Herod gave a big supper on his birthday. He asked the leaders of the country and army captains and the leaders of Galilee to come. The daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them. This made Herod and his friends happy. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” Then he made a promise to her, “Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you. I will give you even half of my nation.” She went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?” The mother answered, “I want the head of John the Baptist.” At once the girl went to Herod. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate now.”

Herod was very sorry. He had to do it because of his promise and because of those who ate with him. At once he sent one of his soldiers and told him to bring the head of John the Baptist. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John’s head.  He took John’s head in on a plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother. John’s followers heard this. They went and took his body and buried it.  –Mark 6:17-29

Herod was most likely showing off when he said, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

Human beings do this all the time.  “Look at me!  I’m important!”

And then when we come to our senses and realize what we said or promised we either have to follow through or say, “I was stupid and my ego made me say that.”

The sad thing is, just like Herod, too many times we do things that aren’t pleasing to God because we fear the opinions of others more than the opinion of the God of the Universe.

For me there are two lessons to learn from King Herod:

  1. I need to think before I speak
  2.  It would be better to look stupid to others than to go against my Heavenly Father

Lord, help me to think before I speak.  I want my words and actions to be pleasing to you.  Heavenly Father, forgive me for choosing others over You.  When I ignore Your will and Your Word, it must make you feel as though people are more important than You.  Lord, teach me Your ways.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: John 6:22-71; Mark 7:1-23; Matthew 15:1-20

Are You Desperate? —Mark 5:21-43

October 7, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Depression, Family, Luke, Mark, Marriage, Matthew, Parenting with 0 Comments

 

There have been times in my life with I have prayed a faith-filled prayer and seen miracles happen.  But there have also been times when I  had no faith and faced a seemingly hopeless situation and Jesus came and touched me and made me new again.

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39, Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56

In Mark 5, two miracles happened in a matter of hours that give us hope in hopeless situations:

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. –Mark 5:25-26

As Jesus was making His way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter, an unnamed woman with an incurable condition joined the crowd. She had suffered from bleeding for 12 years. This may have been a chronic menstrual disorder or a uterine hemorrhage. Her condition made her ritually unclean, excluding her from normal social relations since any who came in contact with her would become “unclean.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)

She had spent all her money on doctors and nothing had helped, so it was either touch this Jesus or live in this lonely state of sickness and seclusion for the rest of her life.  She made her way through the crowd; she thought, “if I can just touch His robe.”  Immediately she was healed…she touched Jesus.

Jesus continued toward Jairus’ house, when the news came that Jairus’ daughter had died.  Jesus told Jairus, “don’t be afraid.  Just have faith.”

The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying.  Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”  And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.  Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat. –Mark 5:40-43

  • Two impossible situations
  • Two people desperate for Jesus
  • Two miracles
  • Two examples for you and me

Are you desperate today?  Whether you  touch the hem of His garment or He enters your home and takes your hand, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  He is your miracle-working God.

There is one thing these two people had in common, beside a need:

Desperation

Desperation + knowledge of Jesus’ miracle working power = faith to believe the impossible is possible.

Let’s take our desperate situations to Jesus and expect a miracle.

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. (1 John 5:14-15)

I read a great post from Lysa TerKeurst, at the Proverbs 31 website.  If you have time check it out:  Why am I scared to pray boldly?

Heavenly Father, we want to have faith that is pleasing to you.  We believe, help our unbelief (Mark 9:24).

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Matthew 9:27-34, Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 13:53-58, Matthew 9:35-38, Mark 6:7-13, Matthew 10:1-42, Luke 9:1-6

Are Your Children Meeting Your Expectations? –Luke 1:80

September 25, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Family, Luke, Matthew, Parenting with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-80; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-40

As I read today’s scripture I had a thought I’ve never had before.

I wonder if  Zechariah and Elizabeth were disappointed in the way their son turned out?

John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.  –Luke 1:80

That’s certainly not every parent’s dream.  Come to think of it, even when John the Baptist came out of the wilderness and began his ministry he was still weird by the standards of the day.

I wonder if Zechariah and Elizabeth wondered if God’s prophesy would ever come true?

Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, way beyond childbearing years.  Only couples who’ve always wanted a child and never been able to conceive can fully understand the pain and shame (it was a disgrace not to have children in those days) they must have endured.

God heard their prayers and Elizabeth got pregnant.

And right after John was born Zechariah proclaimed this prophesy about his young son:

And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.  –Luke 1:76-79

God fulfilled that prophesy through John the Baptist’s life; it just wasn’t in a way that the religious world of the time, or Zechariah and Elizabeth, for that matter were expecting!

I’m sure Zechariah and Elizabeth suffered many sleepless nights.  As we continue to read through the gospels we will see their son ultimately lose his life because of the bold way he proclaimed the salvation message (Mark 6:17).

It’s so easy to plan our children’s future, but our plans aren’t always His plans.  We need to be careful that we don’t work against God’s plan for our children.  The most important thing we can do for our kids whether they’re two or twenty-two is to love who they are not what they do.

In Matthew 11:11, Jesus told us what He thought of the way John the Baptist “turned out.”

I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

Heavenly Father, help us to be the kind of parents that will help our children to thrive as they grow into Your plans for them.  Forgive us for wanting our will above Yours.  Holy Spirit, give us discernment to know how to guide, encourage, and mentor our children. We give our children to You, Lord!  We know You love them more than we do!  We trust you with our children.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-23; Luke 2:41-52; Mark 1:1b-8; Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-18; Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22

When God says, “It’s Enough!” Ezekiel 45:9

September 5, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Ezekiel, Failure, Family, leadership, Parenting with 5 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 44:1-46:24

In my days of parenting young children I remember saying many times, “That’s enough, do not do that again!” (in a very authoritative tone)

Can you imagine the God of the Universe saying, “Enough, stop it?”

In Ezekiel 45:9, the prophet Ezekiel delivers the “enough” message from the Lord:

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough, you princes of Israel! Stop your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Quit robbing and cheating my people out of their land. Stop expelling them from their homes, says the Sovereign Lord.  –Ezekiel 45:9

Since most of us aren’t princes let’s change the word to leader to make it more applicable in today’s world.

Enough you leaders!

Stop your

  • Violence
  • Oppression
  • Expelling them from their homes

Quit

  • Robbing
  • Cheating

Start

  • Doing what is just and right

A year ago I became a chapter coordinator for a new national women’s ministry called Leadher. One of the things we mention at almost every meeting is that everyone’s a leader.  It’s all about our influence and we all have one…

The question is what do we do with that influence.  Is our example showing others what to do or what NOT to do?

What would your Heavenly Father say about your leadership in the…

  • home?
  • community?
  • workplace?
  • church?

If others follow you where will you lead them?

To Jesus 

or 

Away from Jesus

Heavenly Father, let my life leave a trail that leads others straight to you.  Holy Spirit, speak loudly, “It’s ENOUGH,” when I’m headed in the wrong direction.  Jesus, help me to follow close to You so I can lead wisely.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35; Ezekiel 29:17-30:19; 2 Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34

How Important is Trust to You? 1 Chronicles 5:18-26

September 2, 2012 in 1 Chronicles, 2012 Journey, Family, Issues Women Face, Pride, Trust, Word of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:   1 Chronicles 5:18-26; 1 Chronicles 6:3b, 49, 4-15; 1 Chronicles 7:1 through 1 Chronicles 8:28

How important is trust to you?

Did you grow up trusting your parents, siblings, teachers, community leaders, etc.?

Or does it seem that you were born with a trust problem?

Our trust issues with authority figures can affect our ability to trust God.

In 1 Chronicles 5:20, God interrupted His genealogies to comment on military matters and help us to understand the power of trust.

They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer

because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated.

~~~~~~~~~~~

He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Heavenly Father’s heart is touched when His children trust Him…

  • Circumstances change because we trust him
  • People come to know Jesus because we trust Him
  • The sick are healed because we trust Him
  • His will for our lives is made clear because we trust Him
  • Finances improve because we trust Him
  • We serve Him with our whole heart because we trust Him

It’s no wonder the enemy of our soul works so hard to keep us from trusting; he knows he’s powerless when the people of God put their trust in their God.

The word “trusted” in this scripture comes from the Hebrew word baw·takh which means to have confidence, to be confident, to be bold, to be secure, to feel safe.

In today’s self-centered, self-reliant culture, completely trusting (having confidence in and feeling safe and secure) in an invisible God isn’t our default position.

We are taught to trust what we can see, to trust in ourselves

  • Our abilities
  • Our money
  • Our youth
  • Our beauty
  • Our education
  • Our intuition

The 44,760 “capable” warriors (1 Chronicles 5:18) didn’t trust in their abilities or strength, they trusted in their God.  They followed the example of their ancestor David:

Some trust in chariots and some in horses (our abilities and our stuff), but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. –Psalm 20:7 (explanation mine)

How do we develop a trust “in the name of the LORD our God” and not in our “chariots and horses”?

  • Read God’s Word not as some fairy tale but as your ancestors’  (1 Chronicles 5:18) journal of reasons to trust God
  • Cry out to God (1 Chronicles 5:20) when you are scared, doubting, and in need of His Help—expect Him to hear you and come to your rescue
  • Know that your talents, abilities, money, etc. are gifts from God and reasons to trust Him not yourself
  • Keep a journal of answered prayer
  • Watch what you say to yourself about your God—does your self-talk sound like you trust Him?
  • Tell your family and friends about the goodness of God in your life

Learning to trust God is a journey just like knowing Him.  I’m so glad we’re learning together!  What do you do to grow in your trust-walk with the Lord?

Lord, we trust you!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Chronicles 8:29 through 1 Chronicles 9:1a; Daniel 4:1-37; Ezekiel 40:1-37

When People Don’t Make Sense—Ezekiel 33:11

September 1, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Choices, Depression, Divorce, Ezekiel, Family, Parenting, The Hurting World with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Ezekiel 32:17 through Ezekiel 33:20; Jeremiah 52:28-30, Psalm 137; 1 Chronicles 4:24 through 1 Chronicles 5:17

We’ve all heard it said, maybe we’ve said it ourselves; maybe we’ve read a book about it…

Sometimes, God doesn’t make sense. 

Premature death, hunger, sickness, suffering, orphans; it breaks our heart and causes us to ask “why.”

I wonder if God ever says, “People just don’t make sense.”

Yes, He made us and gave us the ability to choose.  And yes, He knows and understands our humanness, but He must get frustrated with us; frustrated with our choices.

In Ezekiel 33:11, we see one of those times when God must have said to Himself as he shook His head…  people just don’t make sense:

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

This scripture verse reveals the heart of God…the heart of a father.

Can you hear the Lord’s sadness over the senseless death of the wicked?

He’s pleading with them through the prophet Ezekiel to turn from their wicked ways.

As a parent, it’s terribly frustrating to sit by and watch my children make a choice that I know will hurt them in the end.  How much more frustrating must it be for God, after all He knows what the results of our decisions before we make them.

I’m sure people don’t make sense to God when…

  • We choose death over eternal life
  • When we choose to talk to everyone else but the God of the Universe
  • When we choose to spend time staring into a T.V. or computer screen instead of reading His love letters to us
  • We abuse the bodies He gave us
  • We give more of ourselves to our jobs than the people we love
  • We choose to keep our Savior a secret
  • We choose to ignore His commandments

Friends, God has given us the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.  God is watching anxiously to see which choice we make.  Let’s choose life today so that we and our descendants might live (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Heavenly Father, we know we do many things that just don’t make sense. Please forgive us when we choose the world and its enticements instead of You and the things that hold eternal significance.  Holy Spirit draw us to you.  Jesus, make us more like you.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Chronicles 5:18-26, 1 Chronicles 6:3b, 1 Chronicles 6:4-15, Chronicles 7:1- 8:28

Do You Have a Rejection Phobia?—Jeremiah 33:25

August 24, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Biblical Principles, Divorce, Family, Issues Women Face, Jeremiah, Marriage, Rejection, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Jeremiah 32:1 through 33:26; Ezekiel 26:1-14

Is the fear of rejection something you occasionally battle or does this fear run your life and hold you back like a ship’s anchor?

No one is immune to this fear/phobia.  We can be fearless in some areas, maybe most areas of our life and then have one area that we are petrified at the thought of being rejected, tossed aside or not included.

In Jeremiah 32, Jerusalem was under siege from the Babylonians and Jeremiah was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace.  The Lord sent a message to the Israelites through Jeremiah:

I will hand this city over to the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and he will capture it.  The Babylonians outside the walls will come in and set fire to the city. They will burn down all these houses where the people provoked my anger by burning incense to Baal on the rooftops and by pouring out liquid offerings to other gods.  Israel and Judah have done nothing but wrong since their earliest days. They have infuriated me with all their evil deeds,” says the Lord.  “From the time this city was built until now, it has done nothing but anger me, so I am determined to get rid of it. –Jeremiah 32:28-31

If you were a Jew living in that day, would you have felt rejected?

It’s one thing to be rejected by a stranger, friend, or family member, but to think you’ve been rejected by the God of the universe; that must be a pretty lonely feeling.

The Lord heard the talk on the streets and brought it up to Jeremiah:

“Have you noticed what people are saying?—‘The Lord chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!’ They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation. –Jeremiah 33:24

To the Jews and the people of other heathen nations it probably looked like God was rejecting Israel—everything that could go wrong did.  I’m sure the Jews kept saying, “But we are ‘God’s chosen people’; this shouldn’t be happening to us!”

Have you ever said that?

“Lord, this shouldn’t be happening, I’m Your child.  I’m serving You!”

Have You forgotten about me?

Have You rejected me?

Here’s what the Lord said to the Jews and to us (see Galatians 3:6-9):

I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky.  I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David’s descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them. –Jeremiah 33:25-26

Friends, we live in a fallen world.  Imperfect people will reject us, things will seem to work against us, but make no mistake

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your God Will Never Reject You!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

He will restore you to wholeness–Just Trust Him!

The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. –Joel 2:25

Heavenly Father, the fear of rejection is like an epidemic in the Christian world today.  Help us to know that we can count on you to never fail us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5).  Holy Spirit, help us to walk in confidence knowing that the One, True, Living God will ALWAYS be for us , so who can be against us (Romans 8:31).  Jesus, help us to do the work you’ve called us to do with boldness and confidence for Your Glory and Your Honor.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ezekiel 26:15 through Ezekiel 28:26; 2 Kings 25:3-7; Jeremiah 52:6-11; Jeremiah 39:2-10

How Far Will You Go?

August 16, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Ezekiel, Faith, Family, Giving Our Best to God, Hosea, Jeremiah, leadership, Sin, speaking God's Words with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Ezekiel 3:16 through Ezekiel 4:17; Jeremiah 27:1 through Jeremiah 28:17; Jeremiah 51:59-64

Ezekiel and Jeremiah, two guys who had really tough jobs—

  • Can you imagine having Ezekiel’s job and lying on your left side for 390 days? And then lying on your right side for 40 days?  Eating just enough bread to stay alive, which by the way, was required to be baked over cow dung.
  • How about Jeremiah’s job of being thrown into prison, dropped into a cistern to starve to death and then having a yoke fastened around his neck, like the ones used to drive a team of oxen, while traveling from city to city to share God’s Word with His people?

The thing that amazes me about these two prophets and the many others, chosen by God, is their willingness to completely change the course of their life to give the Jews one word-picture, one illustration of God’s message for that day.  Remember Hosea… God had him marry a prostitute to illustrate how Israel acted like a prostitute by worshiping other Gods (Hosea 1:1-3).

In a course I took a couple of years ago at our church called “Follow the Rabbi,” Ray Vanderlaan, the teacher who developed the course goes into great detail about the Eastern verses Western style of communication.  People from eastern (Jewish) cultures use mostly indirect and non-verbal communication, while those of us from western cultures use concrete and direct communication to get our point across.

As we can see from today’s reading God did whatever it took to reach his chosen people:

  • He went to great lengths to make sure His people understood His message
  • He thought it was worth a little pain and embarrassment for His chosen servant to reach His people for His Kingdom

~~~~~~~~~~~

Can I ask you the questions the Holy Spirit is asking me?

How far will you go to reach someone who doesn’t know the Lord?

  • Are you willing to go into their environment to help them?
  • Are you willing to be patient and understanding of their lack of interest and apathy?
  • Are you willing to be used and unappreciated by others, so you can be a word-picture of unconditional love?
  • Are you willing to devote your whole life to the salvation of one person?
  • Are you willing to let your life not your word be the message?

No, we’re not all called to be prophets, but we are all called to go into our world and preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15).

Heavenly Father, I’m certainly not an Ezekiel or Jeremiah; I can’t imagine being used like them.  I’m not sure I am willing to be used in a way that remotely resembles their level of sacrifice.  Holy Spirit, I want to be willing.  Give me the strength and courage to be who You want me to be. Grow me into the plans you have for me.  Help me to reach others for your Kingdom and Your Glory!

Make me like You Jesus!  Amen and Amen!

 

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ezekiel 5:1 through 9:11

It’s My Parent’s Fault. Right? Jeremiah 31:30

August 13, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Depression, Divorce, Failure, Family, Forgiveness, Parenting, Sin with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Jeremiah 31:15-40; Jeremiah 49:34 through Jeremiah 51:14

How many times a day do we hear people blaming their dysfunctions on their parents?

It seems that this is nothing new; the Jews in Jeremiah’s day did this so much they turned it into a proverb:

The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste. –Jeremiah 31:29

This proverb was actually true in those days; they were living under the curse of Exodus 34:7

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.”

But in today’s reading Jeremiah speaks of a day when the people will no longer quote that proverb.

The Day is coming when…

All people will die for their own sins—those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker. –Jeremiah 31:30

Ever since Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, (Gen.3:11-13) human beings have shifted the blame for our sins, faults and shortcomings to anyone and anything we could find to remove the guilt for our own shoulders.  In the last century psychologists have sought to trace the main source of adult’s problems back to their childhood.  While we know our parent’s genetic disposition and the environment they created for us played a role in

  • Our physical features
  • Our personalities
  • Our self-esteem
  • Our values

Jeremiah 31:27-34 assures us,

–WE are not punished for our parents sins!

–WE are accountable for our sins!

Friends, if you mark in your Bible make sure you highlight, underline and star* Jeremiah 31:31-34.  This Old Testament passage is the bridge to the New Covenant .

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

This covenant was inaugurated on Christ’s death and will be ultimately fulfilled during the millennial reign of Christ when Israel acknowledges their sin and turns to the Messiah for forgiveness (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).  When Jesus died on the cross, all the accountability for our sins was placed on Him, not our parents.  Our sinful nature came from our original parents, Adam and Eve and Jesus’ death on the cross broke that curse.  All we have to do to be free from our original parent’s sins is

  • Admit we have a sinful nature (Romans 3:23)
  • Recognize we need a savior (Romans 6:23)
  • Believe that Jesus Christ, the son of God died on the cross at Calvary to rescue us for our sinful ancestry (Romans 5:8)
  • Receive God’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  • Confess to others that Jesus is our savior (Romans 10:9-10)
  • Enjoy the promise of eternal life in Christ (John 3:16)

All parents do things right and do things wrong.  Let’s be thankful for the good things and nail the bad things to the cross of Christ, and leave it there!  Blaming our sins on our parents won’t save us, but accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior will provide true freedom from our past.

Dear friend, if you are reading this and you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I pray that today is your day for salvation!

 

Be free in Jesus’ Name!  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 51:15-58; 2 Kings 24:10-17; 2 Chronicles 36:10; 1 Chronicles 3:10-16; 2 Chronicles 36:11-14; Jeremiah 52:1-3a; 2 Kings 24:18-20a; Jeremiah 37:1-10

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