Served by God

For the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. —Mark 10:45

Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Like the father waiting for his prodigal son to come home, the Father waited for an eternity for us to come home, back into His arms. After waiting and waiting, God could wait no more. Love seeks out that which is loved. Before we could ever turn back toward home, He came to us through His Son, Jesus. He gave us everything we asked for and more. Before we asked, He died for us, offering us His eternal gift of love—everlasting life. He wants us to live forever so that He can love us forever! Like the prodigal son, we may run to the Father, fall at His feet, and beg to serve Him. He always refuses. Instead, He picks us up, bathes us with His tears, clothes us with a white robe of righteousness washed in the blood of Jesus, puts the ring of power and authority on our finger, and ushers us into a feast fit for the King.

Compassion

Pastor Mark Jeske

If this were reality TV, here's how the story would continue. "But while he was still a long way off, his father's security guards spotted him and relayed the message. The father gave strict orders that his wastrel offspring was never to set foot on the family estate again, and if he tried, the dogs should be set on him."

Here's how the Bible describes the father, your Father: "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him" (Luke 15:20).

There is hardly a more beautiful description in the entire Bible of grace, which is God's decision to love unlovable people because of Jesus' willing death on Calvary. Jesus wants you to know that you can always count on the Father's mercy, because it is not based on your performance.

Compassion means that the father felt his son's shame and pain. And get this: he didn't make his son crawl. The father ran to embrace his prodigal bonehead. Wouldn't you like to be in your heavenly Father's embrace right now?  

How Father God Feels About You

by Jack Hayford

The story of the prodigal son, recorded in Luke 15, is often called the parable of the Father's heart. Jesus tells it, along with two other stories, not only in response to the seemingly "heart-less" religionists of His day, but also for you and me to know what is the Father's heart toward us.

Jesus tells of a man with two sons, one of whom asked for his inheritance in advance. The father gave it to him, and the son went out and squandered it, ending up in a pig sty. Finally, Scripture says, the young man "came to himself." He recognized the insensibility of the pathway he'd walked and how foolish he'd been to leave home. He returned, humbled, thinking he would ask to be just a servant at his father's place.

The Power of Our Words

When we discipline our children, we need to use words that have the power to heal and restore.

by Rob Flood

When we discipline our children, our words often speak louder than our actions. Yes, the rod stings and can hurt. But the wounds our words leave behind last far longer than any physical discomfort our children experience. With the right words, however, the rod brings great healing. (Read "The 'Forgotten' Part of Discipline" for more on this subject.)

Here are some examples of what not to say:

• "You always ... " or "You never ... " If our purpose is to build up and restore our children, these will thwart our efforts. Phrases like these are rarely true; they are often spoken out of anger or frustration, neither of which restore our children.
• "Your brother / sister never does this ... " If Christ determined our worth in the same way, how would we stand up? There is always someone better than we are. But this phrase is doubly destructive. In one statement you tear down the disobeying child and puff up with pride the obeying one – building a wall of resentment between them. 
• "What are you, stupid?" Your children's intellect is not the issue here. Smart people sin just as much as anyone else – maybe even more. The source of your child's bad or foolish decision was their heart, not their head. 
• "You're hopeless." Not only does this communicate what you think of your child, it also is wrong. Can you think of a more hopeless case than Saul of Tarsus? He became Paul and was used to write one third of the New Testament. Can you think of a more hopeless leader than Peter? How about a more hopeless orator than Moses? They all had one thing in common – God. "With God, nothing is impossible." (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; Luke 18:27) Do not steal from their hearts what God has preserved in Christ.

These words cannot restore a child. They cannot walk them to wisdom. At best, they are ineffective. At worst, they are verbally abusive. And as parents who love Christ and have been charged with the welfare of our children, we must be more careful with our lips.

Also, saying nothing at all during discipline can often hurt more than any words you say. Silence robs your children of the love they need following a fall. Imagine the Prodigal Son returning to a silent father; that story of grace would become a great tragedy. Yet, we recreate that tragedy in our homes far too often. If you cannot think of something kind to say, don't choose silence. Just admit something like this, "Daddy needs to pray and ask God's forgiveness for what's happening in my heart … I'll be back in a minute." If your God is the same as mine, He will give you something to say while you pray – He's never let me down.

Important words to use when disciplining

On the other side of the spectrum are words that have within them the power to heal and restore. These express God's purposes behind the times when He disciplines us. They should express the purposes of our hearts when we discipline our children. Here are some examples:

• "I love you." With these three sincerely-intended words, you can communicate to your children that your love for them has nothing to do with their performance. Telling someone that you love them in the immediate wake of their sin is restorative. It removes the shame and the need to perform back into your acceptance. It lets them know that you are not standing above them but you are in it with them. 
• "Do you understand what we've just talked about?" After the physical part of discipline comes the instructive part. It is here that you correct and instruct your children's hearts and minds on what happened, what they could have done differently and why what they did was wrong. When you do this, it is important to know they are hearing what you are actually saying and not misinterpreting anything. So ask this question and then listen. If they say "no" or "I'm not sure," you have a chance to explain it in another way until they do understand. This is a small thing for parents to do that provides an enormous benefit to you and your children. 
• "I struggle with the same thing." Behind every childish sin is an issue that we all have in common. A 4-year-old boy may lash out and punch a friend in the eye. However, the issue that drove that sin may have been anger or envy. We can relate to that sin. The key here is helping your children know that dealing with sin is a life-long process. Christian parents often feel that if we confess that we are also struggling, we might lose their respect. The truth is, if you are not honest about your own sin, you may not even have their respect. Let them know this and pray for God's power together to change the two of you. 
• "You are a blessing to me and our family." When the one who just swatted their backsides says these words, it places the act of discipline in the same context as God's discipline of us. Though He responds to our actions, we are still a blessing to Him and His family. We need to share that type of encouragement with our children.

Once discipline is over, stop talking about it—especially in front of others. This builds great trust between you and the offending child. They know they can trust you and share honestly with you because they never see you share what happened with others.

Words like these will reassure your children of their value to you. They will underscore that the foundation of your relationship is bigger and stronger than any wrong act they could perform. Words like these mirror how God the Father loves you.

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/parenting/challenges/discipline-and-spanking/the-power-of-our-words

A Mother’s Tears

Scripture Passage: Genesis 3:16; Proverbs 10:1; Luke 2:34-35

1. 
   

INTRODUCTION: The sorrow of childbirth is often exceeded by the sorrows of seeing the needs of your child and toiling over their wellbeing. A mother’s lot is often defined by her tears.

1. FOR THE CHILD NOT BORN
1. Sarah (Genesis 16:1-5)
2. Hannah (1Samuel 1:1-10)
2. FOR THE CHILD THAT DIES
1. Bathsheba (2Samuel 12:15-18
   )
2. Naomi (Ruth 1:1-5, 19-21)
3. FOR CHILDREN AT ODDS
1. Rebekah (Genesis 25:21-23)
2. Eve (Genesis 4:8-10)
4. FOR THE CHILD THAT SUFFERS
1. Syro-Phenician Woman (Matthew 15:21-28)
2. Mary (Luke 2:33-35)
5. FOR THE CHILD THAT STRAYS
1. Eve (Genesis 4:1-7)
2. Prodigal Son’s Mother (Luke 15:11-13)
3. The Heaviness of Heart (Proverbs 10:1
   )

CONCLUSION: The godly mother has many tears, but God keeps those tears in His bottle. Psalm 56:8-9 states, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.” Will you cry unto Him and know that He is with you?

David Reagan

http://www.learnthebible.org

Is celebrating birthdays biblically wrong?

There is nothing in the Bible that specifically prohibits Christians from celebrating the date of one’s birth. Where this misconception that observing birthdays (along with holidays and other days of national observance) is evil, stems mainly from the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses that state they are unscriptural due to their claims of pagan origin, evil events associated with these celebrations and their claims that persons receiving such honor are actually being worshiped.

While it is true that in the two instances where birthdays are specifically mentioned in the Bible two deaths occurred, I believe this speaks more to the circumstances surrounding these events then with the actual birthday celebrations themselves. As a side note, the Jews obviously do not share the same concerns as the Jehovah’s Witnesses since the observing of their holiday Purim is a celebration centered around “the death” of Israel’s enemies (Esther Chapter 9).

• Genesis 40:20-23 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

• Mark 6:21-28 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

It should be noted that Pharaoh and Herod were passing judgment as sovereign heads of state (or as in Herod’s case an appointed head of a province). We, as a democracy with our civil laws may be shocked by the lack of “due process” given to those condemned but we must remember these rulers wielded totalitarian authority. As such, they possessed the power and authority to order the execution of any that offended or displeased them as noted many other times in the Scriptures by both Jewish and Gentile rulers alike. Is it any wonder then why Solomon warned against getting on the “bad side” of those who were seated in positions of authority?

Ecclesiastes 8:2-4
I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

In the case of the baker’s death it can be attributed to him displeasing Pharaoh in the service of his office. However, John the Baptist’s death was an all together different matter. Apparently it was Herod’s wife who was the chief instigator, plotting all along for his death (Mark 6:19) because of John’s rebuke of their unlawful marriage arraignment. It just so happened that her daughter’s lewd dancing exhibition at Herod’s birthday feast afforded her the perfect opportunity to carry out her wicked intentions. Herod, unlike Pharaoh, was not passing judgment on a disobedient servant but was simply guilty of being a morally corrupt leader who swore a vow before thinking. Fearing man more than God and faced with losing his standing before his guests, he chose the path of least resistance.

• Ecclesiastes 5:6
  a - Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin;

• James 5:12
   - But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Therefore for the Watchtower to claim that all birthday celebrations are somehow in and of themselves wicked based on these two events (as though the celebrations themselves possess some inherit evil) is akin to those that erroneously misquote 1 Timothy 6:10
and proclaim that, “money is the root of all evil.”

Now after saying all of this I will admit that the Bible clearly places much more emphasis on the importance of a person experiencing a spiritual birthday then with being concerned over some trivial celebration of a person’s physical birth.

• John 3:3
   Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

• John 3:7
   Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

• 1 Peter 1:23
   Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

• Psalms 116:15
   Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

• Ecclesiastes 7:1
   A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

The teaching that believers are not to get caught up in the vain, materialistic, party lifestyle that permeates our present day society is also warned against in the Scriptures as well:

• 1 Peter 4:1-4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

• Romans 13:13
   Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

• Galatians 5:21
   Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

• 1 Timothy 5:6
   But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

Temperance and moderation are always a good rule 

of thumb for the Christian to practice (Galatians 5:23, Philippians 4:5).

As to the arguments from the Watchtower that honoring an individual is wrong the Bible seems to take exception with this teaching. Many instances we are told to give honor to those who it is due (Leviticus 19:32, Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:23, Ephesians 6:2, 1 Timothy 5:17, Romans 13:7, etc.).

Therefore to proclaim that all such honor is a form of worship is in error and contradicts the Scriptures that tell us that it is not only acceptable but also commanded. In light of Ephesians 6:2
where we are told to, ”honour our father and mother,” I find it especially perplexing as to how the Watchtower Society can deem the observance of Mother’s and Father’s Day as evil?

Obviously Biblical honor entails much more then some sort of celebration but as evidenced by the feast and gifts the father gave in honor of the prodigal son (Luke 15) it must not be totally unacceptable either. I wonder how a Jehovah’s Witness would also interpret the passage where the Lord told his disciples, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” – Matthew 7:11

Finally, Paul tells us that we, as believers, have liberty in the Lord (Galatians 5:13) and warns us that we are to be wary of those that would spy out this liberty and would seek to bring us back into bondage with their man made ordinances. However, he also warns us that with this liberty comes a responsibility that we are not to abuse this privilege for an occasion to the flesh.

On one occasion, when faced with a similar situation where there was a conflict between believers over whether or not partaking of certain foods affected their spiritual standing Paul had this to say:

Romans 14:1-6 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Therefore, when it comes to matters where there is no clear violation of Scripture then the decision is to be settled between an individual and the Lord. One of the blessings of being saved and kept by God’s grace is having liberty of conscience and is quiet foreign to various cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their Elders who lord over their congregations with their man made ordinances instead of preaching and rightly dividing the Word (1 Peter 5:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:15).

A celebration can be either good (Prodigal Son – Luke 15) or bad (Israel’s Idolatry – Exodus 32) and is totally dependent on the circumstances and events that accompany it. Therefore, if your celebration consists of revellings, drunkenness, rioting, excess of wine or any other questionable practices then you have crossed the line for what would be considered acceptable for a Christian to partake in. However, if you with a conscience void of offense gather with family or friends where the Lord is honored then I personally see no problem with it. On the other hand, if by personal conviction you choose not to partake of such festivities then that is also acceptable to the Lord. In light of what the Bible teaches we as believers are not to force our own convictions on such matters upon those who may stumble at our liberty because of their weak conscience and they are not to judge us wrongfully as a heathen (1 Corinthians 10, Colossians 2).

Man has marked his days on this Earth from the day of his birth ever since the time of Adam and whether it was recognized with or without some sort of festivity is irrelevant. What there can be no doubt about is how much more important it is what we do with the time the Lord allots us.

Psalms 90:12
 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

In closing, I find it bewildering how Jehovah Witnesses can be so dogmatic in following a man made precept such as this and many others, while they have no qualms at all with denouncing such clear, Biblical truths such as the deity of Jesus Christ, the Godhead (Trinity), a literal Hell, eternal existence of the soul, etc. Talk about your “straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel”- Matthew 23:24.

Jeff Newman

gotquestions  http://www.learnthebible.org/celebration-of-birthdays.html