Ephesians 6:1-4

If children don’t learn to honor parents, the disrespect spills over into their adult lives, affecting every other relationship. When they have children, the problem accelerates into the next generation. Soon an entire society is plagued with disrespect in homes, schools, and workplaces. This sounds like our generation, doesn’t it?

Our culture is disrespectful because parents have abdicated their responsibility. Instead of standing in the place of honor that God has given them, they have stepped down and tolerated insolent behavior from their children. Here are several reasons:

Ignorance about discipline: Some parents fail to recognize that disrespect is a serious matter that calls for immediate action. If you let such attitudes and behaviors continue, you’re not raising your child according to biblical guidelines.

Misunderstanding about love: In their desire to be loved, some moms and dads try to be a child’s friend instead of parent. But if children see you as their equal, they are less likely to respect or love you.

Overwhelmed by busyness: Teaching children to honor you takes time, effort, and consistency. But many parents today are too busy and preoccupied to work seriously at this task. They have no energy reserves to tackle disrespectful attitudes and behaviors.

If you have children at home, are you training them to be respectful? When you are strong and firm in a loving way, you’re establishing your God-given position as an honored parent. Our children don’t come to us knowing that the Lord commands them to respect us. It’s our job to teach them.

Morning   “And will manifest myself to him.”  John 14:21

The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of himself to his people. Even if

Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of God who could

testify the truth of it from their own experience. They have had manifestations

of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner, such as no mere

reading or hearing could afford. In the biographies of eminent saints, you will

find many instances recorded in which Jesus has been pleased, in a very special

manner to speak to their souls, and to unfold the wonders of his person; yea, so

have their souls been steeped in happiness that they have thought themselves to

be in heaven, whereas they were not there, though they were well

nigh on the threshold of it–for when Jesus manifests himself to his people, it

is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is bliss begun. Especial

manifestations of Christ exercise a holy influence on the believer’s heart. One

effect will be humility. If a man says, “I have had such-and-such spiritual

communications, I am a great man,” he has never had any communion with Jesus at

all; for “God hath respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”

He does not need to come near them to know them, and will never give them any

visits of love. Another effect will be happiness; for in God’s presence there

are pleasures for evermore. Holiness will be sure to follow. A man who

has no holiness has never had this manifestation. Some men profess a great

deal; but we must not believe any one unless we see that his deeds answer to

what he says. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.” He will not bestow his

favours upon the wicked: for while he will not cast away a perfect man, neither

will he respect an evil doer. Thus there will be three effects of nearness to

Jesus–humility, happiness, and holiness. May God give them to thee, Christian!

 

Evening  “Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I

will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again.”

Genesis 46:3-4

Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land of his father’s

sojourning, and dwelling among heathen strangers. It was a new scene, and likely

to be a trying one: who shall venture among couriers of a foreign monarch

without anxiety? Yet the way was evidently appointed for him, and therefore he

resolved to go. This is frequently the position of believers now–they are

called to perils and temptations altogether untried: at such seasons let them

imitate Jacob’s example by offering sacrifices of prayer unto God, and seeking

his direction; let them not take a step until they have waited upon the Lord for

his blessing: then they will have Jacob’s companion to be their friend and

helper. How blessed to feel assured that the Lord is with us in all our ways,

and condescends to go down into our humiliations and banishments with us! Even

beyond the ocean our Father’s love beams like the sun in its strength. We cannot

hesitate to go where Jehovah promises his presence; even the valley of

deathshade grows bright with the radiance of this assurance. Marching onwards

with faith in their God, believers shall have Jacob’s promise. They shall be

brought up again, whether it be from the troubles of life or the chambers of

death. Jacob’s seed came out of Egypt in due time, and so shall all the faithful

pass unscathed through the tribulation of life, and the terror of death. Let

us exercise Jacob’s confidence. “Fear not,” is the Lord’s command and his

divine encouragement to those who at his bidding are launching upon new seas;

the divine presence and preservation forbid so much as one unbelieving fear.

Without our God we should fear to move; but when he bids us to, it would be

dangerous to tarry. Reader, go forward, and fear not.

 

Only be strong and very courageous.   Joshua 1:7

The tender love of God for His servants makes Him concerned for how they feel inside. He wants them to be courageous. Some people think it is okay for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God does not think so. From this text it is clear that our Master does not want us entangled with fears. He desires for us to live without fretfulness, doubt, and cowardice. Our Master does not think as lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are despondent, we are subject to a grievous ailment that is not to be trifled with but instead taken at once to the beloved Physician.

Our Lord does not like to see our faces sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king’s court dressed in mourning: This is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come to Him in mourning. But He still would have us put off the spirit of heaviness and put on the garment of praise, for there are so many reasons to rejoice. The Christian ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that the Lord may be glorified when trials are bravely endured.

The fearful and fainthearted dishonor their God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic that spreads quickly among the Lord’s flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad.

Moreover, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Savior; the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you. But cowardice lets the banner fall. Moreover, work is easy for the cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The workers, rejoicing in their God, believing with all their heart, have success guaranteed.

To sow in hope will be to reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, “be strong and very courageous.”

The family reading plan for May 11, 2012

Isaiah 9:7-21 , 10:1-4 | James 3