Christ—Like His Father

~ A Father’s Protection for His Children ~

The Key Passage  ~  “At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, ‘Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?’  For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom He stood in the middle of the room, and said, ‘I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.  Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom.  What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving Me.

‘But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t.  You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.  Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time!  Hard times are inevitable, but you don't have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.

‘If your hand or your foot gets in the way of God, chop it off and throw it away.  You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owners of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire.  And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away.  You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.

‘Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly.  You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with My Father in heaven?’” (Matthew 18:1-10, The Message).

Observations  ~  (1) A true Father is ever vigilant watching over his children.  (2) We need to not complicate simple things (i.e., the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a straight-forward thing).  (3) By observing and listening to children, adults could learn a lot about correct behavior (i.e., trust and confidence).  (4) Sincerity is a critical issue in God’s eyes.  (5) In God’s point of view men should exhibit tenderness and compassion to others—especially those who need protection.  Most importantly, (5) let God be God in our lives and recognize that we are in desperate need of Him, His love, and His protection. 

Other Key Passages  ~  Jesus said, “The Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:38b).  “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father?”  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?  The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves’” (John 14:9-11).  Jesus also said, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” (John 15:9). 

Application  ~  Jesus Christ is the Christian’s role model.  Do your children see the Heavenly Father in you?  Does He abide in you and you in Him? 

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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7 Traits of a Godly Father

~ How Are You Doing? ~   

A Man of Prayer, Praise, & Thanksgiving ~ “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). 

A Man Who Knows the Bible ~ “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

A Man after God’s Heart ~ David is described in Scripture as a “man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22). Like David we should find our greatest joy in intimacy with God and then He will put the right desires in our hearts. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). 

A Man of His Word ~ We should be straightforward and honest in all our communication. “Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, or you will be condemned” (James 5:12). 

A Man of Integrity ~ “Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!” (James 1:22). In other words you must obey or you will decay. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). 

A Man of Love for Others ~ Love will characterize every aspect of a Godly man’s life. 

(A) Deep love for all mankind. (Sees them as ones for who Christ died.) “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. … Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:1, 13). 

(B) Deeper love for his brethren. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

(C) Deepest love and strong guidance for his wife and children. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26).

An Authentic Man ~ “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But He turns his back on those who do evil things” (1 Peter 3:8-12, The Message).

Summary ~ “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12).

“You're blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight. She's worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary. Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her. With one hand she gives long life, with the other she confers recognition. Her manner is beautiful, her life wonderfully complete. She's the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her.

Hold her tight — and be blessed!” (Proverbs 3:13-18, The Message).

“Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies” (Philippians 4:8-9, The Message).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW