~ 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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