"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Galatians 4:4-7
What a hope filled passage, which was the message preach this past Sunday. Praying that your Christmas is focused on Jesus...
How many times I fall short of this. Oh, to be a momma and so desire to teach those which the Lord has given me to disciple, through nurturing, loving, educating, and protecting, yet I can cause them to stumble by my own sinful example! This gem of truth came in my email today {see below and visit here to sign up to receive daily email devotionals and truth in your inbox}. God's timing is always impectible! My prayer for grace and wisdom to set a right example; that Christ would abound and I would not.
Oh Lord, help me to lead by my example and not cause my children to stumble. Lord, You are such a loving and merciful God. That your love for me was so great that You laid your life down to pay the penalty of all my sins! I ask that You would give me wisdom to train the children you have given me according to your word and that your Spirit would rule me, instead of the sinful flesh. Lord, I pray for daily grace...even moment to moment grace to set a godly example for these impressionable ones. I am weak, yet you are strong. Lord, reign in me. Amen
If you are parents, let your profession lead you to instruct your children in the fear of God, especially by the impressive admonition of a good example. Be very attentive to the spiritual education of your children--let them neither hear nor see anything in you which would hinder true religion. Example is more powerful than precept. It is vain to teach them religion by your words--unless you show it to them by your actions.
Teach them to obey you. Be firm, but mild. Govern them in love. Subdue them by kindness.
One quote I have written in the mini-quote collection book I compiled which I find most exhorting is:
"My darling precious children! For their sakes I am continually constrained to seek after an amended, a sanctified life; what I want them to become I must become myself." ~ Mrs. E. Prentiss, Stepping Heavenward
Mothers, will you join me in the call to be a godly example to our children; to show them real Christianity by our examples and in doing so, to ask forgiveness when we fall short? May the Lord's grace and wisdom be upon you {and I} as we seek to live as unto Him.
How many times have we asked ourselves that question? How easy is it to compare ourselves to others and in doing so, if comparing to people who have done horrible things, think "yes"? Our standard however can not be comparing to other people, for man's standard changes. There is one standard that does not change...it is the same yesterday, today and forevermore...
The Word of God.
His words says,
for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:23
and that then means we are not good, right? He also says,
None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Romans 3:10-12
When we compare ourselves to God's standard, His law ~ The Ten Commandments, then we will find that we do fall short. We have broken His commandments and are therefore we are GUILTY.
But you may say, I have not broken ALL of the law. I haven't murdered. I haven't stolen. Well, according to God's word you don't have to break all the laws to be guilty.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of
breaking all of it.
James 2:10
The makers of the "180" movie have just produced another film about false conversion. I encourage you to take a few minutes (just 34 minutes) and view it.
