The Tender Commandments - Part 6
THE TENDER COMMANDMENTS – SERIES
OCTOBER 19TH 2003
PART 6 – “A COMMAND WITH A PROMISE”
JOKE:
BACK TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TODAY AND OUR STUDY OF THEM.
TO THINK THAT THESE THINGS REPRESENT SUCH AN OFFENSE IN OUR SOCIETY. PRINCIPLES THAT GOD GIVES MAN AND HE SAYS…..IF YOU’LL LIVE BY THEM, YOU WILL FIND THAT LIFE WILL GO A LOT SMOOTHER……
AND YET WE DON’T WANT ANYONE (ESP. GOD) TELLING US HOW TO LIVE!!!
IF YOU HAD A LIST OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS EVENLY SPACED ON A SHEET OF BINDER PAPER AND FOLDED THAT SHEET IN HALF, TOP TO BOTTOM, THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT WOULD BE RIGHT AT THE FOLD!!
THIS IS A MATTER SO IMPORTANT TO THE LORD THAT SCRIPTURE PUTS IT SQUARELY IN THE CENTER OF THESE COMMANDS.
I DON’T THINK THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT
I BELIEVE THESE WORDS ARE CENTRAL TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND TO LIFE ITSELF!!!
BEC THEY AFFECT EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND MINE!!1
JUST AS THE 5TH COMMANDMENT WOULD APPEAR AT THE FOLD OF THE PIECE OF PAPER……SO IT ALSO APPEARS AT THE FOLD OF OUR LIVES!!!
IN MANY WAYS…..OUR DESTINY HINGES ON HOW WE RESPOND TO THIS COMMAND!!!
IT AFFECTS OUR FUTURES, IT AFFECTS HOW WE PROCESS THE PAST…..AND IT AFFECTS OUR RIGHT NOW!!!…..WHAT GOD CAN AND WILL DO IN OUR LIVES TODAY!!!!
AND YOU NEED TO NOTICE THAT THIS COMMAND IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 10 WITH A PROMISE ATTACHED!!!…
(READ) EXODUS 20:12
HERE AGAIN, SO VERY CLEARLY, WE CAN SEE THAT THE MOTIVE - - THE OPERATIVE PRINCIPLE - - - BEHIND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS IS GOD’S ABIDING LOVE FOR US!!!
WHY SHOULD WE HONOR FATHER AND MOTHER? SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE!!!
SO THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE WEIGHED DOWN OR TAKEN CAPTIVE BY BITTERNESS!!!
SO THAT WE MIGHT NOT COME TO DESTRUCTION.
SO THAT WE MIGHT ENJOY GOD’S GOOD GIFTS TO US THROUGH THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES!!!
THE LORD IS SAYING. “WOULD YOU DO THIS? WOULD YOU HONOR THE FATHER AND MOTHER THAT I GAVE YOU? AND IF YOU DO, THINGS WILL BE WELL WITH YOU.
“IF YOU ARE CAREFUL TO DO THIS, I WILL HONOR YOUR LIFE, I WILL BLESS YOUR LIFE, AND I WILL EXTEND YOUR LIFE. BEC I LOVE YOU, HOWEVER, I MUST WANT YOU; IF YOU VIOLATE THIS COMMAND, IT WILL AFFECT THE WHOLE FABRIC OF YOUR LIFE!!!
SOME OF YOU MIGHT RESPOND BY SAYING…..”HOW SHOULD I HONOR MY PARENTS?
BUT OTHERS OF YOU HAVE TO GET BY THE ‘WHY’ BEFORE YOU CAN GET TO THE ‘HOW’.
WHY SHOULD I DO THIS!!!!
PERHAPS YOU LIKE SO MANY, THAT I’VE COUNSELD OVER THE YEARS,……HAVE HAD TO FACE THE PAIN AND THE EMPTINESS OF A DAD WHO WASN’T THERE FOR HIS LITTLE BOY OR GIRL.
HE WASN’T THERE TO PLAY CATCH WITH….
HE WASN’T THERE FOR THE BALL GAMES…..OR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES…
HE WASN’T THERE TO ENCOURAGE AND COMFORT.
OVER THE YEARS I’VE READ PAUL’S WORDS TO THE THESSALONIANS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT ACHE MUST FEEL LIKE.
(I THESS 2:11-12)….FOR YOU KNOW THAT WE DEALT WITH EACH OF YOU AS A FATHER DEALS WITH HIS OWN CHILDREN, ENCOURAGING, COMFORTING, AND URGING YOU TO LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF GOD, WHO CALLS YOU INTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY”
EVERYONE OF US LONGS FOR A DAD LIKE THAT.
A FATHER WHO WILL ENCOURAGE US AND COMFORT US.
A DAD WHO WILL URGE US TO REACH FOR THE HIGHEST AND BEST.
AND WHEN THAT’S MISSING, IT HURTS,
IT ACHES.
AND THERE’S NO DENYING IT!!!
BUT I’VE LEARNED SOMETHING.
I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE ONE THING BETTER THAN HAVING SUCH A FATHER (IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THAT VERY POSITION) IS BEING SUCH A FATHER!!!
MAYBE YOUR DAD WASN’T THERE FOR YOU. BUT YOU CAN BE FOR YOUR CHILDREN!!!
MAYBE YOUR DAD DIDN’T ENCOURAGE OR COMFORT YOU……BUT BY GOD’S GRACE YOU CAN BE A COMFORTER AND AN ENCOURAGER - - - NOT JUST TO YOUR OWN SONS AND DAUTHERS…….BUT HOPEFULLY TO MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO FEEL LOST AND LONELY AS THEY GROPE THEIR WAY ALONG LIFE’S PATH!!!
I AM VERY MUCH BLESSED TO HAVE A MOM AND DAD WHO LOVE THE LORD AND LOVED ME AND MY SIBLINGS VERY MUCH!!!
YET YOU MAY BE SITTING HERE THIS MORNING AND THINKING……THIS COMMAND OBVIOUSLY ISN’T SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO APPLY TO ME……BEC I DON’T HAVE THE KIND OF PARENTS WHO SHOLD BE HONORED.
I CERTAINLY DON’T WANT TO HONOR THEM AND DON’T INTEND TO!!!
IF PASTOR KNEW WHAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE - - IF HE KNEW THE SCARS AND THE GRIEF AND THE ABUSE - - - THERE’S NO WAY IN THE WORLD HE WOULD EXPECT THIS COMMANDMENT TO APPLY TO ME”!!!!
MAYBE I DO KNOW ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE THINGS!!!
YET THE FACT IS, THE COMMANDMENT APPLIES TO ALL OF US!!!
IT APPLIES TO THOSE WHO HAVE GOOD, GODLY, LOVING PARENTS, AND TO THOSE WHO DON’T !!!!
THE LORD DIDN’T LIST ANY EXCEPTIONS, EXEMPTIONS, OR SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS!!!
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW PROFOUNDLY THIS COMMAND APPLIES TO US…..
HE MADE SURE IT WAS REPEATED IN THE N.T.!!!
(EPH 6:2-3)….HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER, WHICH IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE; THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH”!!!
IT APPLIES TO ALL OF US!!!
AND PLEASE HEAR THIS
NO MATTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US IN THE PAST…..GOD IS INTERESTED IN OUR RIGHT NOW!!!!
HE WANTS TO CHANGE YOUR HEART AND MINE RIGHT NOW……NOT TOMORROW!!!
HE WANTS TO WALK WITH US AND FELLOWSHIP WITH US RIGHT NOW……NOT LATER ON…..AFTER WE GET “THINGS STRAIGHTENED OUT”!!!
HE WANTS TO TEACH US AND BLESS US RIGHT NOW…..NOT ON SOME MYTHINCAL FUTURE DAY….WHEN WE’RE ‘MORE PREPARED’ OR ‘HAVE OUR ACT TOGETHER’
HE WANTS TO PROTECT US FROM DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES RIGHT NOW!!!
AND RIGHT NOW……IF I SETTLE THIS MATTER OF HONORING MY PARENTS….I CAN BE A DIFFERENT PERSON!!!
A SON OR DAUGHTER WHO FORGIVES FROM THE HEART CAN BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF PARENT TO HIS OR HER OWN CHILDREN!!!
AND HONORABLE PARENT!!!
A PARENT FREE FROM BITTERNESS…
A PARENT - - AND A CHILD - - THAT THE HEAVENLY FATHER CAN BLESS AND USE IN UNIMAGINABLE WAYS!!!!
NOW “NO’ GOD DOESN’T CLOSE HIS EYES OR IGNORE THE PAIN PARENTS SOMETIMES INFLICT ON THEIR OWN CHILDREN!!!
HE PLACES GREAT VALUE ON THE HOME AND HOLDS MOTHERS AND FATHERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PARENTING.
IN MATTHEW 18:6 THE LORD JESUS SAID VERY STERNLY…..”BUT WHOEOVER CAUSES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN ME TO STUMBLE…..IT IS BETTER FOR HIM THAT A HEAVY MILLSTONE BE HUNG AROUND HIS NECK, AND THAT HE BE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA”!!!
THE LORD UNDERSTANDS THE HURT AND THE PAIN MANY CHILDREN ENDURE……AND IT DOES NOT ESCAPE HIS NOTICE!!!
HE TAKES IT VERY…VERY SERIOUSLY!!!
HE KNOWS THAT WHEN A PERSON IS ABUSED OR NEGLECTED AT HOME…..IT AFFECTS HIM OR HER GREATLY…..DOWN TO THE CORE!!!
AND YET EVEN KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING THESE THINGS MORE DEEPLY AND INTIMATELY THAN YOU OR I EVER COULD IN A LIFETIME…..HIS WORD STILL TEACHES US….”HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER…..THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH YOU”!!!!
SO HOW THEN…..DO I DO THAT???
HOW DO I HONOR MY FATHER AND MOTHER????
FIRST OF ALL…..BY LOVING THEM!!!
LOVE SOME SAID IS BEST SPELLED……..T-I-M-E!!!!
YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHEN YOU SPEND TIME WITH THAT PERSON!!!
“WELL….YOU SAY……”I DON’T REALLY CARE TO SPEND TIME WITH MY PARENTS. I THINK THEY LOVE MAKING ME FEEL MISERABLE”!!!
THAT MAY BE……HONORING THEM BY YOUR PRESENCE MAY BE A DIFFICULT THING TO DO!!!
I HAVE KNOWN MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE TRACKED DOWN MISSING PARENTS…….FLYING ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MEET WITH THEM, WASN’T AN EASY THING TO DO
YOUR FLESH MAY REBEL AT THE THOUGHT OF SUCH AN ENCOUNTER!!!
BUT THE LORD SAYS…..WE NEED TO OBEY HIM. WHY???
BEC THE LORD SAYS…..IF YOU LOVE ME…..KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS ….YOU WILL ABIDE IN MY LOVE…..JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER’S COMMANDMENTS AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE”!!!
IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS HINGED TO YOUR OBDEINCE TO HIS WORD!!!!
AND THAT’S THE BEST REASON I CAN THINK OF FOR OBEYING THE 10 COMMANDMENTS!!!
I WANT TO ABIDE IN HIS LOVE!!!
I DON’T WANT TO LIVE OR ABIDE IN ANY OTHER PLACE FOR ANY OTHER REASON!!!
FOR ME…..LIFE MEANS WALKING AND TALKING AND MINISTERING WHILE I’M BEING SWEPT ALONG IN THE MAIN CURRENT OF HIS LOVE!!!
AND THAT MEANS I NEED TO OBEY…EVEN WHEN THE OBEYING IS DIFFICULT!!!!
MAYBE YOU’D LOVE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR OLDER PARENTS….BUT THEY LIVE FAR AWAY.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BREAK AWAY FROM WORK OR RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEND A WHOLE DAY OR THREE OR FOUR DAYS WITH THEM!!!
YET ITS BEEN SAID THAT YOU ONLY REALLY LOVE SOMEONE WHEN YOU SACRIFICE FOR THEM!!!
THE LORD PROVED HIS LOVE BY LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE!!!
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SHOW OUR LOVE FOR OUR PARENTS IS TO ENDURE SOME OF THAT INCONVENIENCE AND SACRIFICE FOR THEIR SAKES!!!
IF YOU HAVE TAKEN THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO SET ASIDE OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS TO BE IN THEIR PRESENCE…..THAT IS CERTAINLY SHOWING HONOR TOWARD THEM…..AND GOD IS WELL PLEASED!!!
AND THERE ARE OTHER WAYS….WHEN TRAVEL IS IMPOSSIBLE…..
CARDS, PHONE CALLS AND THE LIKE!!!
THE TRUTH IS…..YOU REALLY CAN’T SAY YOU LOVE SOMEONE WITHOUT BEING WILLING TO GIVE UP SOMETHING FOR THEM!!!
TIME AND ENERGY ARE TWO OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITIEIS!!!
LIFE IS LIKE A VAPOR……SO YOU’D BETTER BE LOVING NOW….WHILE YOU CAN!!!
ALL OF US KNOW THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE HEARING YOUR SON OR YOUR DAUGHTER SAY…”I LOVE YOU”
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ATTACKED BY A LITTLE ONE IN THE HALLWAY…..WITH THOSE LITTLE ARMS AND LEGS WRAPPED TIGHTLY AROUND YOUR LEG AND CLINGING TO YOU LIFE A BARNACLE ON A ROCK???
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE WORDS….”I’M NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO, DADDY. OR ……”I’M NOT GOING TO LET YOU LOOSE ….MOMMY”!!!!
NOTHING IN THE WORLD COMPARES TO THAT!!!
YOU CAN HEAP UP ALL THE HONORS AND ACCLAIM AND AWARDS YOU WANT!!!
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS….OR PROMOTIONS AT WORK…….OR WRITING BEST-SELLERS….OR WINNING THE PUBLISHERS CLEARINGHOUSE GRAND PRIZE.
BUT NOTHING COMPARES TO THE FIERCE LOVE OF YOUR OWN CHILD!!!
IF YOU AS A PARENT ARE THE RECIPIENT OF SUCH LOVE……VALUE IT….CLUTIVATE IT……GUARD IT……..AND RETURN IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND MIGHT!!!
IF YOU ARE THE CHILD---- WHETHER YOUR’RE FOURTEEN OR FORTY…..REMEMEMBER……
THERE IS NOT BETTER WAY TO HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER!!!!
BUT THERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL WAY TO KEEP THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT IN RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARENTS!!!!
AND THAT’S BY FORGIVING THEM!!!
NOW….IN A FEW MONTHS I WILL BE OVER A HALF CENTURY OLD!!!
AND I’VE DISCOVERED SOMETHING!!!
I’VE DISCOVERED THAT IN MOST CASES…..MY MOM AND DAD DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS RIGHT WHEN THEY WERE RAISING ME!!!!
AT THE TIME….I MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT….”THIS CAN’T BE RIGHT……YOU DON’T LIKE ME………YOU HATE ME………YOU’RE BEING TOO HARD ON ME…..
YOU’RE TRYING TO MAKE MY LIFE MISERALBE”!!!
BUT NOW I REALIZE THEY USUSALLY KNEW SOMETHING I DIDN’T!!!
THAT THIS REALLY WAS THE BEST THING FOR ME!!!!
WHEN WE TOLD OUR CHILDREN NO……WE DID IT BEC WE LOVED THEM!!!
THERE WASN’T ANY QUESTION ABOUT THAT!!!
YES….WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ADMIT IT!!!
YES….WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS!!!
AND HERE’S WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU’RE FACING ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS….
LET’S SAY YOU ARE TALKING TO YOUR YOUNG SON……..
YOU SAY…”SON….THIS IS A DECISION I HAVE TO MAKE. GOD HOLDS ME RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE IT..
YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH ME….AND THAT’S FINE……AND MAYBE IN FIVE OR TEN YEARS FROM NOW…..I MAY HAVE TO APOLOGIZE AND SAY….”YOU WERE RIGHT AND I WAS WRONG……….BUT RIGHT NOW SON…….I’M DOING WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT AND BEST FOR YOU”!!!!
BUT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTANCES IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOUR PARENTS CERTAINLY DID NOT HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND!!!
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HURT…..OR ABUSED….OR NEGLECTED BEC OF THEIR SELFISHNESS!!!!
HOW DO YOU HONOR SUCH A PARENT???
HOW DO YOU WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO THE 5TH COMMANDMENT!!!
BY FORGIVING THEM!!!!!!
FORGIVING MEANS…..”TO LET IT GO”….OR TO “SEND AWAY”!!!
BUT YOU SAY…”PASTOR…..YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH? HOW CAN I JUST LET THAT GO?
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT”!!!
NO…
I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH.
BUT I DO KNOW SOMETHING OF WHAT JESUS WENT THROUGH!!!
IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH…..SOME 2000 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM….THE PROPHET WAS GIVEN A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT THIS SERVANT OF THE LROD WOULD ENDURE!!!
(READ ISAIAH 53:3, 5-9)
JESUS KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO BE ILL-TREATED….ABUSED……AND FALSELY ACCUSED.
HE KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE LOVING WORDS THROWN RIGHT BACK IN HIS FACE!!!
HE KNW HOW IT FELT TO BE BETRAYED AN ABANDONDED BY SOMEONE CLOSE TO HIM!!!
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO BE SO MISUNDERSTOOD BY HIS OWN FAMILY THAT AT ONE POINT THEY TRIED TO HAVE HIM COMMITTED!!!
YET HE FORGAVE!!!
HE LOVED…
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE!!!!
WHEN IT COMES TO TRUE FORGIVENESS….NEVER FORGET THIS…..THE INNOCENT PARTY ALMOST ALWAYS PAYS!!!!!!
THE ONE WHO FORGIVES ……THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN OFFENDED…..IS USUALLY THE ONE WHO MUST PAY THE PRICE!!!!
BUT IT IS A PRICE WORTH PAYING!!!
YOU CAN’T BELIEVE HOW MUCH IT PAYS TO FORGIVE!!!!
IT IS LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS….
IT IS LIFE OUT OF DEATH!!!!
I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF GROUND SATAN HOLDS IN ANY BELEIVER’S LIFE IS A SIMPLE UNWILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE!!!!
AND REMEMBER ….EPH 4:26-27 TELLS US THAT THE ENEMY’S VERY FIRST FOOTHOLD IN OUR SOUL BEGINS WITH HARBORING ONE SINGLE NIGHT OF UNRESOLVED ANGER!!!!
WITH THAT BEACHEHAD IN A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE…..SATAN BRINGS IN THE TROOPS…….THE HELICOPTERS…..AND THE HEAVY ARTILLERY!!!!
HE DIGS IN…….FORTIFIES HIS POSITION…..AND BECOMES VERY…VERY DIFFICULT TO DISLODGE!!!!
WHY DOES HE DO THIS????
BEC HE KNOWS VERY WELL THAT BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVENESS HAVE THE POWER TO LOCK UP YOUR LIFE IN THE PAST!!!
AS FAR AS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS CONCERNED YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE OFF THE PLANET….BEC GOD CAN NEITHER USE YOU NOR BLESS YOU!!!!
IN THE END…..EVEN THOUGH THE PRICE MAY BE STEEP……THE ONE WHO FORGIVES WILL KNOW AND EXPERIENCE THE MIGHTY BLESSINGS OF GOD ALMIGHTY ON HIS OR HER LIFE!!!
AND HOW MUCH IS THAT WORTH?????
HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THE VALUE OF THAT????
WHILE JESUS TAUGHT US THAT FORGIVENESS SHOULD BE A DAILY WAY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF US…..THE FACT IS……YOU COULDN’T HONOR YOUR PARENTS MORE THAN TO FORGIVE THEM!!!!!
THEY MAY BE GUILT-RIDDEN…AND FULL OF REMORSE AND REGRET….
OR THEY MAY BE TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS TO YOUR PAIN AND HARD AS NAILS!!!!
THEY MAY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE MISERABLE FAILED……OR THEY MAY SHRUG IT OFF!!!!
NEVERTHELESS….FORGIVENESS IS POWERFUL!!!!
IT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES…..AND IT WILL CHANGE YOURS!!!!
IN MY OWN LIFE:
HOW COULD I NOT FORGIVE? IF THE LORD HAS FORGIVEN ME AND DOESN’T HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST ME……AFTER ALL I’VE DONE…….HOW COULD I EVER HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST THEM?
WHEN I SAID THOSE WORDS….I COULD ALMOST HEART THE SOUNDS OF A KEY BEING TURNED IN A LOCK AND A JAIL DOOR SWINGING OPEN!!!
I REMEMBER THE LORD’S WORDS…..”THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME……BEC HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PRACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR……HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED AND TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES!!!
MAYBE IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS….
HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT THE LORD TO USE YOUR LIFE????
HOW AVAILABLE DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT LOOKS FOR SOMEONE TO PICK UP AND USE FOR HIS PURPOSES IN THIS GENERATION???
I’LL TELL YOU THIS….I WANT TO BE USED!!!
AS LONG AS I HAVE BREATH IN MY BODY…..I WANT THE LORD TO USE ME FOR THE GLORY OF HIS NAME.
BEC I WANT HIS BLESSING AND I WANT TO BE A BLESSING….I AM WILLING TO OBEY…..EVEN WHEN IT HURTS!!!
THE HURT….AFTER ALL…..WILL QUICKLY PASS AWAY…….BUT THE SMILE OF GOD IS FOREVER!!!!
PRAYER:
LORD JESUS………IT MOVES ME TO CONSIDER YOUR RESPECT AND LOVE FOR YOUR EARTHLY PARENTS. DURING THE MOST DIFFICULT…..PAINFUL….STRESSFUL HOUR OF YOUR LIFE…….YOUR DEEP CONCERN WAS FOR THE WELFARE OF YOUR MOTHER……WHO STOOD AT THE FOOT OF YOUR CROSS.
HELP ME TO LIVE AND WALK IN YOUR TENDER COMAPPSION……
HELP ME TO REMEMBER THAT AS I SEEK MY MOTHER AND FATHER’S EARTHLY AND ETERNAL WELFARE………YOUR PROMISED BLESSINGS WILL COME MY WAY!!!
AND SO TODAY…..LORD…..I HUMBLY RECEIVE THE GUIDANCE YOU HAVE OFFERED FROM THE PARENTS YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.