DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
“The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord Is riches, honor, and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them]; He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer. Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it. ” – Proverbs 22: 4-6
DEVOTIONAL
Growing up I would always hear grown-ups say “I love you to death”, and whenever it was said to me it would arouse an emotion within me. But as I became older and a little wiser I begin to understand that emotion to be a power. So phrases like “I love you to death”, “I would die for you/it,” or “I swear on God” were not a good depiction of what I desired. So this mindset would later translate to my actions, as well as people and things that I was willing to entertain. I begin to question myself about what my actions, people, places, and things that I was involved in said about me? Does any of the above represent the God that I say I love and serve, or are they conveying the complete opposite.
Fast forwarding from my past to this present moment; I’m now faced with having to teach my kids the Word of God which does not mirror what the world says is acceptable. Now this is a true life obstacle; trying to provide my kids with the wisdom and knowledge that they need to ensure that they will have the ability to get over and around the traps of this world. True story: My daughter darted into my room on tonight, and with a sense of vigor in her spirit she begin to showcase her new necklace to me in hopes of my approval. She revealed to me that she had gotten the necklace over the weekend while at her father’s house. Still speaking with an enormous amount of excitement she asked me what I thought about her “Jesus piece” that her father got for her. I begin to sigh, as I took a deep breath because I recognized that this too was part of my true life’s obstacle ushered in by the enemy.
Please understand that I’m not at all calling her father the enemy, but the enemy has a way of convincing the world that He doesn’t exist. So I stated to her that I did not care for her “Jesus piece” and explained to her why. I motioned for her to take a seat beside me so that I could show her in scripture why I made my statement. I took her to Acts 17:29 which states “So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man”. And I also provided the scripture Exodus 20:4, “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship].” After reading her these scriptures I explained to her that I understood her excitement behind the necklace, but as children of God we have to always be mindful of what and who we are paying homage to, because our God is a jealous God. So, if you are reading my blog on today and you are facing similar challenges within your family, I would like for you to enter into the sanctuary with me in prayer.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, it is again that we come to you in prayer asking that You send Your warring angels down from heaven to help us protect our family from all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress Your truth. Helps us to teach our kids how to seek after your invisible attributes, namely, Your eternal power and divine nature, which has been clearly perceived since the beginning of creation so that they are without excuses. For although they know of You now, they will one day know You fully through the reading of Your Word. We ask these things and all other things in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Contributed by: Sharessa Bass
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