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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.Eph 2:9 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for collecting daily manna), make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Thursday, April 20, 2017
Today's Passage : Subject:Children and Parents Bible Verse:Ephesians 6:1-4 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. " Message:
This passage from Ephesians illustrates the differences in attitudes toward the law in the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament's fifth commandment stated simply that one must honor one's mother and father. Relationships between parents and children always have their difficulties (some more than others) but the concept of honoring parents placed a duty upon the children that, no matter how difficult the relationship might become, the son or daughter must always act within certain boundaries of respect and loyalty.
Moreover, the Mosaic law had, as was characteristic of early Judaism, a specific earthly reward for compliance. Parents would determine whether a grown child would be allowed to stay within the household or tribe and, if so, what rights to land they might have at the parents' death. Disfavored children would be cast out, into a very difficult world, to sink or swim, as we see time and time again, even if the disfavor were not their own fault. Remember how Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham's first son, were twice cast out of Abraham's household, although Ishmael did nothing wrong.
The flavor of the commandment changes subtly in Ephesians, where Paul tells children to "obey their parents in the Lord". Christ himself promised to separate children from parents, where children would follow Him although their parents did not. But even a stubbornly heathen parent would be treated with love and respect by a Christian son or daughter, for Christian love extends to unbelievers, and the spirit of the Old Testament commandments were ever present in the minds of Christians, then, as they are today.
Unlike the Old Testament, however, with its "spare the rod and spoil the child" attitude, Christian doctrine places some responsibilities on parents, as well. Here, specifically, to raise children in the discipline and knowledge of Christ, but a Christian father must temper his discipline with his knowledge of Christ and the duty of Christian love and forgiveness.
Meditation : Prayer : May the Passion of Christ be ever in my heart. May your law and your goodness guide my every thought, O Lord. And may the power of your Holy Spirit flow through my words and my actions. Walk with me, so that I may not be alone as I face this day, but always in your presence. Your joy is a lighthouse in a world often dark with sin, and I pray that I may inspire others as I have been inspired. In the name of Christ, bless me this day, and all whom I may meet. Amen. |
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