"There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.'" -Judges 13.2-5
Israel does evil in the sight of God; God allows the Philistines to oppress Israel. This time the deliverance is different. The Spirit of the Lord does not come upon an adult who is ready to take action, rather an angel appears to a barren woman and tells her that she will conceive and give birth the one who will free Israel form the Philistines.
This child will be human, not God incarnate like Jesus, but he will be set apart for God's work from birth. He is born with a purpose, and his parents are to follow certain guidelines so that he will be able to fulfill that purpose. The angel appears twice, upon request from the woman's husband, and the instructions are given a second time. Their son will be born with a purpose.
Men, you were born with a purpose. Your children are/will be born with a purpose. What are you doing to live your purpose personally? What are you doing to prepare your children to learn and fulfill their purpose?
Let us be men who strive to find the calling God has given us. Some of us have been blessed with men in our lives who have encouraged us and helped guide us. Others have not, and have found that purpose from God personally. Do you know that you are here for a reason? Your life is not an accident, you are here intentionally.
Let us be men who guide our children and encourage them to find their purpose. Manoah and his wife were given specific instructions on how to raise their son and what he would accomplish. And while today we don't get the details the Bible contains, what I personally believe to be, the most important lesson any parent can give their children.
Proverbs 3.5-8, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones."
Let us be men who strive to live that. Let us be men who teach those words. Let us be men who live with the purpose we were born for.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Showing posts with label Proverbs 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proverbs 3. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2015
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Final Reminder
"Joseph said to his brothers, I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.' Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, 'God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.'" -Genesis 50.24-25
Joseph is nearing the end. He's lived a good, long life. Aside from some rough patches in his late teens and through his twenties, he really doesn't have much to complain about. He's been successful with his career and with his family. He's one of the most powerful men in the world and he's watched his children grow up. Has been able to enjoy grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren. In his life he has learned to trust and rely upon God, and his final words are passing on this faith.
He tells his brothers that he is about to God, but that God will take care of them, and eventually take them back home to fulfill the covenant He had made. Joseph had been taking care of them, and with his death there was probably a little concern for the future, but he sets those concerns to rest by pointing them back to God. His final reminder is to stay focused on God.
Men, when the time comes to say your final goodbyes, what will your final reminder be? What will be the final words that your children and grandchildren remember you saying? Will they be words of hope and comfort for those you are leaving behind? Will it be a testimony of the goodness and blessings of God that inspire faith and trust in Him?
From the very beginning of their lives I am teaching my children to live out Proverbs 3.5-8. More than anything I want them to trust fully in God and lean not on their own understanding. I want them to acknowledge Him in everything and watch Him strengthen their paths. I want them to be humble before Him and to turn from evil so they can experience the peace and healing that righteousness brings. What greater testimony and teaching for this than to live it personally, and then die with it? If the final words they hear from me are the things I've taught them, and strived to live with, all of my life, what greater testament is there to God's goodness and the validity of His word?
Men, the final words you say will be a reflection of how you have lived all your life. What will your final reminder be?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Joseph is nearing the end. He's lived a good, long life. Aside from some rough patches in his late teens and through his twenties, he really doesn't have much to complain about. He's been successful with his career and with his family. He's one of the most powerful men in the world and he's watched his children grow up. Has been able to enjoy grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren. In his life he has learned to trust and rely upon God, and his final words are passing on this faith.
He tells his brothers that he is about to God, but that God will take care of them, and eventually take them back home to fulfill the covenant He had made. Joseph had been taking care of them, and with his death there was probably a little concern for the future, but he sets those concerns to rest by pointing them back to God. His final reminder is to stay focused on God.
Men, when the time comes to say your final goodbyes, what will your final reminder be? What will be the final words that your children and grandchildren remember you saying? Will they be words of hope and comfort for those you are leaving behind? Will it be a testimony of the goodness and blessings of God that inspire faith and trust in Him?
From the very beginning of their lives I am teaching my children to live out Proverbs 3.5-8. More than anything I want them to trust fully in God and lean not on their own understanding. I want them to acknowledge Him in everything and watch Him strengthen their paths. I want them to be humble before Him and to turn from evil so they can experience the peace and healing that righteousness brings. What greater testimony and teaching for this than to live it personally, and then die with it? If the final words they hear from me are the things I've taught them, and strived to live with, all of my life, what greater testament is there to God's goodness and the validity of His word?
Men, the final words you say will be a reflection of how you have lived all your life. What will your final reminder be?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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