DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DEMONS ARE REAL

 DEMONS ARE REAL
Matthew 8:28-29, 31-32a
 
"When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, 'What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?' .... So the demons begged Him, saying, 'If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.' And He said to them, 'Go.' "
 
Are demons real, or just a figment of man's imagination? Many people poo-poo the idea of evil spirits, and dismiss them as a myth. If people don't believe they are real beings, they will discount their work. One of the Devil's favorite deceptions is to cause people to joke about him – in a red suit, with a long tail and horns as a comic character. Jesus knew that Satan and his demons are real. Whether I believe that they are real or not does not change the fact that demonic spirits are constantly causing havoc in peoples' lives and in our world. They have great wrath because they know their time is limited before their final judgment (Revelation 12:12). The Bible says that the demons believe in God, and they fear and tremble before Him (James 2:19). Demons recognize God's authority over them, and they are submitted to his Lordship. They can do nothing without His permission and have to obey Him. We are not ignorant of their devices (II Corinthians 2:11), but we know that they are under God's authority. Jesus has given believers authority over demons (Mark 16:17), and we need not fear them. But we must recognize their activity in order to take authority over them. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Demons are real but they are subject to God's authority.
 
[end]
 
Have a resisting day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHO IS THIS MAN?

 WHO IS THIS MAN?
Matthew 8:27
 
"So the men marveled, saying, 'Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?' "
 
The literal translation is, "What sort of man is this?" The disciples were in awe of this Man who could control nature. They had already seen Him power to heal the sick and deliver from demon possession (Matthew 4:24). But this was a whole new experience, and they marveled. I don't think they yet understood that He was more than a man. He was God in the flesh. People still question, "Who is this Jesus?" He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the King of Heaven and Lord of earth. I also marvel in the presence of Jesus. I have seen Him heal and deliver people from various torments and addictions, and even control nature. He is the same today as He was back then – the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). And I stand in awe. How wonderful and marvelous is Jesus, my Savior.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus is Lord.
 
[end]
 
Have a marvelous day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FEAR

 FEAR
Matthew 8:23-26
 
"Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Lord save us. We are perishing.' But He said to them, 'Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?' Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm."
 
The Scripture is very appropriate for me today. Last night, I could not sleep for several hours because my heart was fearful. I am greatly afraid for America. I am watching a loved one die. Our nation is being swamped with immorality. The lack of morality of the presidential candidates is only a symptom of the ungodliness of our nation. I fear not for myself but for my children and my grandchildren because they will suffer the consequences of a nation that has forsaken God and His laws. In the past several decades I have witnessed several prayer movements come and go [Franklin Graham's is the current one], but God seems to be asleep and uninvolved and we continue on the road to destruction. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was also troubled by what He saw in his nation. It was 1863 during the Civil War when he penned "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day." In the poem, He wrote, "Hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth." But then he looked up and said, "God is not dead nor doth He sleep." I remember the Psalm of David: "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust" (Psalm 56:3-4). I believe that God will arise and rebuke the storm.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Even though it seems God is asleep and does not care, He will arise and rebuke the storm in response to the pleas of His disciples.
 
[end]
 
Have a faith day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PROCRASTINATION

 PROCRASTINATION
Matthew 8:21-22
 
"Then another of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and let the dead bury the dead.' "
 
Procrastination is the enemy of good intentions. This man was saying, "After my father is dead, I will follow You."  Jesus said, "Follow Me today."  My favorite theme song in retirement is "Manana." The problem is, as the old saying goes, "Tomorrow never comes." It is always Today. God is the God of the Now. "Now is the day of Salvation" (I Corinthians 6:2).  God has given me today, but there is no promise of tomorrow.  I may not have the opportunity tomorrow to do what I can do today. So I need to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16) while I am able, and work while it is day because the night is coming when no man can work (John 9:4).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Nothing is ever accomplished by procrastination.
 
[end]
 
Have a TODAY day. Love you.
 
P.S.:  Tell someone you love them -- today.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- 24/7

 DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- 24/7
Matthew 8:19-20
 
"Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, 'Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' "
 
Jesus was trained by His father as a carpenter. He could have built himself a nice home as a base of operations to go back to after a day of ministry. But His focus was not on creature comforts. It was a full time job. When the scribe said, "Wherever," Jesus made him understand that he would have to leave it all to follow Him. It was a full time commitment – not a part time or weekend job. Following Jesus may mean some deprivation and hardship, but it is certainly a 24/7 life-style.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Following Jesus is a 24/7 commitment.
 
[end]
 
Have a 24/7 day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DIVING HEALING

 DIVINE HEALING
Matthew 8:16-17
 
"When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness.' "
 
There is disagreement among theologians whether healing is a part of the Atonement which Jesus accomplished by His suffering and death. I believe it is because Matthew quoted Isaiah 53 which is generally understood as being prophetic of His Passion – "He bore our sickness." Jesus suffered and died to take the penalty of the curse, which included sin, death, and sickness. Peter understood that healing has already been paid for through Christ's suffering when he wrote, "by whose stripes you were [past tense] healed" (I Peter 2:25). I don't claim to understand everything about healing – why God doesn't heal every time – but I know it is real and available because Jesus paid for it.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Lord Jesus purchased our healing when He suffered and died on the cross.
 
[end]
 
Have a "healing" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE MINISTER'S WIFE

 THE MINISTER'S WIFE
Matthew 8:14-15
 
"Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them."
 
Probably most of the twelve disciples were married, but we never hear anything about them. I have so many questions about Peter's wife and his marriage. Why is she not mentioned again? Was she supportive of his calling to follow Jesus? Was she a part of the group of women who followed Jesus (Mark 15:47; Luke 8:1-3), or was she jealous and bitter because he was gone from home so much leaving her to raise the kids alone? Was she like John Wesley's wife who caused him all kinds of grief and eventually left him, or was she like Ruth Graham who was a solid rock of support even though her husband  was gone so much of the time? Being a minister's wife is not an easy road to travel. It can be full of pain and heartache and loneliness. It is a beautiful thing when a husband and wife fulfill God's calling to ministry together. An encouraging wife can enhance her husband's ministry. Praise God for wives who understand their own calling to serve God in this supportive role with joy. My hat is off to ministers' wives today. May they be encouraged and rewarded for their sacrifices.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A minister who has a supportive wife is blessed.
 
[end]
 
Have an encouraging day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SOLA FIDE

 SOLA FIDE
Matthew 8:10-12
 
"When Jesus heard it, He marveled and said to those who followed, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "
Those who heard Jesus speak were children of Abraham, of the Israelite nation, of the Jewish religion. They thought their salvation came from their family heritage, their national identity, and their religious observance. But Jesus said that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) – not from family, nation, or religious observances. Salvation is for those who have genuine faith in Jesus. Hell – a place of great distress – will be populated with people who depended on godly parents, being raised in a "Christian" nation, or church affiliation and attendance. But when I get to heaven, I will meet people from east and west – "out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9) – who have put their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What a day that will be!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Salvation is by grace through faith alone – "sola fide."
 
[end]
 
Have a "faith alone" day. Love you.
 
P.S.:  Robin Walts' facebook entry today about the passing of our dear friend Larry Zetzman is certain apropos to today's Ramblings.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- UNDER AUTHORITY

 UNDER AUTHORITY
Matthew 8:8-9
 
"The centurion answered and said, 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, "Go," and he goes; and to another, "Come," and he comes; and to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.' "
 
As a military man, this Roman centurion man understood the discipline of authority. He himself was under authority, and he had others under his authority. He recognized that Jesus had authority that was great than his. Most humans, because of their independent spirits, rebel against authority. "Don't tell me what to do!" But the wise person understands that authority structure is necessary to maintain order in society, whether parents, police, teachers, or managers in the work place. Without this order, we would have complete chaos. God has put authority in place so we can live in peace. To rebel against authority is to rebel against God. That's why He says, "Obey those who rule over you" (Hebrews 13:17). And again, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For this is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exists are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist bring judgment on themselves" (Romans 13:1-2). Not only am I called to honor the civil authorities, but I am also called to submit to the Lordship of Jesus. Obeying His laws brings order and peace into my life. Disobedience brings confusion and chaos.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God has ordained authority structures in society to maintain order and peace.
 
[end]
 
Have a submitted day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LOVING PEOPLE

LOVING PEOPLE
Matthew 8:5-7
"Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord, my servant is at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented. And Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal Him.' "
 
Today's Scripture passage is reinforcement of yesterday's reading.  Jesus had an open heart to all people, unlike the Jews who considered themselves God's chosen people and everyone else on a lower rung of the ladder. They were very parochial and looked down on outsiders. This Roman centurion was outside the pale of Judaism, but Jesus saw him and his servant as people in need, regardless of whether they were a part of the "in" group. Jesus saw more faith in this Roman than in all of the rest of Israel (verse 10). Jesus broke down the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles in order to reconcile them all to God (Ephesians 2:14-16). We are all of one flesh needing the healing saving touch of Jesus. We are all sinners who need a Savior. To those who come to Jesus, confessing their need, Jesus says, "I will come and heal you." I need to be careful that I do not become parochial and think I am an in an exclusive group – my denomination, my nationality, my race, my social status – shutting others outside. Lord Jesus, give me your heart for people of all stripes.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus did not just come to save just one group of people, but everyone who would come to Him.
 
[end]
 
Have a loving day. Love you.
 

TOUCHING THE UNTOUCHABLES

 TOUCHING THE UNTOUCHABLES
Matthew 8:2-3
 
"And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' Immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
 
Right from the beginning of His ministry, Jesus demonstrated that He came for everyone – even the untouchables. To touch a leper was to be contaminated and defiled. That's why lepers had to call out, "Unclean," so people would give them a wide berth. Jesus was not deterred by that restriction. Sometimes I find myself avoiding people who are unclean, but not because of leprosy, but because they are outside the norm, whether filthy bodies or filthy mouths, or some other disgusting appearance. Jesus was not afraid to reach out and touch the untouchables. May I have that same willing heart to touch the outcasts of society.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus came for everyone – even the untouchables.
 
[end]
 
Have a "touching" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHO'S TENDING THE STORE?

 WHO'S TENDING THE STORE?
Matthew 8:1
 
"When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him."
 
So, if everyone is following Jesus, who's tending the store? These people understood that there were more important things in life than making a living, sweeping the house, or vacationing at the beach. In the Beatitudes, Jesus had touched their lives profoundly as He spoke of the real issues of life with authority. The answers to life's questions – why am I here; what is my purpose for living; where am I going – are answered with spiritual insights, not worldly or material stuff. I can try to make sense out of my existence by filling it with "things," but only following Jesus will answer the deep longings of my heart.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Only Jesus can satisfy the soul.
 
[end]
 
Have a God-filled day. Love.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- AUTHORITY

 AUTHORITY
Matthew 7:28-29
 
"And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
 
There was a difference between Jesus' teaching and the scribes, and the people recognized it. The scribes based their teachings on the ideas of the famous rabbis who wrote their own understanding of religious thought. I can just hear the scribes drone on and on about the rules and regulations of the Jewish religion. I've heard preachers like that. Jesus, on the other hand, received His authority from the Father (see John 5:27). He spoke with passion and conviction the words from God. Everyone bases  their beliefs on some kind of authority. The question is, "Who or what is my authority?" For many people, it is what someone else said, or their personal ideas, which are always changing like the previous parable of the foolish man who built his life on the sand (vss. 26-27). I do not trust myself as my own authority. That is why I use God's Word as the authority for Dad's Ramblings. It alone is a solid foundation. My ideas are worth nothing if not based on God's authority.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God's Word is the only solid foundation for authority.
 
[end]
 
Have a "God's authority" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A SOLID FOUNDATION

 A SOLID FOUNDATION
Matthew 7:24-27
 
" 'And the rains descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell.  And great was its fall.' "
 
The old saying goes, "Into every life a little rain must fall." It is not a matter of if but when the rains, the floods, the winds will come and beat on my house. Floods and hurricanes are a fact of life. But how a person stands in the day of trouble is determined by his foundation. A bad foundation is a guarantee of destruction. I saw recently on TV a sobbing woman who was being interviewed after losing her house to a flood. I get that. But then she said that three years earlier a flood had destroyed her house and she had rebuilt on the same spot – in the same flood area. Now that is a fool. I know that the wisdom and philosophy of this world is shifting sand. I need something more secure to build my life on that will withstand the storms. God and His Word is the Rock. I can be confident that no matter what happens my life will endure, not just in this world, but also in the next. "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The only secure foundation is the Rock of God and His Word.
 
[end]
 
Have a solid day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ACTION FAITH

 ACTION FAITH
Matthew 7:24
 
" 'Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will like him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.' "
 
It is not enough to hear or even understand what Jesus taught. The issue is: What do I do with my knowledge? Hearing and doing go hand in hand with each other. There are people who can quote the Bible better than I, but their lives do not demonstrate their knowledge. Active faith requires doing. That is why James said, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22). The wise man is not deceived into thinking that knowledge is enough.  Obedience is the hammer required to build a solid faith on the Rock.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Knowledge without action is empty deception.
 
[end]
 
Have an "action" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FALSE TEACHERS -- FALSE TEACHING

 FALSE TEACHERS – FALSE TEACHING
Matthew 7:21-23
 
" 'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness." ' "
 
This warning is in the context of the fruit of false teachers. No matter how holy and righteous they sound, and no matter how many miraculous signs follow them, if they are lawless – not under authority to God's Word – they are false. The fruit is not in their speech nor in their miraculous signs. The fruit is found in how they live. If their lives are not holy and righteous, I need to say, "Depart from me," and shun them like the plague. John wrote this admonition: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world....If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (II John 7a, 10-11). That is why I need to be alert to false teachers, lest I be sucked into their evil practices.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The test of false teachers is not their righteous words, nor miraculous signs, but how they live.
 
[end]
 
Have an "alert" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE UNFRUITFUL TREE

THE UNFRUITFUL TREE
Matthew 7:19
 
" 'Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.' "
 
This is indeed a sobering statement. It reminds me of Jesus' teaching about the branch and the Vine in John 15:1-8. " 'I am the Vine and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away ... If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.' " In the Matthew illustration, the tree has never been changed. It depends on itself for its life and cannot of itself bear godly fruit. Oh, it may try to graft some branches in that might bear some fruit that looks good, but it is still an ungodly tree at its core. In the second picture, the branches are attached to Jesus and get their life from Him.  They do not depend on their own goodness, but know that any good fruit comes from the Vine.   Yes, there is pruning to get rid of the dead unfruitful twigs, but the branch is still attached to the Vine. With all my heart, I want the vine dresser to prune the unfruitful dead stuff – which is enough to build a huge bonfire – out of my life so that I can bear more fruit for His glory.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God will judge the ungodly.
 
[end]
 
Have a pruning day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- VOICES

VOICES
Matthew 7:16b-18
 
" 'Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.' "

God has given me the responsibility to make proper discernment of where I look for truth. If I want grapes, I go to a vineyard. Even though there may be thistles and thornbushes in the field, I still look for grapes on the grape vine. There are so many voices (prophets and preachers), how can I tell which voice to listen to? I will choose to go to a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church where God's Word is the authority. I will look to see if the preacher faithfully interprets the Bible correctly, or if he preaches his own ideas. I will be sensitive to whether the preacher walks what he preaches with integrity. I will be aware of whether he is building his own kingdom or God's kingdom. I don't expect to find truth from worldly and ungodly voices, no matter how suavely they present their message. I will look for the fruit, for " 'by their fruit you will know them' " (vs. 20).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Truth is found by looking in the right place.
 
[end]
 
Have a discerning day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE LITMUS TEST

 THE LITMUS TEST
Matthew 7:15-16a
 
" 'Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.' "
 
It is not always easy to tell a wolf from a sheep, because the wolf will put on sheep's clothing, just like the wolf put on grandma's nightgown to deceive Little Red Riding Hood. So how do I tell the ravenous wolf from the true sheep? By the evidence. Little Red Riding Hood could tell by grandma's voice and big nose. The evidence left behind is the test: the footprints and the droppings. A wolf cannot change his paw print to look like a sheep, nor can he change the dropping he leaves behind. James gives us a litmus test to apply. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:13-18). If the prophet leaves a trail of pride and arrogance, self-seeking, and sensuality (fulfilling the lusts of the flesh), I need to run like Little Red Riding Hood or be consumed by the wolf.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Discerning a wolf is vital to spiritual truth and life.
 
[end]
 
Have a discerning day.  Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CONFUSION OR PEACE

 CONFUSION OR PEACE
Matthew 7:13-14
 
" 'Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.' "
 
Why are there so few who walk the narrow path? The broad path is appealing because there are no boundaries, no limits, no hedges, no parameters. There is complete freedom to do wander around, doing whatever a person wants to do without restriction. Humans want freedom, not restriction. But life without laws leads to anarchy and anarchy leads to confusion. That's why we have so much confusion in our society. We have cast aside the hedges to our conduct that God has planted for our good. We have sexual confusion (rejecting God's model of male and female); we have economic confusion (lack of stewardship of what God has given to live on credit); we have judicial confusion (replacing God's justice with fairness); we have social confusion (rejection of godly authority and police); we have family confusion (abandoning God's plan of life-long commitment for easy divorce); and a whole lot of other areas of confusion. Simply because we have rejected God's way and replaced it with man's way. The narrow path calls for self-control and is difficult; the broad path is license to do what I want and that is easy. This has been devastating to our nation and to individuals. The narrow path leads to life and peace. A wise person chooses the narrow way.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The broad way – without restrictions – leads to anarchy and confusion; the narrow path leads to peace.
 
[end]
 
Have a "narrow" day.  Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RESPECT

 RESPECT
Matthew 7:12
 
" 'Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.' "
 
This is the law of life – treat other people as I want to be treated. It is a variation of the Law of the Harvest: I reap what I sow. But it begs the question: "How do I want to be treated?" There are many answers to this question, but it seems to me that the primary thing people desire is to be respected. Our world is filled with disrespect, whether in the school with teachers, in the home with parents or spouse, in the community with the police, or in the nation with the president. I don't expect that everyone will agree with me, but I don't like being put down or treated like an idiot. Here's the kicker: If I want others to respect me, I need to respect them, even if I don't think they are doing the right thing. They may be doing dumb or unwise things, but they are still humans made in the image of God and, as such, are worthy of respect. Lord Jesus, help me to remember to respect people even when we disagree.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: How I treat others is the way I will be treated in return.
 
[end]
 
Have a "respectful" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- INTENTIONAL SEEKING

 INTENTIONAL SEEKING
Matthew 7:7-8, 11
 
" 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened .... If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!' "
 
This is not a blanket promise that God will give me everything I ask for. Even an earthly father does not give his child everything he wants. A father will give his child good things he needs. The parallel account of this teaching identifies the "good things" as the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Jesus is talking about spiritual things – God things. He is probably referring to the words of Moses who said, "You will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29). The best thing a person could ask for is the presence of God. Nothing else compares to this treasure. I want Him to fill my life. That requires intentionally seeking God.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God will give His Spirit to those who intentionally seek Him.
 
[end]
 
Have a seeking day. Love you.