The Word for wisdom:
Proverbs 23:10-11 (HCSB)
10 Don't move an ancient boundary marker, and don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless, 11 for their Redeemer is strong, and He will take up their case against you.
The Word for inspiration:
Psalm 146:3-5 (TLB)
3 Don't look to men for help; their greatest leaders fail; 4 for every man must die. His breathing stops, life ends, and in a moment all he planned for himself is ended. 5 But happy is the man who has the God of Jacob as his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God—
The Word for encouragement:
Luke 18:15-17 (HCSB)
15 Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
My observation:
Jesus was the master teacher, and in this passage we see how he uses repetition in his teaching to make sure that his followers got the message. Our focal passage for today is a follow-up to the parable which precedes it.
In this short story Jesus reinforces the central message of what is required to be acceptable in God's eyes. Jesus had taught in the parable the importance of humility. In this story Jesus shows how childlikeness is like humility.
Luke 18:16 (TLB)
Then Jesus called the children over to him and said to the disciples, "Let the little children come to me! Never send them away! For the Kingdom of God belongs to men who have hearts as trusting as these little children's.
In order for our prayers to be effective we must come as children to a Father because He is our Father, and we can trust him to hear the requests of his beloved children.
My prayer:
Father God, I pray that those of us who have the privilege of being children of God would never lose the childlike faith that Jesus taught his disciples. Father, help us to remember that the Kingdom of God belongs to men and women who have hearts as trusting as the little children that Jesus received.
--
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org
A man's steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.
Psalm 103:14 (HCSB)
For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.
No comments:
Post a Comment