Category Archives: Dad’s Corner

Who Has Time?

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He lay in bed with his broken right arm strapped to his waist. It must have been broken in such a way that they couldn’t cast it but had to immobilize it in this fashion. He wanted to call his brother, and with great difficulty, he reached with his left arm to grab the phone from the hospital bed holder. He had hiked up his nightshirt to dial with a finger from the restrained arm. I asked if I could help him, and with a twinkle in his eighty-year-old eye he said, “I learned a long time ago, you can do anything you really want to!”

Another dear brother in Christ has paralyzed legs. Helpers have to use a hoist to get him from his bed to his wheelchair. Not only do his legs not work, but they are quite painful. That is his life, patient suffering. He is always waiting on someone to help him with his every need. Yet, I can’t ever remember him complaining. He shares Jesus first by the peace and joy everyone witnesses and then by the confession of his lips. He speaks of how Jesus saved him and that He will save you as well. Finally, he shares about how good God is.

Most families are getting close to a new homeschool year beginning again. The books have been ordered and received by now. Mom has looked over her curriculum and is doing some planning and mapping out of the year. Yet, homeschooling often provides some real challenges.

In our home there is usually a spirit of anticipation mixed with a bit of apprehension. The new year always brings about some character-training challenges. For example, a while ago, during the confession time of our evening family worship, there were no confessions at all. We try to ask forgiveness when offenses occur during the day. However, if anyone didn’t ask forgiveness earlier, then the evening time is when we clear our consciences before bed. After a long, quiet pause, I asked, “Hasn’t someone offended someone else in the day and not made it right?”

One of the younger ones stated innocently, “Daddy, we didn’t have school today.”

We can let the difficult situations of homeschooling that arise be discouraging or embrace them as occasions to prove and hone our children’s (and all too frequently our own) character. This is the area where Teri seems to need my help with homeschooling the most. I am asked to help differentiate between such things as sin and youthful carelessness in the children, slothfulness and inability, and then provide direction and motivation for improvement.

I have found there is never a good time in my schedule for the difficulties that arise. However, these situations tend to expose my real priorities. If raising men and women of God is one of my highest priorities, then how can I not have time to intervene, think, pray, and restore as needed when one of these growth opportunities comes along for the children?

When I find myself thinking I am too busy and resent the need for my attention when a situation arises, I’m showing that I am not committed to Teri’s success in teaching the children. It is a real wake-up call for me when I sense I’m feeling like that. I then repent of my selfish and sinful attitude and ask Jesus for wisdom in both the situation and managing my time. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). When I think of the investment Teri is making in our children’s lives as she teaches them, I am ashamed if I find myself resentful when she needs my time.

Those two men whom I shared about in the beginning of this Dad’s Corner are powerful reminders as to how I am called to love and lead this family. My time is not my own. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

When situations requiring my attention cause resentment in my heart, I am showing I’m no more mature than one of the children who is struggling in doing what they must do. I am humbled as I look to those two men I wrote about in the beginning. We can do anything that Christ is leading us to do, if we put our mind to it. If we are hopelessly buried in our work, then we must depend all the more on Jesus. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We don’t give of our time grudgingly but cheerfully. We demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in these times. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25). We live out the reality of our walk with Jesus each day with our family. May we be leaders putting our families’ needs first and helping our wives to be successful no matter what it costs us. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

I Just Don’t Understand It

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We were on a trip one time when Teri noticed this big mustard-colored stain on my shirt. I had been out of the van getting gas, and the stain would have been very obvious to everyone I encountered. However, I was totally unaware of it. When Teri later saw the stain, we were quite perplexed as to how I might have acquired it because I had eaten nothing that resembled mustard. Upon closer examination, we found that it was actually a bug. We remembered there had been something that had deflected off of my side mirror through the open window, but we hadn’t known where it went. Now we knew that my shirt was the final resting place for a yellow-filled bug. Are there aspects of our lives that might resemble that—something of which we aren’t aware but others can easily see?

Recently a dad told me that for over five years he has been having his own personal time every morning reading the Bible and praying. He said that during that time Jesus has changed him into a new man. Additionally, the Lord has used his devotional time to springboard changes in the entire family. He said the transformation has been wonderful. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Teri tells people that she saw the most incredible difference in my life when I began reading the Bible and praying every morning. There is real, life-changing power as the Holy Spirit strengthens and convicts a man when he reads the Word and prays. I wonder if that isn’t the single most significant factor that makes the difference between a man who grows in his faith and a lukewarm Christian. That is the main reason why, when someone writes us with a question, I generally respond by asking whether they are reading their Bible and praying daily.

I expect pastors are keenly aware of, by outward evidence, those dads who are daily in the Word and those who aren’t. Maybe they can see the mustard-colored stain in lives void of the Word. Could it be that pastors would have far fewer problems to deal with if men were in the Word? Could it be Christian marriages would have fewer difficulties if Dad (and Mom) were feeding daily on the sweet and precious Word of God? I believe the answer is a resounding “YES”! If this is true, then why is it that fewer than one out of ten dads (based on unofficial polling) will get up at least half an hour earlier in the morning to fellowship with Jesus? I can’t really answer that for other dads, but I know what hindered me in earlier years.

In truth, personal Bible reading and prayer just wasn’t important enough, and I didn’t see it as the lifeline that it is. That is another way of saying it was my pride. It was as if I was saying, “Jesus, I really don’t love You and Your Word enough to spend time with You. I have more important things to do, one of which is sleep. If I need You, I will definitely cry out to You.”

I’m convinced that if every man in a church would begin his day with Bible reading and prayer, pastors would be delighted. Their counseling times would be almost nonexistent. We would see churches on fire for Jesus Christ because Jesus would be daily fanning the flames of purifying and strengthening hearts. I believe we would also see marriages transformed and being true examples of Christ and His bride. Husbands would have hearts turned toward their wives and children. The lost would be saved in record numbers because they would finally be seeing Jesus Christ at work in lives.

Some might say, “Wait a minute, just because a man reads the Bible every day doesn’t mean he will live it out.” That may be true of any old book, and this Book is an old one, but it isn’t true of the Bible. Just this week a brother shared how he was drawn out of a false church into fellowship with Jesus. It all began when he started reading the Word every day. It changes the soul of a person.

I have struggled to keep my weight where it should be for a long time. There is one thing that makes a difference as to how successful I am in controlling my eating. That is whether I weigh myself consistently. If I have been eating too much and gaining weight, I don’t want to weigh myself. I don’t want to see the reality of my decisions reflected in the scale.

That is the way it is with the Bible and the Holy Spirit. As we read God’s Word every day, it speaks to our hearts. It builds us up and also convicts us of areas that don’t line up with Scripture. It gives us direction. It provides an “Amen” to what the Holy Spirit is telling our hearts. Then the Holy Spirit works in us to bring about the changes He desires.

When Paul, by the Holy Spirit, commands us to “. . . put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8), I don’t want to be angry ever again. Then when I am, I confess, repent, and cry out to Jesus to work in my heart.

When I read, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), I am struck in my heart that as a Christian, I am called to obey—period. Then I am encouraged to read, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). I see that obedience isn’t simply to avoid God disciplining me, but that in obedience Jesus manifests more of Himself to me. That means that somehow He reveals more of Himself to me as my walk deepens and gets sweeter. I can testify that has been my experience and the experience of others with whom I have discussed this.

Then why is it that as brothers in Christ, we don’t hold each other accountable? Here is something very simple to do, and it could dramatically change a man’s life, his marriage, his family, and ultimately the church. If we love our brothers, why don’t we take those with whom we have a relationship aside and discuss this issue with them? Why is it that we don’t then ask them, or plead with them, that they let us hold them accountable for having a time with Jesus every morning?

I know one reason is that if a dad isn’t in the Word and praying himself, it will prevent him from discussing this with someone else. It may be like the mustard-colored stain on my shirt—something of which the person wearing the shirt isn’t even aware but others can observe. We may think no one would know whether we spend time with Jesus each day or not, but perhaps it really is evident. If dads would realize how critical personal time reading the Bible and praying is, they would do it. If we love Jesus, we must do it. If our love for Jesus isn’t enough to motivate us to spend time with Him, may we do it because we love our families and how it will affect our ability to love and lead them. If we don’t love them enough, could we do it because we love ourselves and want the best for ourselves? Whatever it takes, may we spend time with Jesus and encourage everyone we know to do the same out of our love for Jesus and our love and concern for our families.

The Thrill is Addictive

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The two men looked quite sleepy and were chatting as they waited for the train. One of them was probably six foot, four inches and had a hardened look. I struck up a conversation with them, asking where they were going. They were headed a very short distance on the train and would be hiking to the top of the cliffs that were near us. Then they would run, jump off the cliff, and free-fall. The maximum time they would wait to open their parachutes was nine seconds. They said it was the greatest thrill on earth. The tall guy had traveled a long distance to go there and plummet off the cliff. It would take them close to an hour to make the full circuit and arrive back on top for the next fall.

Another group of guys I met also were cliff-jumping and said they would jump four or five times before heading for the bars. Then they would have a few beers and brag to the girls about how brave they were. They were living out their dreams. When I told a friend with military jump experience about this, he asked how high the cliff was and, after a quick mental calculation, said those guys were crazy. They were not allowing enough time to adequately slow down before they hit the ground.

Reflecting back on my discussion with those guys, I remember how they reacted to my incredulity. It gave them great satisfaction that I thought it was a bit dangerous and not the best idea. I’m still amazed that they would spend a great deal of money and risk their lives, all for the pleasure of a nine-second thrill.

In June I spoke to a good-looking man in his mid-thirties at the homeless mission. He spoke well and had a bright smile. I could not figure out why this Christian man was living at the homeless shelter. I sat down to talk with him and soon knew why. He had a professional practice that had been doing well until he ran into a personal crisis in his life. To help him through his sadness, a “friend” encouraged him to try some crack. He was instantly hooked. He said crack was the most pleasurable experience imaginable. For the sake of pleasure, he traded problems of one sort for tribulations far worse.

The Bible talks about men like this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

The men described in that passage won’t have all of those characteristics, but we will see these in general in the society. It is not a flattering list, and clearly we see these traits now. Most Christians are wary of evil things because even a shallow understanding of life in Christ warns that we stay away from bad things. I wonder how many of us would see pleasure as something to treat with great caution?

Now, not all men at the shelter are there because of addictions or substance abuse; however, it does seem to be a common thread in most with whom we speak. Think about this. They are in bondage to something that gives them pleasure. Legal or illegal, whether they have the money for it or not, they are bound by their pleasure. Those I’ve spoken with about it say they want to be free, yet they are bound—pleasure can be addicting and shipwreck a man’s life.

We don’t have statistics, but we do have the general impression that a majority of the men we talk to at the homeless shelter come from Christian homes. It never ceases to amaze us as we hear a tragic tale of a man’s life and how it began in a Christian home. Frequently, it will come up that their parents would like them to come to their church and are praying for them. We would be wise to consider how easy it is to lose our children.

Our country and, yes, maybe even so many as call themselves Christians, are in hot pursuit of pleasure. If it is fun, thrilling entertainment, we want it, but where are we told in the Bible to seek it? Scripture says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).

Our time is the most valuable thing we have. It would be a good exercise to write down how we have spent the last two weeks. How many hours did we sleep, work, read the Bible, pray, lead our family in devotions, spend time with our children, with our wives, on hobbies, on sports, on recreation, in front of the TV, etc.? How does the time spent on pleasure compare to the time we spent with the Lord? Might we be described as being lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God? If so, may we repent before God and make different choices, as we can be sure we are heavily influencing our children.

It would be risky to believe that we can live a life seeking pleasure, and it won’t affect our children. In John 8:38 Jesus said, “I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.” He was speaking to Jews that had “believed” on Him (verse 31). Jesus is saying that our children will do what they see us doing. They are going to follow after what we pursue.

I’m grieved as I have observed many Christians pursuing pleasure with the same gusto that the world does. Christians may seek somewhat different things, but it is all for the sake of pleasure. May we not deceive ourselves and think that just because we go to church, our children will live for the Lord. May we evaluate the message we are sending our children. May we live for the Lord Jesus with all of our hearts.

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

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Are You a Yes Man?

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What does it take to be a leader? How would we score if we were rated in our leading abilities? More importantly, what will the results of our leadership be in five, ten, or twenty years?

Mary, our seven-year-old daughter, wanted to know if she and Jesse could go with the other three children to their appointment this afternoon. Unfortunately, the car we were taking would not have had enough seatbelts for all five of the children. I had planned on taking the smaller vehicle and was hesitant to change plans.

It is so easy for me to lock in on my own agenda and preferences. I would like to automatically choose to put others first. It amazes me that I can struggle with that, but it is true. I have to make it a conscious decision. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). Vainglory means self-conceit. We are not to do anything based on the (false) assumption of our importance. In other words, we are not to put our interests first.

That can be a difficult thing when Dad is the one who is able to make the final decision. It is easy to think that means we can make the decision that is best for us. However, the best decision is the Lord’s decision.

I find I need to run each situation past the Lord and ask Him to tell me what I should do. As I took this decision to the Lord, He quickly impressed on me that my choosing the vehicle that would exclude my little ones was ridiculous. I love my time with them, and here I was willing to pass it up because I wanted to take the smaller car. It was hard to believe I was about to make such a silly decision.

We love our home, but one thing it lacks is storage for items like bicycles. With seven bicycles, that poses a real problem! Part of the solution is that I have three bicycles hanging upside down in the garage. That works out okay most of the time, but when the children want to ride those bikes, I have to pull the car out of the garage so we can get the bikes down. That probably doesn’t sound like a huge problem, but selfishly, there are times when it is very inconvenient; I may be working, in the middle of a project, or on the telephone. It is pretty easy to justify not taking the time to pull out the car to get down the bicycles when I’m in the middle of something “important.”

The other morning I was doing my beginning-workday routine of clearing out e-mail and doing other desk-related chores when one of the children asked me to go through his birthday list with him. I wasn’t officially on the “clock” yet, but I had to deal with those other things so I could begin “work.” To make matters worse, the previous evening I had told this child that I was available to go through his list with him, but he had something else going then that he wanted to complete. So now it was convenient for him but not for me. I was beginning to feel irritated about it because I was forced to make a decision: was he more important than what I was doing? I’m not saying we drop everything every time, just because our children want something, but are we willing to if the Lord directs?

This verse should ring loud and clear in our minds: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). As we evaluate the decisions that are brought to us each day, are we thinking of our children’s best interests? Are we zealous not to provoke them to wrath or cause them to be discouraged (Colossians 3:21)?

I expect we may have forgotten what it is like to have to go to someone else for a decision when we want to do something. I know it has been a few years for me. If every time I wanted to do something all I heard was “no,” I would get pretty frustrated. That is the difficulty of being a real leader: knowing when to say “yes” and when to say “no.”

On the other side of this discussion can be a tendency to say “yes” just because it is what the child wants. However, it might be against the direction the Lord is leading the family. Dads will justify the “yes” as only a small compromise or not a battle worth fighting. Don’t fall for that trap. If the Lord has directed in an area, it is a battle that must be fought and won! There can be no compromise.

How sad when we hear dads justify wrong decisions that they knew they shouldn’t have made, but the child “really wanted to.” The truth is, Dad said “yes” when he should have said “no.” But so often the dads are afraid of losing their children’s hearts if they say “no.”

We don’t lose our children’s hearts when we do the right thing. We lose their hearts when we do the wrong things for many years. Keeping our children’s hearts means purposing to say “yes” every time I can, even if it costs me something. It may be an inconvenience or an outright difficulty for me. If it is an opportunity to show them I love them, I value them, and want their best, then I am committed to saying “YES!”

As I shared, this does not come naturally for me because I’m selfish. However, the Lord Jesus has been working on me in this area, and I’m so grateful He has. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). It is hard to even use that verse here. I know nothing of taking up my cross daily. The minor inconveniences I face cannot even be compared to taking up my cross. Yet, if that is the case, why do I struggle?

May we be committed to being “yes” men. May we purpose that we will do everything we can to say “yes” to our children, because we know that there are many “no’s” that must be served if we are to be faithful and trusted fathers. There will be numerous things that our children want to do that will not be good for them. If we have proven our love through the years, they will continue to trust us with their hearts.

When We Feel Pressure, What Is Our Example?

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In the February Dad’s Corner, I shared that we can welcome stressful times so we can learn how to rest and not be stressed. Last week I had the opportunity to embrace those words. By the end of one particular day, I was so exhausted from the stress, I couldn’t wait to go to bed. It hadn’t been the restful, growing experience that I desired.

The situation that day involved demanding work with significant confrontation. I am trying very hard to learn how to remain calm inside when in a difficult and tense environment. Unfortunately, I have a long way to go. Following the meeting, I was exhausted because of the inner pressure and anxiety I had experienced.

I know I’m not alone in having days with stress “opportunities.” Most dads (and moms) will encounter situations where stress is likely every day in various degrees. In some cities, simply driving to work can be very stressful. Is that just the way it is, living in fast-paced America? But what about the dad who farms? Would he ever have a reason to be stressed in a peaceful, country setting? Might there be days when it seems like all his equipment is breaking down and times when the weather is ruining his crops? What about the dad whose child is deathly ill, or the dad who is out of a job while the bills are piling up?

Look at how even the world defines stress. One definition from Merriam-Webster OnLine calls stress “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.” That seems to depict clearly what I was experiencing. The definition described stress as a factor in causing disease.

The world knows what stress is, but it can’t offer any solutions other than what comes in a needle, a bottle, or a prescription. The world cannot offer real peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

The word peace means quietness and rest. If I had been experiencing the peace of Jesus, I wouldn’t have been exhausted by the end of the day. Because I wasn’t resting in the Lord and trusting Him to work out the difficulties, I had nothing left for my family that evening. I was spent as a result of my work. It wasn’t a good kind of exhaustion like that which comes from hard physical work. Instead, my exhaustion was due to the negative emotional turmoil going on inside me. It was a needless waste of energy.

Stress is akin to worry, and worry is sin. When I was in that meeting, I was thinking about how what was being discussed impacted our company. I had to carefully weigh my words when responding to questions. I didn’t like it at all. “Let not your heart be troubled” is in the imperative mood. It is a command of Jesus that we are not to be troubled. That means it is a choice, and if we choose to be troubled, then it is sin. I was thinking more about how I was going to deal with the circumstances at hand than I was about the resources of my Lord Jesus. As a result, I was extremely stressed, and I was sinning.

I was also demonstrating my lack of faith at that point. As I have shared previously, we have seen Jesus work mightily in our business projects, time and time again. Who was I trusting in to deal with the situation? Myself. When I trust in myself I have great reason to be worried and stressed. Through the years, I’ve learned that the closer I’m drawn to Jesus, the more it takes to stress me.

In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 we read, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” Before I was saved, I went to a rock concert while I was temporarily stationed in Germany. There was a throng of people waiting for the iron gates to be opened to the concert. People kept crowding in toward those gates in anticipation of being let in. The press became so heavy that my friend and I literally picked our feet up one time and were held in place. Word passed by us that the people next to the iron fence in front were being injured by being pushed so hard against the fence. The pressure exerted by the crowd is what the Greek word thlibo means and is translated as “troubled” in verse eight. The difficulties of life can exert such pressure that we feel as if we are being crushed when we reject the peace of Jesus.

In the midst of the concert crowd, I had a very helpless and trapped feeling, as it was virtually impossible to be able to free myself from the midst of the press. If someone had fallen down (which I doubt they could have), it would have been impossible to get back up. That feeling is pictured in the Greek word apereo, which is translated as “perplexed.” No matter how good one’s reason for wanting to get out of there, it didn’t matter. There was absolutely nothing that we could have done.

I wonder if that isn’t what many dads frequently feel. They see themselves trapped in a difficult situation without hope of escape. Is there a solution? “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Do you have stress induced by problems of the flesh? “Infirmities” refers to difficulties such as disease, sickness, and human weakness. “Reproaches” refers to bad treatment by others. “Necessities” refers to being in need. “Persecutions” refers to what our enemies may do to us. Finally, if the other words missed something, “distresses” completes the package, referring to calamities and anguish. Paul didn’t say he simply endured these things. He said he would gladly glory in them.

I doubt any of us will ever “arrive” when it comes to eliminating all stress from our lives, but may we be committed to treating it as sin and not accepting it in our lives. May we treat it as an enemy of our peace and something that robs us of our ability to bless and enjoy our families. Any time we allow something into our lives that Jesus speaks against, there will be consequences. When stress is a part of our lives, we can expect anxiety and physical difficulties. We demonstrate to those around us that our Lord Jesus is unable to deal with the problems of our life. We shout that our faith is insufficient to trust in our sovereign Lord being able to manage our life.

Failing to rest in my Savior last week was a good reminder of my need for greater trust and rest. Therefore, I was determined to cast all my cares on Him this week when I had a similar opportunity. May my family have a daddy who is trusting in his Lord in a very real way and being at peace and at rest even after a difficult day. Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

(Since this article was written, Steve now has a book for men, Redeeming the Time which is a practical resource to help men lead their families and manage their time. Steve’s book offers hope and encouragement.)

Are You on a Collision Course?

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Our family was returning home from a trip to Lawton, Oklahoma. Happy, enthusiastic talk filled the van as we rolled down the interstate. Ahead of us on the other side of the highway, I noticed a car that was just merging onto the other side of interstate headed the opposite direction from us. Suddenly, I saw the car abruptly make a sharp 180 degree turn and strike out toward seventy-mile-per-hour oncoming traffic—a nightmare scenario.

In horror I said aloud, “Oh no!” and I cried out, “Lord Jesus, help them!” As we passed the car now traveling the same direction as us, I saw a woman driving with several small children in the car. I glanced ahead. There were two cars bearing down on her. To the Maxwell family’s relief, she pulled over and stopped on the median shoulder as the cars safely whizzed by her.

Our excited chatter had been replaced by a momentary deathly silence. Now everyone was voicing a similar thought. What if she hadn’t pulled over then? We realized we had just narrowly missed being eyewitnesses to a freeway head-on collision. We could not fathom what possessed that woman to make a U-turn and head the wrong way down the interstate toward oncoming traffic. How could she have risked her life, the children’s lives, and those of the people in the other cars?

Praise God that she realized she was heading in the wrong direction and took appropriate action in time to avert a disaster. How heartbreaking it would have been to watch something terrible happen had she struck one of the two oncoming cars.

For quite a while now, Teri and I have had heavy hearts as we read e-mails, read message board posts, and observe Christian families losing their children to the world. These families are busy with normal life until, all of a sudden, they are in the midst of a crisis. The child, who has been nurtured and taught for so many years, begins making choices that reflect the negative influence of the world.

Our sadness is nothing compared to what the parents of those children have experienced. The disappointment and anguish they suffer is horrible. But where is God in all of this? Does not His Word offer hope for the rest of us? Is it simply the destiny of a fixed percentage of families to have a child who will embrace the world?

It can be discouraging for parents when they look around and mostly see teens who are very worldly. Is there nothing that can be done, or do we just wait until they’re grown to see how it will all turn out?

We have found encouragement in these verses. “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” (1 Timothy 3:2-5).

As we look at these verses, it is clear that they are intended to be the litmus test of a man to see if he qualifies to be an elder or overseer of the church. Let me briefly list the meaning of the requirements: blameless, have one wife (one marriage), vigilant (circumspect or temperate), sober (self-controlled), of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not a drinker, not violent, not greedy, patient, not quick to quarrel (peaceable), not covetous, rules his house well, and having reverent children. Also, in Titus 1:6, it is added that the children would be faithful.

As we look at those requirements, we see how none of them have to do with the color of the man’s hair or how tall he is. Notice that the first thirteen all have to do with things that are affected by his personal choices of obedience to the truths of God’s Word. For example, a man makes a choice as to whether he will be self-controlled or gluttonous, greedy or generous, patient or angry. In the same way, this man of God who is qualified to lead the church has made decisions that have allowed him to rule his house well and raise obedient children. The fruit of that man’s walk with Jesus Christ are children who are reverent and faithful. His home is to be a miniature representation of the church.

The focus of the elder’s heart and his efforts are on fulfilling his God-directed, God-given, and God-taught responsibilities. He is proving himself to be a follower of God, by walking in love and obedience, and therefore he is qualified to lead the church.

Frequently, we see families who are on a collision course with disaster. At first they aren’t aware of it, but in time, they realize all is not well as they sense they have lost their children’s hearts. Our prayer is that they will realize it before it is too late. They need to hit the brakes and get off the road they are traveling down.

The problem is that, often, those needing to change direction are comfortable because they are with so many others. Someone once told me he was okay going to hell because all his friends were going to be there as well. Unfortunately, when the results of that decision are realized, it will be too late, and hell will not be the party that he was expecting. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Whether you are following the crowd or on your own, I plead with you, don’t propel yourself into a similar situation as that woman we saw. Praise God she finally made the right decision before it cost her, her children, and others a horrible consequence. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” (Matthew 24:45).

 

When the Boat is Sinking, What is Our Example?

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The last two months have been absolutely incredible. Our family business, CCI, has had a major software project that had to be completed in January. Teri and I have been finishing our newest book, Keeping Our Children’s Hearts. I have had a message to produce for our church each week. Plus we have had a myriad of other issues surface in our family and ministry that have required mental, emotional, and spiritual energy. All of that had to be kept in right priority in relation to my walk with the Lord and my time and attention for my family.

Pressure is something we all have to deal with. It is a fact of life. When you are dead, there is no longer any pressure, provided you are saved. If one doesn’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then whatever pressure this life can muster is nothing compared to eternity in hell. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). However, in keeping our thoughts on what we are facing day to day, I know that most dads are accustomed to facing pressure. How do you react to it?

My natural tendency is to convert pressure into stress—the greater the pressure, the greater the stress. When there is a long line of people requiring things from me, and the “shelves of time” are stocked very sparingly, stress begins to mount. Then when I’m feeling very stressed, I tend to be irritable and self-focused. To make matters worse, sleep can become more difficult with growing stress. Being tired introduces a whole new set of negative factors into the equation. Uggh! It is easy to understand the attitude of several men at the homeless mission. They don’t mind being there because they have no responsibilities and nothing pressuring them. Life may not be easy for them, but it is simple.

A law of nature is that pressure tends toward equalization. This means that pressure must meet an opposite pressure to stabilize or it will dissipate on its own. It seems like this can be applied to us as well. If we are feeling a lot of pressure from the outside, instead of letting the pressure dissipate on its own, we will tend to ramp up the stress and worry on the inside to counteract the outside pressure we are feeling. However, is this the life Jesus desires for us? In calling us to be busy and fruitful, does that mean the Lord intends for us to live under constant pressure, with worry and stress?

What does Scripture teach us about this? We don’t find the word “stress” in Scripture, but there are still verses that apply. Could it be that we are not to be stressed over small things, but it’s okay to be stressed about big issues such as the needs of our family? “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” (Matthew 6:25). “Take no thought” means do not worry. That seems to make it clear, doesn’t it? We are not to worry. I believe the American equivalent of worry is stress. This verse is saying we are not to be stressed.

Jesus is not just suggesting we aren’t to be stressed—He is commanding it. An uncomfortable way of saying this might be that worry is sin and feeling stressed is sin. If stress weren’t bad enough, now we are adding the challenge of calling it sin. God did not intend for us to live our lives full of worry or stress.

To acknowledge we are stressed is no different from acknowledging we are angry or bitter. They are all sin. We need to confess worry or stress as sin and forsake it. Is not our God capable of dealing with any situation at hand? Yes, of course He is!

I have an analogy I share with the children in appropriate situations: “Anyone can rest in a hammock in the backyard on a beautiful spring day. To rest in a hammock that is tied between two masts on a boat in a storm is entirely something else. In the storm is where we really learn how to rest.” If God didn’t allow times like these, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn how to rest in Jesus.

I often think about the disciples in the boat in the middle of the storm. “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:24-26). This was no little storm. The Greek word for tempest is seismos, and it means a gale or an earthquake. These men had every reason to be afraid.

Several of His disciples were fishermen and accustomed to storms, yet they were afraid of dying. Should they have been afraid? Weren’t they in the boat with Jesus? Jesus had told them in Matthew 8:18 “to depart unto the other side.” Had they believed His Word, they would have had confidence He would fulfill His Word to them. Yet, in the terrible storm, they were afraid and woke Jesus up. What was the first thing Jesus did? He rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith, and then He rebuked the wind and the seas. The terrible storm provided the opportunity for Jesus’ disciples to trust in Him.

Which do you think would impart greater learning? For Jesus and the disciples to sit around a warm campfire on the beach while Jesus tells them they can always rely on Him, even during their greatest trial, or for them to be close to drowning and see Jesus command the wind and the waves to be silent?

As we neared the deadline for our software, we encountered what seemed to be a major architectural problem. New requirements had been added by the customer as we progressed, but there had not been time to step back to make the extensive changes required. Finally, a problem surfaced, and it looked hopeless. Our programmer and I were discussing the seriousness of what was just discovered. Just before hanging up, the programmer said something like, “It will be okay. God has always worked in one way or another in situations like these in the past.”

That wasn’t positive thinking on his part—it was fact. Over the years we have worked together, we have seen God do amazing things. Many times, a difficulty has arisen that was darker and more ominous than any previous problem. When that happens, we pray and do our best while we depend on His grace. Each situation has worked out for good. The problems are not always fixed like we intended, but in some way, there has always been an acceptable resolution. That isn’t positive thinking. It is reliance on our Lord. If God didn’t allow times like these, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn how we can further depend on Him.

How do you respond to pressure and difficulties? Are you thankful for them? “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:3). Do we desire to be conformed to the image of Christ? “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:28-29).

The trials and pressures we face are not just for our own benefit, but for our children as well. Our children read us like a book. What sort of “story” are the children reading in our lives? Do they see that their dad has a real relationship with Jesus Christ, and He is at work in their dad’s life? Does Dad depend on Him, and is Dad at peace in the middle of the storms that come? If the answer is yes, we are demonstrating the reality of a life based on Jesus Christ. That will speak volumes to them. More teaching will go on during difficult times than during any discussion.

I’m reminded again of a time when we were at a homeschool conference. A mother asked to sit in one of the chairs behind the table and attend to the needs of her young child. I watched in awe as this precious mommy gently took care of her child. She shared how her child would soon die, and she had to care for him in this way every hour around the clock. What a heartbreaking situation, and yet there was no bitterness or stress, just gentleness and patience to the glory of God. I will never forget what I observed in her life.

Do we desire that our family and others would observe the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? If so, may we look at the pressures and problems that come our way this next month as allowed by God to conform us to the image of His Son. If we will welcome them, they are opportunities to draw close to Jesus and see Him work in our lives. “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).

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He Could Do No More: What About Us?

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His son was his joy. He loved to hold him and take care of him. The weeks passed and so did the months, until his son finally began to walk. What a delight to have his little boy follow him around the house. Each day was better than the previous. Then one day he was told that he and his wife, with their son, must appear in court. They went as commanded. At the conclusion of the proceedings, someone picked up his son, walked across the courtroom and out a door. That was the last time he ever saw his son. A large portion of his heart was ripped out of his body at that moment. The anguish he has experienced not many have known.

It has probably been six months that he has been attending our church at the nursing home. He has amazed us with his love for the Lord Jesus and knowing so many of the old hymns. I’m guessing he is in his seventies. Tall and thin, he still gets around quite well with a walker or cane. It might be that those size-twelve boots add to his stability, but if not, he keeps himself upright through sheer determination.

He has trouble speaking, and you have to listen carefully to understand him. That doesn’t seem to bother him, though, even if I ask him to repeat something. He has a room to himself, and it is quite full with furniture that the county brought over from his house.

Several weeks ago he was telling me about how he had set his room up, so I walked down the hall with him to look at it. The couch was strategically placed at one end of the room. He went on to tell me about how he moved his two dressers and his reasons for placing them just so. I cautioned him about moving such heavy things alone. With a twinkle in his eye, he said how the staff didn’t want him to, but he could do it just fine by himself.

He has a picture of his wife and him on the opposite wall from his bed. He will tear-up just about every time he speaks of her passing away. They didn’t have much, but they had each other and the Lord Jesus.

One Sunday coming home from church, I was telling the family about my conversation with him, just minutes earlier. I shared about our discussion and that at the end, he said how he prays every day for his son’s walk with the Lord. He has no idea where his son is, but he also prays that someday he will be able to see him again. As I tried to finish telling the family what he had told me, that he has trusted God . . . I just couldn’t get all the words out without breaking down. I finally sort of squeaked out that he was trusting God with his son.

I almost can’t even write this because my heart feels like it is in a vise. This man of God has suffered so deeply for all these years. He has been able to deal with his grief through his faith in God. I detect no bitterness. I think if there were any, it would have killed him by now.

I share this story because I felt there was a powerful lesson for each of us. He had his son taken from him many, many years ago. He has not been able to do anything for his son except pray—and pray he has. He would have given everything he has to exchange places with any of us dads. He wanted to have children around him—to love them, hold them, and teach them. I’m convinced that no matter what your circumstances, he would gladly change places with you in a heartbeat.

Dad, how do you look at your wife and children? Are they your delight or a burden? Are you excited to be able to spend time with them? Do you spend time with them, and what do you do with them?

My friend could do nothing to disciple and shape his son. What are we doing to disciple our children? Are we leading our family in a daily Bible time? Are we spending meaningful one-on-one time with them? Have you gladly forsaken “your” time for time with your family?

When my friend stands before the Lord Jesus someday to give account for his life, with a clear conscience he will be able to say he did everything he could to raise his son in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Will we be able to say that? While there is still time, may we turn our hearts to our children and have an active daily role in shaping their lives. “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6).

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Pride – Part 2

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I wonder if pride isn’t the number-one accepted sin in Christian circles. A church may discipline men for using alcohol or being immoral, but I have never heard of a man being disciplined because of his pride. Pride is an abomination to God. Pride is what cast Satan from heaven and brought hell to earth. We will tolerate it in our lives but react to it in others. It is at the root of all contention and an abomination to God. It often destroys marriages and can be a tremendous factor in losing the hearts of our children. Yet, if God hates it, why don’t we? I wonder if one reason we don’t hate pride is because we feel so helpless to kill it in our lives.

In September’s Dad’s Corner we discussed pride. This month we will finish with some further thoughts on it. Let’s briefly look over the verses that were listed in a previous Corner.

Proverbs 6:16-17, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.”

Proverbs 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

Proverbs 21:4, “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.”

Proverbs 21:24, “Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.”

For the man who despises pride in his own life, there is hope. For the man who tolerates it, there is a fall coming. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

As I shared previously in Part 1, one night in frustration I prayed, “Lord, if pride is so awful, then why don’t You plainly tell us how to put it away?” Since humility is the opposite of pride, why didn’t He tell us step-by-step how to be humble? Soon after that, as I was studying a section of Scripture, I was thrilled as I realized that He has told us. Frankly, it is about as close to step-by-step instructions as I could have hoped for.

I believe that 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is key in overcoming pride. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Looking at these verses, one can soon see that the focus is on the other person. Every aspect of each verse requires a choice on the part of the person who loves the other. We are not at the mercy of some emotional feeling that catches hold of us and propels us toward loving the person more. The love being shared here is a choice based on a rational decision to place value on the other, and then express it in a tangible way.

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35). Notice it isn’t by our humility that all men will know we are His disciples, but by our love. In time, humility will be a by-product of our love, but choosing to love is where it begins. Is that really it? Is it that simple? All we have to do is love others according to 1 Corinthians 13.

When pride brought sin into the world, what was God’s answer? His answer was Christ Jesus and His atoning work on the cross. Jesus said, “. . . as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). What was God’s motivation? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son . . .” (John 3:16).

Love is the answer to pride. Pride is focused on self, and love (agape) is focused on others. We can’t focus on ourselves and still be able to love others. We really can’t be proud and love others in accordance with 1 Corinthians 13. Look how simple it is to get rid of our pride!

Unfortunately, as soon as we begin in earnest to love as we are told to, we discover a problem. At least I have discovered a problem when I tried to love according to 1 Corinthians 13. It seems impossible!

Charity is patient. Charity is kind. Charity does not envy. Charity does not boast. Charity is not proud. Charity is not rude. Charity is not self-seeking. Charity is not easily angered. Charity keeps no record of wrong. Charity does not delight in evil. Charity delights in truth. Charity always protects. Charity always hopes. Charity always trusts. Charity always perseveres.

At the same time, pride is impatient. Pride is unkind. Pride envies. Pride boasts. Pride is rude. Pride is self-seeking. Pride is easily angered. Pride keeps record of wrongs. Pride delights in finding evil in others. Pride rejects truth about oneself. Pride only protects self. Pride can’t hope because it trusts in self. Pride quits when it gets too uncomfortable.

I think these next two verses present a further explanation of the relationship between love and pride. In Matthew 22:40 Jesus says, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” If we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourself, we fulfill all the law. Paul explains that “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10).

The law was meant to show the Jews they could not fulfill it themselves by their own goodness and efforts. I believe God is showing believers the same thing. We can’t fulfill the law of love in our own strength and character. Without His power and intervention, we are helpless to love as we are commanded. The more we try to love, the more we are humbled as we see we are unable to love others in our own strength. As hopeless as it is for any lost person to earn salvation by doing good or keeping the law, it is impossible for a Christian to love as we are commanded to love. (I’m not saying that if we fail to love others we will lose our salvation. Christ has purchased that fully for us.)

I believe that what we will find is that love for others will lead us down a path to the cross. It did for Christ, and it will for us as well. Brothers, pride dies on the cross. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). As Christ surrendered His will to the Father and only did and said what the Father showed Him and told Him, may we surrender to the Lord and let Him simply work through us. We become vehicles for Him to love through us.

I don’t believe focusing on pride is the answer. Killing pride is simple, just not easy. The Jews had to humble themselves because they couldn’t fulfill the law in their own strength. We will be humbled as we take up our cross of love. We need to make the choice to love, and God provides His grace if we will surrender our will. If we will surrender, our homes will be transformed. May we be committed to loving as God has called us to, all the while crying out to the Lord to use us as a channel for Him to love through us. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Pride – Part 1

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It would be quite revealing if we took a survey and asked how many dads have a struggle with pride. I expect most dads who have either read the Bible much or heard many sermons would say they wish they were less proud. Although I know one dad who seems to be somewhat proud of his pride, most everyone else I know (if it has come up in conversation) would prefer not to be proud.

So why would most Christians want to be less proud? Maybe we could go so far as to ask why would some desire to be humble and not proud at all? Let me list a few verses about pride and let them speak for themselves.

Proverbs 6:16-17, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.”

Proverbs 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

Proverbs 21:4, “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.”

Proverbs 21:24, “Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.”

These verses seem to come on pretty strongly against pride. After reading them, I find myself wondering how I could ever have thought, “I really don’t like my pride, but thankfully it isn’t a big problem for me.” I wonder if that attitude isn’t similar to being willing to drink a glass of milk with only two drops of sewage in it. Just two small drops—that isn’t much, is it? Okay, what if we cut it down by 50 percent and make it only one drop of raw sewage in a nice big glass of cold milk. Who would drink it?

Why am I willing to live with just a little pride when God’s Word calls it an abomination? An abomination is something that is an abhorrence, or is disgusting, to God. Proverbs 16:5 says that a proud heart makes God sick, and He loathes it.

I think there are two reasons why I have allowed a “little” pride to be justifiable in my life. First, I have always seen Scripture as if it was talking about having too much pride. This was an incorrect assumption. Surely I didn’t have too much. The second reason is even a bigger issue; I’ve not seen Scripture telling how to remove pride from a person’s life. If there is no way to remove it, then we can’t be held accountable for it, can we? That’s another incorrect assumption.

Maybe there is some threshold of pride we can’t exceed. What is it going to hurt the average dad with the average amount of pride? Unfortunately, if pride being an abomination to God isn’t enough, there is the practical issue that we really aren’t able to love our family and others as 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 instructs us. We can see that pride is the root cause that keeps us from loving others. (“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”)

If we open up our minds, it isn’t too difficult to see that pride is the main reason why we struggle with being good fathers. It keeps us from being loving because:

  • Pride says our time is more important than anyone else’s.
  • Pride says why be kind? Everyone is here for our benefit as we are the most important.
  • Pride says everyone delights in hearing all about the wonderful things we have done, and so why listen to anyone else.
  • Pride is rude because our feelings are the only ones that matter.
  • Pride is selfish because our pleasure is most important.
  • Pride is easily angered because our rights come first, and everyone must put us first.
  • Pride thinks the worst of everyone because no one is as good as we are, and frankly, thinking the worst of others makes us feel better.

As I began thinking about pride and how serious it is, I found myself asking the Lord a question in my heart. “Lord, if pride is so terrible, then why isn’t it very clearly dealt with in Your Word?” It would have been so easy for the Lord to have devoted a whole book to removing pride from our lives. If not a whole book, why not a whole chapter?

God is so merciful in answering prayers. I think in some ways I would have preferred to remain ignorant about pride in my life and how to deal with it, yet I believe God showed me the answer in His Word. It may not be as revolutionary to you as it was to me, but it sure was amazing as I have studied it. I challenge you to read further.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Look at the company pride keeps—evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, and foolishness. We look at most of these, and we can see that no “good” Christian would allow these in his life. Why not? He wouldn’t tolerate them, because they are just too bad. He couldn’t allow it. How much murder, adultery, and fornication have you allowed in your life lately? Hmmmm.

Now read, “Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken” (Jeremiah 13:15) and, “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16). Here we read two clear, direct commands regarding pride. In essence, we are told not to be proud. God never tells us not to do something if we aren’t able not to do it. If He tells us to stop doing something, then we can and should stop it.

Frankly put, pride is an abomination to God, it is sin, and He has told us to put it away. How much is acceptable? The answer is clear—none! The reason we don’t commit the other sins I mentioned above is because we choose not to do them. Plain and simple. That means that pride is also a choice.

There is something that makes ridding our lives of pride especially difficult. Not only is it a choice, but unfortunately, it is a habit in varying degrees. The greater the habit, the more difficult it is to cast off. God shows no sympathy toward our pride. It is an abomination. There is nothing to feel sorry for ourselves over. Truly, what we need to do is repent over our pride.

Would you like to see real revival break loose in your home? I know I would. Would you join me in focusing on pride in our prayers and daily Bible reading? May we cry out to the Lord and ask Him to examine our hearts. May we memorize several verses on pride. As we go to sleep, let the truth of those verses cut deep into our hearts, bringing true repentance.

May our hearts be prepared for next month when we look at what I believe God has set as the cure for pride. Will you join me and see what the Lord Jesus will do with hearts that are surrendered to Him?