Tripping, I would assume we have all done it. When we’re not paying attention to our surroundings we can easily trip over something that is out in the open. In the illustration above you will note that a cell phone is being tossed out of the hand of the one falling! Many, many people are more interested in their texts, emails or calls on their cell phones they are oblivious to what’s actually around them. They will bump into people, animals, cars or just about anything that is in their way.
One key to not tripping and falling on our face is to be observant of what is around us. That car or person or animal weren’t hiding behind anything. Rather, they are in plain sight. And, with just a little bit of good vision we would easily step around it. But, being focused upon the wrong thing we fall flat on our face! There goes our pride.
Spiritually we are prone to tripping and falling for the same reason. Because we get our eyes on the wrong things we are in danger of falling. The Apostle Jude has reminded us that false teachers and teaching are all around us. Some of it is right out in the open, while others are more hidden. But, in either case, if we are alert and have our eyes properly focused we will not be tripped up.
You may have been the spiritual race long enough that you might be getting weary and tired. Maybe you’ve just about played out all of your strength in standing against the enemies around you. In this weakened state it is even easier to fall. That is why Jude reminds us, “Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling…” Our great and powerful God is able to keep us upright and marching on in victory. Sometimes He uses others to come alongside and lift us up!
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona Spain Derek Redmond got ready to run the 400 meter semifinal race. He was a shoo-in to make the finals. Approximately 175 meters from the finish Derek’s hamstring popped and his race was over, or so it seemed. This day, he may not win, but he would FINISH. As he hobbled to the finish line a man came running onto the track. Officials tried to stop him until they heard him say, “That’s my son.” Derek’s dad is reported to have said his son, “You don’t have to do this.” To which Derek replied, “Oh yes I do.” His father said, “Then we will finish this race together.” And they did. No, he didn’t win a medal. He just won the hearts of the 65,000 plus fans who were standing, cheering and urging him on.
Have you tripped because you took your eyes off the Lord? Are you fallen along the way because you became distracted by other things? Do we see people needing our assistance? May we stay in the race by keeping our focus upon the One who is able to keep us from falling. But, if we do, let’s not stay on the turf. Let’s get up and finish the race. And, along the way, we just might be the person who comes to the aid of those who have fallen.
Mothers, fathers, children; where would we be without them? All of us reading this have a father and a mother. No one, except Jesus Christ, enters the world without benefit of a mom and a dad. Some of our moms or dads may not have been a good role model, but we could not be alive today without them. The Bible says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord.” Children are precious gifts to many married couples from our Heavenly Father. Yet, He chooses some couples to not have children. His wisdom is always best, even in these situations. But, to most of us, we have been blessed with children.
Today, some couples are getting married with the express desire to go through all of married life without children. Some do it for medical reasons. However, some simply decide that they do not want the responsibility of raising a child. They might blame the condition of the world or economic issues. But, they are robbing themselves of one of the greatest blessings God has given to married couples. Even in the difficult times, children are a blessing.
Sunday we will move forward in our study of the Book of Ephesians to chapter six verses one to four. In this section the Apostle Paul tells us how Spirit-filled children, parents and fathers will look and act like. He will lay down a number of principles for each one to demonstrate in their lives to show the world the grace of God in action. He will impress upon us how to imitate the relationship between the Son of God and His Father.
Do you know when the first Mother’s Day was celebrated in America? 1908. Do you know hen the first Father’s Day was celebrated in America? 1910. Now, do you know when the first Children’s Day was celebrated in America? 1925? NO! 1950? NO! Actually, the first Children’s Day was celebrated over 40 years before the first Mother’s Day; 1867! Before Ann Jarvis began to petition for a day to remember mothers, churches were setting aside a day to remember children. Without children a society dies. Without obedient children a society falls apart. Children are truly the future of any community of people.
Strong Christian families are needed today. Mothers are needed who love and serve the Lord and are Spirit-filled in living for Him. Fathers are needed who love and serve the Lord and are Spirit-filled in living for Him. And, children are needed who love and serve the Lord and are Spirit-filled in living for Him. The Apostle Paul will give instruction on how this can happen.
Sunday I will share 10 reasons we often raise “angry” children. Do you wonder why more and more children are going up mad at the world around them? I will list what I believe to be 10 causes for this phenomenon. This list is not inspired not exhaustive. Still, it will give us food for thought as to what we can do set our children on a course to love and serve the Lord.
What is our purpose? What is our role? What is our function? Is this simply three ways to ask the same question? Is our purpose the same as our role which is the same as our function? Is it related to how the words are used in a particular context? Let’s see.
When we speak of a role our minds will often interpret this as in the role an actor plays. The part, or role, he or she plays is not their real life or their real job or their real family. They are given a part to play and they say woods given to them to say. People who play the role of a smart person may or may not be as smart as they appear. An actor or actress play the part, let’s say, of a doctor may perform that role extremely Well. But, I for one, will not call upon them when I need surgery!
Purpose has become an overly used word in our day. It seems everyone from Rick Warren to Dr. Phil uses this word! Of course a legitimate use of it is fine. But any word or thought that is overused loses its significance. What our most important purpose on earth do is to glorify God.
But, I want to think about function. How we function is part of doing what God has called us to do. Each of us functions in many different capacities. For instance, each of us functions as a producer. That is, we function as a worker. Some of us function as a parent. Everyone has a parent, but not all of us will be parents. Another function some of us will take on is that of a partner. Not as a partner in a company, but functioning as a partner in marriage. Every husband and wife have certain functions that are more related them them than to the other. In the coming weeks we will be looking into these functions in relationship of the biblical family.
Though I will use these three words somewhat interchangeably, I want to try to focus on the thought of function. I don’t want us to just be “playing a role.” I don’t want us to just know what our purpose is to be. Rather, I want us to function in way God has called us to function. If husbands and wives, moms, dad, and children would do this, Christian homes would better reflect Jesus Christ.
So, how’s your function quotient. In mathematics the term function is used of inputs and outputs. A home will only put out what is being put into it. Let’s commit to functioning well.
