May 2013 – Page 5 – Old Paths Journal

This Little Light of Mine

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
by: Bette Owens

Jesus said in John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” But, He also said in Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

I was humming the song, “This Little Light Of Mine,” and then I started thinking about my light and the condition is it in. Actually, I am the light. My next thought was, whatever condition I am in is the condition of my light. Is my light shining as bright as it should through the battles of life? Does my light give light to others? When others are struggling and having a hard time seeing clearly, is my light there, shining brightly and helping them through life? What are some problems that can make our light flicker, go dim or not shine like it should? I simply started to think about the light bulbs all around us.

A light bulb not connected to the main power source will be a problem. If you never have accepted Christ as your Saviour, then your light will not be able to shine. Salvation is the power source that makes the light glow. Jesus Christ is our main power source, and without Him we can not shine. Without Him there is no power for us to shine.

Maybe you are saved, connected to the power source, but there is a bad connection. I know I say it over and over again, but if we don’t faithfully read God’s Word or allow God’s Word to get into us, we will not have the strength or power we need to shine for Him. The less time we spend in God’s Word, or spending no time with our power source, is like a broken wire or a switch turned off, which will stop the flow of power. Unless we get into God’s Word and spend time with Him, our light will go off and eventually be of no effect. I remember times when we had a bad headlight in our van. My husband would have to get out and hit the headlight, sometimes shake it a little and it would come on. This went on for sometime until hitting and shaking did not work any more and he had to change the bulb. This was just like depending only on preaching to get God’s Word. The preaching shakes us up and we brighten, but only for awhile. How many times in our lives do we have to be shaken and hit before we realize we need to change some things? We need to make sure that God’s Word is connected directly to us and flowing through us. Changing the headlight was a very simple fix so that the power could produce light. Reading God’s Word is a simple solution. This is true in our spiritual life; it is usually just the simple little things that we need to change, like not neglecting God’s Word, taking time to pray, obeying and putting God first.

You might be plugged in, you have accepted Christ and your power is on, but your light is still very dim. Our light might not be shining very bright because there is dirt on the bulb, we have a dirty globe. The globe is the part of the bulb that the light shines through. The things of the world will very quickly make our globe dirty and dim the light. This is a Christian who reads the Bible and prays, but also continues in sin. Our bodies are the temple of God. Our bodies are what the Holy Spirit shines through. Sin allows the filth and cares of the world to put dust and dirt on our globe so God’s light cannot shine through. Sin can even stop us from realizing how dusty our globes are. It seems like I can dust my light fixtures or take them down and wash them, but the dust just keeps collecting right back on them. The same thing happens to us spiritually and we have to keep cleaning ourselves up. Every day we must clean off the dirt and dust. This world constantly clouds our thinking, dirties our lives, and dims the light of Jesus. We not only have to read God’s Word, but must make sure we follow its directions to clean us up and to live our lives. How we think, what we wear, where we go, how we treat others, everything we do and every step we take in life needs to line up with God’s Word. A good bulb is one whose light brightens the darkness outside, but the darkness outside does not dim the bulb.

Sometimes our light doesn’t shine bright because of a bad bulb. Oh, the power is on, but somewhere in the bulb there is a short. Sin can also short-circuit the power. Sometimes right before a bulb burns out it starts to flicker, it shines bright and flickers, goes dull and then shines bright again. It will continue to flicker back and forth until eventually it burns completely out. So many Christians are like a light bulb going bad. We shine bright and are busy serving in church and then something comes along and we start to flicker. We have a problem and start flickering on and off, then we get over it and start shining again. We get into God’s Word and start talking to God, confess our sin and start getting faithful to church again. Then heartache comes, unjust treatment comes, things just don’t seem fair, it could even be a time you just feel lonely by standing alone for right, so we start to flicker. When a bulb starts to flicker it is because there is a weak place in the flow of power, there is a problem somewhere. A flickering bulb is a sign of trouble. Eventually the bulb will continue to weaken and the power will not be able to shine through and the bulb will burn out. The same thing happens in our Christian life. When we start to flicker, become unfaithful or inconsistent, we need to look for the problem. It is less difficult to be consistent than to flicker on and off. Inconsistency will eventually lead to burn out. When a light bulb keeps flickering it really isn’t much good because it will not last long. Just like we need to have a consistent light that we can count on to shine, we also need to be a consistent light shining for Jesus Christ.

When we aren’t a consistent light, others will be effected by our flickering. Our families need to see a consistent light. Your husband and children need someone whom they can count on to be consistent, not one that is on today and off tomorrow. A flickering light is actually very annoying. We are like a flashlight to others. What good is a flashlight that is weak or flickering when there is trouble and you need it? Others need to see someone who consistently shines no matter what comes their way. Others may think you are a fanatic, others may think you are too strict, others may think a little dust won’t hurt, and others may think God will understand if we are too busy for church, but you are actually the light that they need to see. Others need to see a lady who loves God and is connected to the power source of God’s Word and will not let anything keep her light from shining. They need to see a Christian lady who consistently works at keeping her light bright and shining. Perfect? No, but a woman who fears God and believes His Word and follows Him and Him alone. Her loyalty is to Jesus and no one else, because He is the only way she can shine.

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine till Jesus comes, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Mrs. Bette Owens
Pastor’s wife
Westside Baptist Church
Pacifica, CA

Victory Through Suffering

VICTORY THROUGH SUFFERING
THE TRUE STORY OF MR. LARRY NICHELL AS PREPARED BY HIS MOTHER
by: Neva Lanning

Please let me tell you of a beautiful life and most courageous death of a young man.

As a boy he was obedient, pleasant, and never in any serious trouble. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his cars. After high school he found good employment. However, soon after his employment, things heated up in Vietnam. Realizing he would be drafted he enlisted for three years.

During the previous year, he spent many evenings in his room studying the Bible. God used those evenings to speak to his heart. He realized his need to be saved andd received the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart and life. He was baptized and added to his local church the very day he was inducted into the U.S. Army.

Chris t changed his life completely. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) He experienced a day to day fellowship with the Lord Jesus throughout his military life. He was a faithful witness. He won a soldier to Christ while in Germany and both sent their tithes and offerings back to his church. That convert was baptized and continued serving the Lord upon his return to the States.

While other soldiers spent their evenings dating, drinking, and gambling, this very special young Christian quietly read his Bible while in his bunk. His off duty days were often spent at an orphanage nearby, showing love to the precious children who had no parents to love them. He found joy in leading a life completely separated from the world system.

God watched over him in the life threatening jungle warfare of Vietnam. Though many were killed around him, our boy returned safely to those who loved him so much.

Upon returning home, he soon married a girl whom he believed was God’s choice for him. God blessed them with two precious children. He had a wonderful job with an eastern Kentucky coal company and was held in high regard at his place of employment. He bought a farm in the mountains he so dearly loved and eventually had a fine, comfortable home there.

Because he love the Lord and the precious souls of men, he faithfully served in a country church working with the bus ministry and junior church. He traveled many miles up muddy mountain roads, and sometimes dry creek beds, to load up his bus with children and adults. He often spent Saturdays involved in activities for his church youth group or out on visitation, as well as visiting the sick. Much money and many hours were spent in this tireless youth work. He gave them treats, prizes and rewarded them for good behavior. Thus, many came to be taught the Gospel and were saved. His church loved him and especially those children. Only eternity will reveal all the results of his ministry. Vacation time often found him either hunting with his brother in the mountains of Virginia or taking his family to a great Bible camp in Georgia.

In the midst of such a life of loving service, he experienced health problems that soon were diagnosed as cancer. The surgeon reported to the family that the cancer had spread considerably and was terminal. “If someone in my family is to suffer this, I’m glad it’s me. I know that I’m saved and ready for Heaven,” he said. His continual faith and courage left us with a testimony never to be forgotten. He found that into the most tragic of situations, God’s constant presence and precious promises were sufficient for the remaining year of declining strength and health, including his last and forty-fifth birthday. Though hundreds of friends and relatives pleaded with God for his life, we would acknowledge that God’s thoughts and ways are above ours.

The following are only a few of the many promises our loved one claimed during his illness that brought comfort to his heart.

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15

“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)

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” (Psalm 73:26)

When we don’t understand what God is doing in a life, we must have faith to believe that everything is in His control. Only when we get to Heaven will we have all the answers. When we die, we don’t lose our life; we just change it for a much better one. The hardships and heartaches we endure in this life are given by the Master for the purpose of enabling us to win a crown.

The hardest things are those the world knows little about, the trials, burdens and sorrows hidden in our heart and known only to God. It isn’t how long we live, but how well we live that counts for eternity.

We learn through difficult experiences that God is good and no matter how bad life may get, when we get to Heaven one day, and all the bad times are past, we will fully understand and praise Him for His goodness.

Neva Lanning
Faithful church member
Cynthiana, KY

The War Within Us

THE WAR WITHIN US
by: Tim Forgy

Young person, do you ever feel like you just can’t seem to eliminate the desires that draw you toward sin and destruction? Don’t you hate it when you realize that you have just done or said something that was displeasing to God, and you knew better? Well, as frustrating as that is to you, (if you are doing your best to follow God’s will for your life) you are in good company. The great apostle Paul experienced the exact same conflict – knowing the right thing to do, but finding himself doing the wrong thing; wanting to do the right thing, but often behaving the wrong way. In Romans 7, Paul gives us the tongue-twisting account of the battle between right and wrong that he constantly faced within himself. In verses 14 – 25, he is very clear that the flesh is sinful, “…in my flesh dwelleth no good thing…,” and he was ever at war against the desires of the flesh in order to fulfill the desires of his mind, which longed for godliness.

Perhaps that is a relief to you, knowing that you are not the only one who faces a struggle between right and wrong. Better still, in 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul lets us know of his rewards awaiting him in Heaven, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day…” How did Paul go from doing wrong when he meant to do right, to getting a “crown of righteousness”? I think he shares the secret in verse 7, that he will be awarded such an honor: “I have fought a good fight…”

Undoubtedly, one area where Paul could say that he “fought a good fight” was in the war that raged within his members. He never gave up, and he never gave in to the desires of his flesh — hence the WAR that was in his members. When his flesh wanted to do the wrong thing, Paul fought back to do the right thing. It wasn’t that the Christian life was an easy, effortless victory for Paul, it’s that he fought; and when he fought, he began to win. How about YOU, young person? Is there a war in your members, or do you just let the flesh do whatever it feels like doing without any resistance whatsoever? Have you given up in the fight against the flesh and just decided to go along with whatever you feel like doing or saying? Guess what kind of crown God reserves in Heaven for quitters? Yes, probably an invisible crown made out of nothing that can be see. There ought to be a war inside of you.

When your flesh wants to do wrong, fight a good fight!

When your flesh longs to lust for things it should not yet have, fight a good fight!

When your eyes wander to look at things they shouldn’t, fight a good fight!

When your tongue longs to criticize and humiliate others, fight a good fight!

When your mouth is about to speak cruel, belittling words, fight a good fight!

When your lips like to wound others without cause or care, fight a good fight!

When your low self-esteem causes you to attack the successes of others, fight a good fight!

When your insecurities cause you to feel jealous of someone else, fight a good fight!

When your personality conflict with another person causes you to want to ignore or mistreat them, fight a good fight!

When your need to be accepted by others causes you to forsake the rules and principles you have been taught, fight a good fight!

When the need of your flesh to be “popular” tempts you to avoid certain people who do not elevate your “status,” fight a good fight!

Teenager, do not give in to the flesh without a fight! There is no shame in the war that rages within your members and your struggle to do right. Shame belongs to those who have given up – those who have no war inside. That struggle says you are trying, not dying. That struggle says you are going on, not giving up. That struggle is a badge of honor, not a mark of shame.

When your flesh enjoys the beat and rhythm of worldly music, fight a good fight!

When your desire for adventure entices you to play video games that are in no way useful, helpful, or godly – in fact are worthless, destructive, and satanic – fight a good fight!

When your thirst for entertainment tempts you to watch shows or movies that will excite your flesh but destroy your soul, fight a good fight!

When your hormones, your need for attention or your insecurities tell you it’s time to “fall in love,” fight a good fight and wait on the Lord!

When your desire for affection from the opposite gender leads you to betray who you are and lower your standards, fight the good fight and stay true to God and to yourself!

When your burdens cause you to seek pity and sympathy, fight a good fight and stay joyful!

When your flesh longs to complain, fight a good fight and praise God!

Your tongue may want to talk back to your parents, but fight a good fight to honor them!

Your members may want to exaggerate or make up “abuses” done to you by authority, but fight a good fight and take ownership of your poor behavior!

Your flesh may want to quit and give it all up, but fight a good fight and keep going!

Your body may be weary, but fight on with perseverance!

Your mind may be exhausted, but fight on with faithfulness!

Your patience may be almost out, but fight on with longsuffering!

Teenager, do NOT go along with your feelings and what you may want to do – what the Devil wants you to do – fight! Learn the right, and then do the right. Get a picture in your mind of who and what God wants you to be, and then fight to be that person!

When your flesh screams for attention, fight for humility!

When your members want to be seen and admired, fight for modesty!

When your flesh wants to touch that which is forbidden, fight for purity!

When your members want to talk about anything that is inappropriate, fight for wholesome words!

When your members want to dwell on carnal lusts, fight for holiness!

When your members want to look, act, and live like the world, fight for godliness!

When your members want to rule, fight to serve instead!

Success does not come in following your flesh, but fighting it. Christianity does not give in to temptation, true Christianity fights it. Victory does not come from surrendering, it comes from fighting!

Mediocre people meander along wherever the flesh leads them. Conquerors fight the flesh. They fight to stay pure, to stay holy, to stay humble, to stay loyal, obedient, faithful, respectful, kind, and joyful. They fight to work hard, to serve others, to honor those in authority, to discipline themselves, to be a soul winner, an encourager, a good friend, and a godly example.

It doesn’t matter how strong the pull of the flesh is…FIGHT!

It doesn’t matter how tough the battle is…FIGHT!

It doesn’t matter how strong your feelings are…FIGHT!

It doesn’t matter how young you are…FIGHT!

It doesn’t matter how popular you are…FIGHT!

What matters is that you keep fighting. Get something inside of you that says, “I will NOT give up or give in to my flesh. I will fight!”

Fighting gets the blood flowing, the body temperature up, the senses alert, and the heart pumping. Fighting gets you excited. It gives you enthusiasm. It makes you feel alive. Fighting strengthens the body, sharpens the mind, and energizes the spirit. Fighting gets God’s attention, His approval, and His assistance.

Giving in, on the other hand, dulls the senses, weakens the body, deadens the mind, and crushes the spirit. Giving in causes a sour attitude. It steals your joy. It even causes you to criticize those who are still fighting.

The fighter is better than the spectator, better than the critic, the bystander, or the heckler. Even if the fighter is getting beat, at least he’s fighting!

Young person, FIGHT! Sin may win, and you may do that which you would not, but at least let your members know that they were in a battle. Keep fighting, and you will start winning, and winning feels great! There is no victory without a battle. Don’t be a Christian who has no war in their members – who has lost their fight. Don’t be influenced by the quitters – FIGHT! It is then that you will join Paul in receiving your “crown of righteousness” which the Lord shall give you one day. KEEP FIGHTING!

Tim Forgy
Youth Pastor
Longview Baptist Temple
Longview, TX

America’s “Great Awakening” Revivals

AMERICA’S “GREAT AWAKENING” REVIVALS
by: John Chamberlain

In the history of revivals, the First and Second Great Awakening stand out. The sincere preaching of the first Great Awakening was due in part as a response to a spiritual coldness that had settled in the New World (America) after the original settlers began to die out. Their children were less pious. Many were positively lost! They wanted the benefit of church membership without being “born again.” Feel-good pastors developed the Half-Way Covenant where they accepted into their churches members with no profession of salvation through Jesus Christ. They hoped that these “members” would eventually want to trust Christ. Against this evil practice, God used Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield to begin a true revival of the Gospel which was called The Great Awakening. One of the benefits of this revival was the preaching of freedom and liberty in Christ. The Great Awakening paved the way for the liberation of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution.

Re-viv-al is the beginning of spiritual life anew. You would think that a momentous political event like the American Revolution would keep religious fervor at work for generations, but alas, all too soon, the preaching of Edwards was forgotten. Note therefore, revivals of faith are needed often.

The late J. Edwin Orr tells of the sorry spiritual condition of the nation in the late 1700’s. “In the wake of the American Revolution there was a moral slump. Drunkenness became epidemic. Profanity was of the most shocking kind. Women were afraid to go out at night. Bank robberies were a daily occurrence. Chief Justice of the United States, John Marshall, wrote to a bishop that the church ‘was too far gone ever to be redeemed.’”

The atheist Voltaire said, “Christianity will be forgotten in thirty years.” Religious colleges such as Princeton and Harvard had only a few that would even claim to be Christians! Students from Dartmouth stole a Bible out of a church and burned it in public.

Historian Kenneth Latourette wrote, “It seemed as if Christianity were about to be ushered out of the affairs of men.” What changed this sad state of affairs? A heaven-sent revival–The Second Great Awakening–came about when the people of God began to pray for it. Do it again, Lord! America needs it! Are you earnestly praying?

John Chamberlain
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Cynthiana, KY

Let’s Never Forget

LET’S NEVER FORGET
by: Allen Domelle

Last month should be a month America never forgets. But, if we do what we have always done, it won’t be long until we get back to our normal godless ways.

On Monday, April 15, 2013, two cowardly Muslim terrorists set off two bombs that killed three and injured more than 170 people. I was barely getting off the plane when I read the news report about this tragedy. The next five days America patiently waited until finally on Friday night, April 19th, the last bomber was captured alive. Yes, I rejoiced that these two cowards were either killed or captured.

As we watched the events of the law enforcement chasing these two men, my daughter asked me if this was what it was like on September 11, 2001. She was too young to remember what happened on that day. The only thing she knew about that infamous day was what she had either heard from my wife and I talking about it or what the news media occasionally mentioned about it.

What struck me about this past month is how quickly we forget tragedies. You would think America would stay alert after September 11, 2001. Sadly, we let our guard down and more innocent victims are killed and injured. The lives of those injured will never be the same. Many who went to either run the marathon or see a loved one cross the finish line never imagined that their life would be changed forever. Over 170 people will, for the rest of their lives, pay the price for those who should have been more alert. I certainly understand that you can’t stop everything, but there is no doubt in my mind that this could have been averted.

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” God warns that the adversary is always lurking to attack and attempting to destroy us. The adversary never sleeps. The adversary never forgets. You can’t negotiate with the adversary, because the only thing they want is to devour you. When the adversary negotiates an agreement, they don’t intend to keep it because their whole intent is to destroy you.

My desire is that America will never forget the events of April 15, 2013. I know I’m asking a lot of people, but we must always remember there are evil nations and evil people who, like the Devil, want to devour and destroy our nation. Our political leaders need to remember that no one can negotiate with terrorists. The only desire of the terrorists is to destroy America. Why do these terrorists hate America? It’s not because we are a wealthy nation. It’s not because of our way of life. There are other nations that are wealthy and live comfortably. Make no mistake, it is because we support Israel, and we claim to be one nation under Jehovah God. They hate America because of the God on Whom we were founded. They hate America because we stand with God’s people, Israel. This is the whole reason why they want America destroyed.

We must never let our guard down. We must never think that the Muslim religion is a peace-loving religion. It is a religion of hate that wants one thing; America completely destroyed! Political posturing doesn’t strengthen America, instead it weakens her. Pushing God out of the public arena will not strengthen our nation, rather it will destroy our nation. We must remember Who made this nation strong, and the Who is Jehovah God. We must not push Him out for the sake of political correctness, but we must push political correctness out for the sake of God. We must not try to lower God to our lifestyle, but we must raise our lifestyle to God’s expectations. We can stop these mindless, cowardly acts if we will acknowledge that those who want to live in our country and become citizens must understand that we are “One nation under God,” and not “One nation under many gods.” When they come to our nation, they need to leave their gods behind.

Christian, let me encourage you to never forget the acts of last month. Don’t ever forget that the Devil is out to destroy our nation. He destroys it by getting Christians to let up. He destroys it by getting us to let up our guard. If you will keep your life in tune with how God wants you to live, then you will be aware of the Devil’s agenda. Check your heart and life and be sure that you are doing what God would want you to do. Always remember that the blessings upon a nation are dependent upon God’s people. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” If you want God to heal your nation, then you must humble yourself before God, confess your sins to him and live according to His Word. This is the only way that we can be sure to never forget.

Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.

When Parents Disappoint

WHEN PARENTS DISAPPOINT
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FEEL YOUR PARENTS DID YOU WRONG
by: Allen Domelle

We all have them. We didn’t choose them. They didn’t choose us. They will have us for the rest of their lives. We will have them for the rest of their lives. In fact, God didn’t even give us a chance to trade them in for a better model. Whether good or bad, we are stuck or blessed with each other for the rest of our lives. Yes, I am talking about your parents!

I’m amazed at a society that seems to disdain and attack their parents. I come from a generation where most seemed to revere and honor their parents. If someone said something bad about our parents, that was fighting ground. I come from a generation where you were aware that you just didn’t say bad things about your parents.

Yet, today we have a generation of adult children who, when their parents are gone or of the age that they really don’t feel like fighting, they smear their name or attack how they were reared. We live in a generation who thinks they know more than their parents, even though this generation has not really done anything great. My heart goes out to these parents who have given everything they had to make sure their children had the best, and yet their children are unappreciative and don’t give them the respect they deserve.

On the other hand, I also understand there are times when parents truly disappoint their children. Children have to carry the baggage of their parents crimes or misjudgments. I am not talking about disagreements here, I am talking about children who have to change the bad reputation that their parents gave them.

This article is not about judging whether your parents are right or wrong. The purpose of this article is to help those who for whatever reason feel their parents have disappointed them. This article is for those who feel that their parents have done them wrong. I’m not saying that your parents have done you wrong, I’m simply saying that you feel they’ve done you wrong. What do you do when this happens?

Ephesians 6:1-2 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” The key word in these verses is the word “honour.” God understood that children would not always agree with their parents. God understood that at times children would feel their parents did them wrong. Yet, in both cases God still expects the children to honor their parents. God didn’t say honor them when you agree with them. He didn’t say honor them only when you feel like they’ve not done you wrong. God says that we are to honor them, period!

So, what does it mean to honor our parents? Honoring your parents means to respect them simply for who they are. In other words, they are your parents, and you should hold them in regard because of that. It doesn’t say you have to like what they have done. It doesn’t say you have to personally like them. It doesn’t say you have to like what they do, but it does say you are to honor them. You are to respect them because they hold the position of parent in your life. Honoring your parents means to give them the dignity their position deserves. In other words, you don’t talk bad about them. You don’t talk about them in a derogatory manner. You don’t address them in the wrong way. You address them as your parents, and not by calling them by their first name. You honor your parents by doing what they’ve reared you to do. You honor your parents by not destroying their name with a wicked lifestyle. Whether or not you agree with your parents, you are to honor them.

The question one would ask is, to what degree do I honor them? The verses above are very interesting in that one verse commands children to obey their parents, and the other verse commands them to honor their parents. Notice, a child is to obey their parents, “in the Lord.” As long as your parents don’t tell you to do something that goes against the Word of God, then you are to obey them. Yet, honoring is something that can be done whether or not they are living a godly life, and whether or not they have treated you right. Honoring is something you do because of their position.

Because parents are human, and because we are human, there are going to be times when we disagree with our parents. Sadly, there may be times when our parents do something that hurts us. When parents do something that hurts you, you will be tempted to get even with them for the wrong you feel they have done to you. Again, let me make this clear, I’m not saying your parents have hurt you, I’m saying you perceive they have hurt you. In these instances, it would be wise to know how to respond when you feel your parents have hurt, wronged or disappointed you. Let me give you seven things to do when you feel your parents have done you wrong.

1. Remember the good they have done.

When parents wrong their children, it is very common for a child to completely forget all the good they did in their life. What your parents did may be severe, but you can always remember the good they did for you. Sometimes a child may have to look at their parent’s life in two separate windows. You may have to divide the good and the bad. But, when you divide them, you need to focus on the good times you had together. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This will be a decision you have to make. You will have to decide to look at the good, for human nature will steer you to look at the bad. Choose to remember the good that your parents did for you.

2. Don’t throw out the good that they taught.

We often hear the statement, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” I would like to turn that around and say, “Don’t throw your parent’s teachings out with the bathwater.” Okay, so your parents have done wrong and hurt you, that doesn’t mean the truths they taught you were bad. I have watched many young people completely throw everything out that their parents taught them because their parents hurt them so deeply. I beg you not to do this. Just because your parents may have fallen in sin does not mean all the good they taught you is bad. The scriptural truths they taught you are still true and right. Don’t throw that out simply because your parents have acted like sinful human beings.

3. Remember, your children are watching you.

You’ve heard the statement, “What goes around, comes around.” This is very true. God says in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The laws of sowing and reaping apply to you. If you mistreat your parents because you feel they wronged you, then you are training your children how to treat you if you ever wrong them. Don’t kid yourself, you are not the perfect parent. You will probably do something with which your child won’t agree and it may disappoint them or hurt them. I know, you don’t plan on it, but you’re human, and as humans we are prone to do things that hurt others. So, when you feel your parents have wronged you, treat them the same way you’ll want your children to treat you when you wrong or disappoint them. Most likely your children won’t agree with everything you do. So, remember that you’re children are watching how you treat your parents when they’ve wronged or hurt you. You are training them how to treat you in the future.

4. You are to still give them honor.

Honoring your parents is not something you do only when you agree with how they’ve treated you. Honestly, the test of how you honor your parents is how you treat them when they’ve wronged or disappointed you. That is the true test of whether you are honoring your parents. It’s easy to honor your parents when everything is well between the both of you, but how do you talk about them, address them and treat them when you disagree? God’s command is to honor them: NO MATTER WHAT!

5. Don’t live your life to get even.

Romans 12:19 says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Living your life to get even with your parents is the worst way you can live life. Vengeance belongs to God. Trying to prove to your parents that you know better than they do is not what God wants you to do. Let God take care of how your parents have treated you. Trust me, God knows how to take care of your parents better than you do. A person who lives their life to get even with their parents is a person who lives a miserable life. Life is too short to live it to prove your parents wrong. Move on and leave God’s business to Him.

6. Learn from their weaknesses.

So, let’s say that your parents have truly wronged you or disappointed you. That still does not give you a right to try to destroy them. Instead, you would be wise to learn from their weaknesses and try avoiding the same mistakes yourself. Proverbs 19:25 says, “Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.” One of the great things about living after your parents is that you can learn from their mistakes, or I should say, you should learn from their mistakes. One of the saddest things I have watched is people who despise their parents who end up falling into the same mistakes their parents made. I have watched children who despise that their parents were always gone when they were young, and yet they do the same thing themselves and don’t even realize it. If your whole life is focused on how to get even with your parents, or avoiding anything that your parents taught you, then you are missing one of the greatest assets God has given you; the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Every child should live a better life than their parents because they have their life to study. You don’t try to be better than your parents to prove to them that you are better, but you do better because you are supposed to do better. We often say that the one thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. Don’t let your parent’s mistakes go to waste. Learn from them and don’t make the same mistakes yourself.

7. Don’t let the hurt or disappointment destroy your relationship.

You only have one set of parents. Don’t let hurts and disappointments destroy a unique relationship that you can only have with one set of people; your parents. You can always call someone else your parents, but that doesn’t take away the fact of who your parents truly are. One day you will wish you had a good relationship with your parents, but it will be too late if you let hurt and disappointment destroy it.

Job asked in Job 8:11, “Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?” The “rush” was used as a wick for candles and lamps. As much as they liked to use the rush as a wick to lighten a dark room, the rush cannot grow with the mire and mud. Likewise, every good relationship has to look beyond the mire to find the rush to lighten their life. I challenge you to overlook the mire of hurt and disappointment so you can have a relationship with your parents that will be cherished.

My mother is in Heaven. I look back at my mother’s life and I feel blessed to have had her in my life. Was she perfect? No, she had some weaknesses, but there was a whole lot more good than bad. I’m so glad that I didn’t let little things destroy my relationship with my mother. Though my mother never did anything that would hurt me or disappoint me, there were times when I was still under her roof when I didn’t agree with her. Now that she is in Heaven, I have no regrets of wishing I would have done things differently. You won’t always have your parents. You may not always agree with your parents, you may not agree with their lifestyle, and you may have had to deal with some hurtful and disappointing times, but don’t let those times destroy everything they’ve done. Leave your parents with some dignity and move on. If you try to destroy your parents and what they’ve done, then you are only showing how little of a life you have.

Honoring your parents comes with the promise of long life. I don’t know if God is exactly talking about living long as in a time span, but I do believe He is talking about a quality of life. If you want to have a life filled with joy and happiness, then look beyond the hurts and disappointments you feel your parents may have caused, and honor them by building a good relationship on those things which you do agree upon.

Does God See You?

2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”

Asa made the same mistake that we often make in that he got impatient with God and relied on man for help. Baasha, the king of Israel, intended to kill Asa. His intent was to keep anyone from going out or coming in to Judah. Asa realized his precarious situation, and hired the king of Syria to defend him. Asa’s mistake was that he got impatient with God, and took things into his own hands. Asa’s lack of reliance upon God caused him to lose the opportunity to destroy one of his enemies.

In the verse above, God says that He looks for someone through whom He can show His strength. God wants the opportunity to prove to the world that He is still God. Yes, God could use creation to show His power, but He chose to show His power through human beings. God could certainly show His power through manifesting Himself in visions or performing great acts in front of us, but it is through human beings He chooses to show His strength.

You must realize that if God is going to show His strength through you, then you will have to go through adverse circumstances for His power to be seen. We don’t like this, but this is what the Scriptures teach. God often sends us through adversity so that His power can be seen through us. God can’t show His power through us when we are going through times of ease, but it is when everything seems impossible that God’s strength is revealed. When we can’t do anything about our situation, and we are surrounded by adversity, then that is the moment God can step in and show His strength through you. If you run from adversity, then God can’t show His strength through you. If you run to man to work out your situation, then God can’t show His strength through you. You must rely completely upon God for His power to be shown through you.

Moreover, you must be patient that God will come through. God often takes us to our limits before He comes through. Let me remind you that God is rarely early, never late, but He is always on time. Asa became impatient and lost the opportunity for God to work through him. Don’t become impatient with God. He knows your situation, and He knows the right time to step in and show His strength.

Furthermore, your heart must be perfect toward Him if you want His strength shown through you. This does not mean you are sinless, instead it means that your whole heart is towards God and that there is nothing else you are going to rely upon. When your heart is completely reliant upon God and His power, then that is when God finds you and shows His strength through you.

Are you facing something today that you feel is impossible? Let me encourage you to be patient and continue serving God. He will step in and rescue you. He is looking for someone through whom He can show His strength. If you will keep doing right and trust God, you will find that you won’t have to find Him, but that He will find you and perform His strength through your situation.