When we die and face God, there will be no excuses. All of our motives, plans, thoughts, desires, and actions will be weighed in the balance of God’s justice from His holy word. There will be no bargaining or pleading with God. With man we can wheel and deal and compromise, but with God there will be no second chance we will stand in the light of God’s holy truth. We’ve had our chance to clean up our act all that remains is judgment. No more, “but I didn’t know” or “it’s not my fault,” nothing but a looming dread. And Christians say they want to go to heaven, not me. Anyone who says they want to go to heaven and be judged has little respect for God and His holiness. This is our Godly example here on earth, consequences for our actions and an accountability to God.
I was watching one of those shows where a real judge hears and makes decisions on actual (minor) cases. This one woman (not the judge) was so arrogant and disrespectful to the judge and unfortunately for her this particular judge was not to be trifled with and quickly asserted who was boss in the court room. Folks if we can’t respect those in charge here on earth and teach our kids to respect earthly authority we as parents have failed. This woman was obviously never taught to be respectful of certain things as child. She looked so foolish, her behavior showed a lack of basic character, self respect, and discipline as she continually back talked the judge. In God’s eyes most things are black and white no middle ground. There is no shadow or variance in God. James tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) In God things are always either; righteous or unrighteous, holy or unholy, Godly or ungodly. It’s the law, God’s law as His word (a commandment) is a lamp, a light, a reproof of instruction for our lives. “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverbs 6:23) Compromise is man’s idea not God’s. If we don’t teach our kids and raise them with a rod of iron then we’ve have failed as parents. Folks the law came first in the Bible, then came grace not the other way around. The law is what brings us to the judgment seat of God, but once there grace is extended to those who have changed their heart condition and live within the boundaries of God’s word. Now grace is for all, Jesus died for all, but salvation (God’s grace given to sinful man) is for only those “who believe in him and shall have everlasting life.” This is where many get off track, wrongly thinking they can say and do whatsoever they want to do and say and not be accountable for their words or actions. It is better to be strict and give grace as needed (except with bad behavior) instead of grace then trying to be strict. The law came first then grace. Grace is for those who can operate inside the boundaries of the law. Lawlessness doesn’t merit grace. This is our Godly example; this is how we are to raise our kids. We are their parents not their pals. Is God our pal? No He is not and He will kick our butts six ways to Tuesday if we are foolish enough to think the Almighty is our pal. This is also our Godly example. God disciplines, chastises, teaches us, and expects us to do the same with our children. We are responsible to teach them right from wrong, we fail them and God if we make excuses for their bad ways and behavior, because we have enabled them to be mediocre and common. We do our children a great disservice by not raising them up according to the word of God, not to mention the headaches they face dealing with all the authorities in their lives. Back in the Old Testament if a son didn’t listen to his parents he was taken to the gates (always a place of decisions) of the city where his parents would present him before the elders to be stoned by them for disobedience. We read in this in Deuteronomy, “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) How many of us parents would like to do this with our children? Harsh, but it was done to “put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear and fear. In Acts 5:1-10, Ananias with Sapphira his wife was killed because of rebellion to God’s word and then in verse 11 we find out why, “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” Rebellion is sin. It’s evil in God’s eyes. Now today, in most circles even the church, rebellion is thought of as “civil disobedience” and is accepted as freedom of speech, cool, and excused for whatever idiot reason. In God and in God’s ways we must follow God’s divine spiritual principles. And for us to be in God we cannot do and say whatever we feel. We must obey the laws of God (in the Bible) and man (because they were established by God), even if we do not feel they are right or we are being unfairly punished.
I was watching one of those shows where a real judge hears and makes decisions on actual (minor) cases. This one woman (not the judge) was so arrogant and disrespectful to the judge and unfortunately for her this particular judge was not to be trifled with and quickly asserted who was boss in the court room. Folks if we can’t respect those in charge here on earth and teach our kids to respect earthly authority we as parents have failed. This woman was obviously never taught to be respectful of certain things as child. She looked so foolish, her behavior showed a lack of basic character, self respect, and discipline as she continually back talked the judge. In God’s eyes most things are black and white no middle ground. There is no shadow or variance in God. James tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) In God things are always either; righteous or unrighteous, holy or unholy, Godly or ungodly. It’s the law, God’s law as His word (a commandment) is a lamp, a light, a reproof of instruction for our lives. “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverbs 6:23) Compromise is man’s idea not God’s. If we don’t teach our kids and raise them with a rod of iron then we’ve have failed as parents. Folks the law came first in the Bible, then came grace not the other way around. The law is what brings us to the judgment seat of God, but once there grace is extended to those who have changed their heart condition and live within the boundaries of God’s word. Now grace is for all, Jesus died for all, but salvation (God’s grace given to sinful man) is for only those “who believe in him and shall have everlasting life.” This is where many get off track, wrongly thinking they can say and do whatsoever they want to do and say and not be accountable for their words or actions. It is better to be strict and give grace as needed (except with bad behavior) instead of grace then trying to be strict. The law came first then grace. Grace is for those who can operate inside the boundaries of the law. Lawlessness doesn’t merit grace. This is our Godly example; this is how we are to raise our kids. We are their parents not their pals. Is God our pal? No He is not and He will kick our butts six ways to Tuesday if we are foolish enough to think the Almighty is our pal. This is also our Godly example. God disciplines, chastises, teaches us, and expects us to do the same with our children. We are responsible to teach them right from wrong, we fail them and God if we make excuses for their bad ways and behavior, because we have enabled them to be mediocre and common. We do our children a great disservice by not raising them up according to the word of God, not to mention the headaches they face dealing with all the authorities in their lives. Back in the Old Testament if a son didn’t listen to his parents he was taken to the gates (always a place of decisions) of the city where his parents would present him before the elders to be stoned by them for disobedience. We read in this in Deuteronomy, “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) How many of us parents would like to do this with our children? Harsh, but it was done to “put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear and fear. In Acts 5:1-10, Ananias with Sapphira his wife was killed because of rebellion to God’s word and then in verse 11 we find out why, “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” Rebellion is sin. It’s evil in God’s eyes. Now today, in most circles even the church, rebellion is thought of as “civil disobedience” and is accepted as freedom of speech, cool, and excused for whatever idiot reason. In God and in God’s ways we must follow God’s divine spiritual principles. And for us to be in God we cannot do and say whatever we feel. We must obey the laws of God (in the Bible) and man (because they were established by God), even if we do not feel they are right or we are being unfairly punished.
Folks parenting is serious business let us glean from the Bible and raise our kids so they will glorify the Lord and not be an embarrassment to us (parents) and our family. The consequence of disobeying dad and mom should be such that they would be scared to death to get into trouble at home never mind getting in trouble with all authorities. If our kids don’t have the fear of the Lord (or at least a healthy respect) in them concerning their parents they won’t give a flying flip about school teachers, the police, lawyers, and other local authorities. Our children need to be taught respect and obedience, because already in their hearts is a desire to do the complete opposite. Solomon tells us, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Proverbs 29:15) and “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” (Proverbs 29:17) Yes there is a peace and rest for those who align within the confines of the laws of God and man. Let us take time now with our children we will have plenty of time when they’re grown and out of the house to do other things, which brings me to another point. If we’re too busy for our kids something is wrong. Why, because busy people have no time for self-reflection and the inward dealings and judgments of God. They have no quiet time to hear from the Lord. And quite frankly they obviously are too busy doing what THEY want to do not what they need to do. Maybe we should slow down and spent some time with the Lord, read our Bible (like my grandfather taught me) and raise our kids correctly – we only get one chance. Written by Karen Stahl
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