WATCHING AND LEARNING

I was browsing in a used book shop when an irate customer stormed in & loudly demanded a refund. When the man couldn't get what he wanted, he began swearing at the clerk.

He continued the tirade for several minutes as a girl of 7 or 8 stood passively at his side. Eventually he stomped out of the store, cursing as he went, with the little girl following close behind.

I wondered if the girl was his daughter. If so, what did she learn from her dad that afternoon?

More important, the event caused me to ask, "What does my daughter learn from me at home & all the places we go together?" She learns a lot more from watching my behavior than from all my little talks about life & God.

The Bible says: "Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord." (Eph 6:4  CEV)

There are children watching us today, deciding what to believe about life & God. What are they learning from us?

"Actions speak louder than words."  -  William Tiptaft.

- D C McCasland (preceptaustin.org)

INSURANCE

A little boy on his father's knee said, "Dad, is your soul insured?"

"Why do you ask, my son?"

"I heard Uncle George say, that you had your house insured, & your life insured; but he did not believe you had thought of your soul & he was afraid you would lose it. Won't you get it insured right away?"

It was all too true & the question led the father to seek the divine guaranty of his soul's well-being.

- (moreillustrations.com)

"Justice is the insurance which we have on our lives and property, and obedience is the premium which we pay for it".  - William Penn.

1Co 15:20 (GNB): "But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised."

"The permanence of God's character guarantees the fulfillment of his promises."  -  A.W. Pink.

Eph 1:14 (GW): "This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this."

STAINED WITH BLOOD

Dr. George W. Truett tells of a funeral he was asked to conduct of a 16 year old girl. The mother told him: "Dr. Truett, she was our only child."

"Yes, but you sorrow not as others that have no hope," said the minister.

But the mother answered, "That is where the trouble is, we have no such hope. Our daughter was not a believer."

The mother wept bitterly while she continued her story. "While it is true that her father & I were both members of the church even before she was born, it is also true that our darling girl lying in that casket, never heard either of us pray. She was not saved & we fear that she is lost & her blood will be upon us."

Then she became hysterical in the thought of a lost daughter.

Relating the incident later, Dr. Truett asked, "Who would dare say that her blood would not be upon them?"

Father & mother both professing believers, but had never prayed in their home! May God have mercy on children coming from such homes!

- The Elim Evangel. (moreillustrations.com)

Eze 33:6 (KJV): "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand."

Eze 33:4 (KJV): "Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head."

MY SOUL. I HAVE LOST IT.

Someone has illustrated the value of a soul with a modern parable in this manner.

A householder took a trip into a far country & left with his servant a child & the child's clothes.

After a while he returned & the servant said to him: "Sir, here are all the child's clothes. They are in excellent condition – clean, mended & pressed. But as for the child, I do not know where the child is."

So in the last day some will say: "Lord, here is my body - I have neglected nothing that belongs to it. It is strong, well & beautiful. But as for my soul. I have lost it."

- The Presbyterian. (moreillustrations.com)

"Suppose you could gain everything in the whole world, and lost your

soul. Was it worth it?" - Billy Graham.

Jesus said: "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes on Him should have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40 MKJV)

THE EFFECT OF PROSPERITY

"We are all caught in a trap. It goes like this: Our religion promotes the good character qualities of hard work & honesty; hard work & honesty usually mean that a man gets ahead; getting ahead involves making money; making money implies success & luxury; success & love of luxury can come between the man & God.

This means that you & I are in a dangerous position. We are 'successful' people. We are reasonably 'well-off.' We are tempted to love our luxuries more than our Lord.

For the material success that comes from our hard work & honesty is hard to control. In fact, it can lead us to wanting more & forgetting God."

 (From 'Kings in Shirtsleeves' by William P. Barker) moreillustrations.com

Psalms 62:10 (MKJV): "…If riches increase, do not set your heart on them."

"If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life."  - Billy Graham.

DELIGHTING IN HUMBLE SERVICE

Mary listened with quiet envy as the speaker at the women's retreat talked in glowing terms of the way the Lord had marvelously provided for her need.

Mary wished that would happen to her.

Later in the retreat, she was spellbound as another speaker told of the amazing opportunity the Lord had given her to testify & how several women in deep despair had opened their hearts to Christ.

Mary longed for God to use her in a powerful way, but she didn't expect it to happen.

Mary's routine involved getting her husband off to work & her children to school, caring for her home, working a couple of days a week & helping in their church. She didn't think there was much opportunity to be used mightily by God.

With all the emphasis on the spectacular these days, it's easy for us to lose sight of the fact that God is the God of everyday living. It seems that we're always looking for some great display of His power in our lives. But what the Lord desires is for us to focus on doing His will from our heart each day, delighting in humble service for Him.

- (preceptaustin.org)

Eph 6:7 (ISV): "Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people."

"It is true that we may desire much more. But let us use what we have, and God will give us more."  - Adoniram Judson.

  

CHURCH ON THE ISLAND

A man was marooned on a desolate island. After he had been there alone for five years he was found & rescued.

As he climbed into the rescue boat the curious rescuers noticed three grass huts.

“We thought you were alone, why are there three huts,” they asked.

The man replied, “The first hut is my home; the second is my church.”

“What about the third hut?”

“Oh, that’s the church I used to belong to!”

- (ministry127.com)

"When the horse is dead - dismount!" - Rick Warren.

"A good church is a Bible-centered church. Nothing is as important as this - not a large congregation, a witty pastor, or tangible experiences." - Alistair Begg.

Act 2:44 (CEV): "All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had."