Monthly Archives: April 2011

Bonding

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“Don’t be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”1

The first connection every child has is with his or her mother. It starts in the womb, and as soon as the newborn baby is in his or her mother’s arms and on her breast, that connection or bonding is reinforced and sealed. Sadly, the child who doesn’t have healthy bonding in those early years is being programmed for life-long relational problems unless he or she goes through a healthy recovery program. If a young child feels no bonding at all, he/she can soon die.

Connection and bonding are essential for our entire lifetime. We cannot live without them. As counselors tell us, we cannot “not be bonded.” Thus, if we are not bonded in healthy ways to healthy people, we will be bonded in unhealthy ways to unhealthy people or to things. For example, some people stay in very destructive and toxic relationships for fear of being isolated and disconnected from everyone. Others become bonded to their work, gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, material possessions and so on.

Healthy bonding needs to be a priority for every one of us, not only in our family relationships, but also in our closer social networks. This should be available in every church. If you can’t find it there, find it with some open, non-judgmental, healthy friends, or in a recovery or twelve-step group if necessary. Healthy bonding and connection to healthy people is essential for healthy, wholesome, and meaningful lives.

As the Bible reminds us, the company we keep affects our lives.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to find at least one safe soul-brother/sister with whom I can be totally open and honest, connected to and bonded in a healthy way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV).

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Communications, Communications, Communications.

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“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”1

It has been wisely said that 80% of life’s satisfaction comes from healthy, loving and satisfying relationships. No matter how successful one becomes in the eyes of the secular world, without loving relationships, life can become extremely empty and lonely. Like, who wants to be the richest man in the cemetery when life on earth is over?

The reality is that mankind was created for meaningful and loving relationships—without which one can limp along in the shadows of life instead of fully loving and fully living.

As noted before, God himself is in relationship; that is, via the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, one of the very first things Jesus did at the beginning of his earthly ministry was to “choose the twelve that they might be with him.”2 If Jesus needed to be in relationship with people, how much more do we need to be?

One of the major keys for effective relationships is effective communications at the feeling level. We can converse intellectually at the rational level, but without sharing at the feeling level there cannot be any closeness or emotional intimacy. Couples who don’t know how to communicate effectively basically live together alone apart.

Tragically, at least in the Western world, we know how to put a man on the moon and talk to him while he is there, but so many married couples don’t know how to talk (communicate) effectively with their partner which involves open, honest, and trustworthy sharing at the feeling level.

Best-selling author, Dr. John Powell, believes that “most of us feel that others will not tolerate emotional honesty in communication. We would rather defend our dishonesty on the grounds that it might hurt others, and, having rationalized our phoniness into nobility, we settle for superficial relationships. Consequently, we ourselves do not grow, nor do we help anyone else to grow. Meanwhile, we have to live with repressed emotions—a dangerous and self-destructive path to follow. Any relationship which is to have the nature of true personal encounter must be based on honest, open, gut-level communication. The alternative is to remain in my prison, to endure inch-by-inch death as a person.”3

Just one tip here . . . don’t ever tell anyone that they shouldn’t feel the way that they feel. We feel what we feel because we are what we are. Feelings in and of themselves are neither right nor wrong. We just need to understand them. Plus, we need to learn how to accept other people’s feelings without being judgmental or trying to “fix” them. Watching a TV interview last night with a young girl who was upset and began to cry, the interviewer (a grown man) simply told her not to cry. This made her feel worse and communicated to her that it isn’t acceptable to cry when you are hurt or sad. Tears are a God-given gift and are needed to drain the pain of hurt feelings. That is; genuine tears, not crocodile tears that are designed to manipulate or to conceal anger.

For further help in knowing how to communicate openly and honestly, please read the article, “Dare to Be Honest” online at: http://tinyurl.com/dare-to-be-honest.

Dear God, “Thank you that you created mankind for relationships. Please help me learn how to be a more effective communicator so that this will help me to have greatly enriched relationships. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: For additional help read “Enrich Your Family Life” at: http://tinyurl.com/enrich-family-life.

1. Psalm 51:6 (NASV).

2. Mark 3:14.

3. John Powell, Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am? p. 61. Argus Communications, San Mateo, Illinois. Copyright 1969. Used by permission.

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Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

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“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’”1

One of the main problems Daily Encounter subscribers write to me about has to do with relationships. For instance, one subscriber whom I shall call Shirley wrote: “I have found someone who is a seemingly solid Christian. I have been such an idiot in past relationships and DO NOT want to make the same mistakes AGAIN. My question is, ‘How do I go about approaching a Christian courtship? My friend has expressed interest but is as ignorant on the issue as I am. Can you please help me as we would very much prefer to make new and different mistakes.”

Hello Shirley, thank you for being honest and acknowledging your past failures in relationships. The first step in overcoming any problem is to admit, “I have a problem—I need help.” The next step, and a very critical one, is to realize that unless we resolve the cause/s of past mistakes, we are destined to repeat them. Realize, too, that we are as sick (or as healthy) as the partner/s we are attracted to. Therefore, before even considering another romantic relationship, it is imperative that you become involved in an excellent recovery program to make absolutely certain that you have resolved all the issues in your life that caused you to be attracted to those partners you had in your past failed relationships. The fact is that only healthy people—both spiritually and emotionally—are attracted to healthy partners and are able to develop healthy relationships.

Furthermore, once couples are serious about a committed relationship and the possibility of marriage, it is wise to receive qualified Christian pre-marriage counseling to make sure their personalities will mesh and not lead to conflict, and to learn the skills of dynamic relationships and the art of effective communications.

By way of interest, the fact that you say that your friend is a seemingly solid Christian raises questions. If one is a genuinely committed Christian, it doesn’t take long to discern that. It’s what one does, how one acts, and what one’s real interests are—regardless of what they say—that shows who and what a person really is. As the Bible says, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”2

Also, to develop healthy romantic relationships, it is wise to attend marriage and relationship seminars and to read good books which you can find by going to your local Christian bookstore and check the section on marriage and relationships. The store manager or owner can give advice on excellent relational books. Unfortunately, we spend years in education to learn how to make a living but almost zero on how to develop meaningful and fulfilling relationships. It’s up to each one of us to ensure that we learn these skills.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you created mankind for relationships. Please help me to become more and more like Jesus in every way so that I will have meaningful and loving relationships. And, if needed, please show me any unresolved character issues in my life that could in any way be damaging to healthy, loving relationships. And lead me to the help I need to resolve these issues so that my life and relationships will always bring glory to your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: For additional helps check out the many helpful articles on the ACTS website at: https://learning.actsweb.org/articles/Recovery.php and https://learning.actsweb.org/articles/Marriage.php.

1. Genesis 2:18 (NIV).

2. Matthew 7:20 (NKJV).

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Givers and Takers

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The Bible says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”1

Some televangelists claim that if you give generously (to their ministry of course), God will greatly bless you with wealth. But is this true? According to today’s Scripture if we tithe and give generously and cheerfully to God, this is something that God loves, but the blessing God promises is that our needs will be met—not that we will become wealthy—and as such we will abound in good works; that is, we will become rich in good works.

It is true that God has greatly blessed many capable and generous business people with financial success who have, in turn, given greatly to God’s work. The important lesson we all need to learn, however, is that we need to give to God’s work in thanksgiving to God and to Jesus for giving his life to die on the cross to pay the penalty for all our sins—not for what we can get—but rather to become rich and abound in good works—good works that will glorify God.

To put it bluntly: in life there are givers and takers. Givers give cheerfully of whatever they have—even if it is only friendship, encouragement, and service—and always reap a reward and become richer as persons. Takers, who are always on the take to see what they can get for themselves, will always be paupers as persons, no matter how wealthy financially or otherwise they may or may not become.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a giver in every area of life, including of what finances I have, and so become rich and abound in good works. May I always give cheerfully as unto you in thanksgiving for all you have done for me. Furthermore, help me to be wise in all that I give and be certain that I am serving you and giving to your work on earth. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV).

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Working Together

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“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”1

Pastor Tod Bolsinger shares the following story about two members in the San Clemente Presbyterian church: “Gus and Hal are widowers at my church. Octogenarians both, they have become friends since their wives passed. It’s getting harder for both of them to come to church on Sundays, but to be sure when they are there, they are there together.

“Hal is blind. Gus is an amputee confined to a wheel chair. When they come to church, Hal pushes Gus and Gus directs Hal. They make their way through the parking lot and the patio to their place together in the pew. And together, and only together, they come to church. A blind man who can’t see giving energy to a man who can’t walk. A lame man who can’t move giving direction to a man who lacks vision. But together, they worship, take part in community and offer their gifts, and, well, inspire a whole lot of us.”2

Isn’t this what Christianity is all about—supporting one another, caring for one another, and working together with one another—for the cause of Christ. In Christ’s ministry on earth it was almost always in conjunction with one or more of his disciples. He sent out the 70 messengers two by two. Peter, James and John ministered together, as did Paul and Barnabas; Paul and Silas; Paul, Silas and Timothy; Barnabas and John Mark; and Priscilla and Aquila. We, too, need to care for each other, support each other, and work together for the cause of Jesus Christ and the spreading of the gospel.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the example set for us by Jesus Christ, the early disciples and the first Christians. Please help me to be a partner in caring for, supporting, and working together with fellow Christians to be a part of the work that you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV).

2. From Tod Bolsinger’s blog, “It Takes a Church.”

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Amazing Grace

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“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”1

John Newton (July 24, 1725 – December 21, 1807) is probably best known as the author of many well-known hymns, including, “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds,” and especially the popular hymn, “Amazing Grace,” which is one of the most well-known spiritual songs in the English-speaking world.

Perhaps what many don’t know is that in his youthful years Newton lived a rather degenerate lifestyle and, because of his troublesome behavior as a sailor, in his early twenties was sold to a slave-merchant who gave him to his wife, an African duchess, to be one of her slaves. He was rescued in 1748 and, while sailing back to England, in the middle of a storm the ship began filling with water and threatened to sink, so Newton cried out to God to save him. This was the beginning of his conversion to Christianity. However, he didn’t totally commit himself to God until a later time when he became seriously ill.

For nine years Newton was involved in the slave-trade and himself became a captain of three slave-ships. It was several years after his conversion that he gave up the slave-trade. In 1757 he applied to become a Christian minister, but it wasn’t until 1764 that he was accepted as an Anglican priest. He became a very popular minister and people flocked to hear him.2

Because of his profligate life before he became a truly committed follower of Jesus Christ, it is understandable why he could write the following words:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind but now I see.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we first begun.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for your amazing grace that also saved a sinner like me. May I always live in an attitude of gratitude because of your amazing grace, and please help me to share your grace in some way with every life I touch. And if I have never received your amazing grace, please help me to do that today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: To experience God’s amazing grace be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian—without having to be religions” at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to listen to this amazing story about the music of Amazing Grace and the musical rendition by Wintley Phipps. It is extremely enlightening and deeply moving. It is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuK0LB6rsMo. Thank you Sandra for sending this link and information.

1. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV).

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Newton

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Setting the Stage for Christ’s Return, Part 2

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We noted in yesterday’s Daily Encounter that only God knows the day and hour of Jesus Christ’s return to earth. At the same time God’s Word assures us that we can know the nearness or proximity of his return by certain signs that are stated in God’s Word, the Bible. Yesterday we looked at four of these signs: 1). Troubled Times; 2). Israel’s Homecoming; 3). Jerusalem: The End of Gentile Control; and 4). The planned new Jewish Temple. Today we will consider four more significant signs of the possible nearness of Christ’s second coming. They are as follows:

5. Knowledge Explosion

God’s Word also says, “But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”8

Pastor John Jordan explained how, if we made a graph to indicate the increase of man’s knowledge from the beginning of time to 1845 it would measure 1 inch (25mm). From 1845 to 1945—just 100 years—it would measure three inches (76mm). From 1945 to the present day it would be as tall as the Washington Monument, which is 555 feet (169m) high! According to one of my college professors, the world’s knowledge was then doubling every five years. I don’t know if this is accurate or not, but what we do know is that in the computer age, knowledge is increasing at an ever-accelerating, mind-boggling rate.

6. Travel

Daniel said another sign of the nearness of the end of this world age as we know it would be that of mankind rushing here and there (or to and fro as another translation puts it). Some Bible translators indicate that this means rushing here and there for knowledge. Whether it means this or just people rushing here and there all over the world makes little difference as both are happening as never before in the history of mankind. Just go to any major airport in the world and you will see worldwide people rushing to and fro all around the world.

7. Globalism

In his book, Seven Signs of the End Times, Mark Hitchcock wrote, “According to God’s Word, the end of the age will be characterized by a global government, economy, and religion ruled over by one man, the Antichrist. This end-time world order is described most clearly in Revelation 13.”9 Here we see the following:

Global Government: Authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.10

Global Religion: All who dwell on earth will worship him.11

Global Economy: “He provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”12

Have you noticed how the present U.S. leadership, along with the United Nations, is promoting a one-world economy and a one-world government, and how the former Prime Minister of England, Tony Blair, is now promoting a one-world religion.

Indeed, the setting of the stage, not only for the coming of Jesus Christ, but also for the entry of the Antichrist is also being set up right now in our time. It appears that our current world leaders are helping to prepare the way for the Antichrist who will be, for a short time, the ruler of the one-world government, the one-world economy, and the one-world religion.13 The good news, however, is that the Antichrist and his worldwide military might will be totally defeated by Jesus Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation time here on earth. This final battle is known at the Battle of Armageddon which will be centered in the Valley of Megiddo in Israel—a valley that is some 14 miles wide and 20 miles deep.

8. Worldwide Gospel Proclamation

Another profound end time sign is found in the words of Jesus who said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”14 Because of modern means of communication, including high speed printing presses, radio, television, audio and video devices, and the electronic media (the Internet, e-Mail, social networks, and mobile phone applications) which have ushered in a communications revolution the like of which the world has never before seen—the gospel today is speeding to the ends of the earth as never before in all of human history. Even in the ministry of ACTS International we are having visitors to our websites from 194 countries and territories every month, and receiving salvation and re-commitment to Jesus Christ decision/responses every day of the year from people worldwide!

If you picture the above signs as an “End Times” jigsaw puzzle, you can see how each piece is already coming together and fitting into God’s prophetic picture and plan for the end of time as we know it and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The important issue is this: Jesus Christ’s second coming is just as certain as was his first coming to earth! He is coming again. What if it were today? Would you be ready? Whatever you do make sure you have your passport for Heaven. Don’t leave earth without it. You can get yours (there’s no charge) by going to “Passport for Heaven” online at: www.actsweb.org/passport.php.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for Christ’s promise that he is coming again to take all his true believers to be with him and you for all eternity. Please help me to make absolutely sure that I am ready for this dramatic world-changing event. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

To know for certain that you are ready for Christ’s return and won’t be left behind when he comes, read “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” on line at www.actsweb.org/christian. Or if you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay the penalty for all your sins, and would like to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and God’s forgiveness, see God’s invitation at: www.actsweb.org/invitation.php.

Notes:
8. Daniel 12:4 (NLT).
9. Hitchcock, Mark, Seven Signs of the End Times,
pp. 72-73. Multnomah Books, Colorado Springs,
CO 80921. © by Mark Hitchcock, 2002.
10. Revelation 13:7b.
11. Revelation 13:8a.
12. Revelation 13:17.
13. See “The Antichrist Is Coming” online at: http://tinyurl.com/coming-antichrist

14. Matthew 24:14 (NIV).

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Setting the Stage for Christ’s Return, Part 1

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When on earth Jesus Christ promised: “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house [Heaven] are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”1

With all that is happening in today’s world many ask, “Is the return of Jesus to earth getting close?” It is true that only God knows just when this day will be,2 but of one thing we can be certain, Jesus Christ is coming again. Every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first coming—prophecies that were predicted several hundred years before his birth—were fulfilled in minutest detail.3 We can be just as certain that the prophecies in the Bible regarding Christ’s second coming will also be fulfilled in detail.

While we don’t know the day of Christ’s return, the Bible makes it clear that if we know what God’s Word teaches, we will be able to discern the “signs of the time” that will indicate the nearness of Christ’s return. True, individually, many of these signs have been happening since Christ’s first coming, but today it appears that “they are all standing up at once.” This, in turn, seems to indicate that the setting of the stage for Christ’s return is accelerating. What, then, are some of the signs the Bible says will indicate the nearness of Christ’s return?

1. Troubled Times

When Christ’s disciples asked Jesus the same question, he said, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. . . . Jerusalem will be trampled on [controlled] by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.4

Jesus also said to his disciples, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”5

“He [Jesus] told them this parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.’”6

2. Israel’s Homecoming

One of the most significant signs of the setting of the stage for Christ’s return is “Israel’s Homecoming;” that is, the return of the Jewish people to their homeland of Israel. Why do I say this is significant? Because for Christ’s return, according to biblical prophecy, Israel has to be back in the “Promised Land”—the land promised by God for perpetuity to the ancient Israelites some 3,600 to 4,000 years ago. In 1948, almost 2,000 years after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple built by Herod in AD70 and forced the scattering of the Jews around the world, the nation of Israel was re-established. When you consider how many times other nations have tried to wipe Israel off the map—and still desire to—it is a miracle of God how, against overwhelming odds, this tiny nation has survived and prospered.

3. Jerusalem: The End of Gentile Control

Furthermore, Jesus said that Jerusalem would be trampled on—controlled by—Gentiles [non-Jews] until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.7 Today, almost all of Jerusalem is controlled by the Israelis. The control of Jerusalem by Gentiles after 2000 years is over. The times of the Gentiles is now fulfilled. This is another positive sign that the way is rapidly being made ready for the return of Jesus Christ.

4. The New Jewish Temple

Equally significant is the fact that Israel has to be back in the Promised Land in preparation for both the return of Christ and the entrance of the coming Antichrist who will appear at or about the same time as Christ’s return. The Antichrist, a messenger of Satan, the devil, will make a Peace Pact with Israel at the beginning of the coming seven-year Great Tribulation, and then, in the mid-Tribulation period he will desecrate the Jewish Temple by setting himself up as God in the Temple. Already world leaders are desperate for peace in the Mid-east and when peace is promised by the Antichrist, who will no doubt be a silver-tongued, powerful charismatic leader, the world, the United Nations, and the United States will jump to accept his offer.

This means that the Jewish Temple will have to be rebuilt and in place after having been destroyed in AD70 by the ancient Romans. Just last year Joy and I had the opportunity to be in the Temple Institute in Jerusalem and learned firsthand that the Jews are right now drawing up plans for building the Third Temple. They are also training priests at this time to lead worship in the new Temple, and are currently making the instruments needed for Temple worship. Thus, at this very time, the Jews are waiting in the wings (as it were) ready to build and erect the Third Temple.

To be continued . . .

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the promise in your Word, the promise that Jesus is coming again and is coming for all his true followers. Help me to be sure that I am ready for his coming, and with your help, do everything I can to help bring others to Jesus so that they, too, will be ready for Christ’s return. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 14:1-3 (NKJV).

2. Matthew 24:36.

3. For many fulfilled prophecies about Christ’s first coming see the article, “Jesus Christ: Is He God or Man?” at: http://tinyurl.com/lu577.

4. Luke 21:10-11; 24 (NIV).

5. Mark 13:5-8 (NIV).

6. Luke 21:29-31 (NIV).

7. See Luke 21:24 (NIV).

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Security

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Addie

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”1

Pardon my sentimentality but for the first time in my life I have a dog . . . a small but beautiful Shih Tze puppy named Addie (short for Adelaide where I last lived in Australia). My sons both had dogs when they were kids and I loved their pets, but having my own dog (Joy’s and mine) is something else. My mother not only had a dog for a pet when I was growing up, but also a pet parrot (a pink and gray galah) that had its wing cut so it pretty much had access throughout our home. It was fascinating watching it waddle along following behind my mother wherever she went. It was amazing how attached it was to her. And now, as a senior, I with Joy, are the proud owners of a dog that we adore and where there is a mutual attachment.

The point I am making, however, is that we are Addie’s security. I have seen her, when she was afraid of a bigger dog, almost fly into my arms, she would leap so hard to reach my arms. The same thing happens when we take her for a walk. When she is afraid, she just wants to be in our arms. For Addie, our arms are her security.

For the Christian when we are afraid, may we always remember that underneath are the everlasting arms of God for he is always there for us. He is our safety—our security for both time and eternity. What a blessed hope we have because of Jesus.

When King Saul was so extremely jealous of David that he was hunting him down to kill him, David was certainly justified in being afraid. But he said, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”2

May God help you and me to have the same trust in God as David did. He’s the same God and offers the same security.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, when I am afraid, please help me to remember your Word that says, ‘The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them’3 and that ‘Underneath are your everlasting arms.’1 Thank you for your wonderful assurance of always being with me, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)

2. Psalm 118:6 (NIV)

3. Psalm 145:18-19 (NIV).

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Responsibility

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“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”1

True, I wasn’t responsible for my coming into the world, nor was I responsible for my upbringing. However, unless I am mentally impaired, I am totally responsible for what I do about my past, what I become, what I do, and for how I choose to behave and live my life.

The following is how one person expressed how many people in today’s world view responsibility:

“If a man cuts his finger off while slicing salami at work, he blames the restaurant.

“If you smoke three packs of cigarettes a day for 40 years and die of lung cancer, your family blames the tobacco company.

“If your neighbor crashes into a tree while driving home drunk, he blames the bartender [or the tree for being in the way].

“If your grandchildren are brats without manners, you blame television.

“If your friend is shot by a deranged madman, you blame the gun manufacturer.

“And if a crazed person breaks into the cockpit and tries to kill the pilot at 35,000 feet, and the passengers kill him instead, the mother of the deceased blames the airline.

“I must have lived too long to understand the world as it is anymore. So, if I die while my old, wrinkled face is parked in front of this computer, I want you to blame Bill Gates!”2

What we need to teach and emphasize today from the cradle to the grave—and from the highest leadership positions in the land to the most humble positions no matter what these may be—is personal responsibility!

As Roy Smith said, “The ability to accept responsibility is the measure of the man.” And as today’s Scripture reminds us, all are responsible to and before God.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you will do for me what I cannot do, such as giving Jesus to die for my sins, but will not do anything for me that I am able to do for myself. Help me to learn to always be responsible and (if you have children) train my children by my example to learn responsibility. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Romans 14:11-12 (NKJV).

2. Author and source unknown.

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