A Good Thing – September 30

 

Day 30 Theme: Future Things
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power– 1 Corinthians 15:24

When is “then”? Paul writes of the general resurrection of all saints, “at his (that is Christ’s) coming” (v.23).

So here is a very clear and concise picture of the last day. Jesus returns, as He promised, this time not in humility or poverty but in glory and majesty. The dead rise from the grace, just by the same power that raised Christ from the dead 2,000 years ago.

Then comes the end. Jesus Christ delivers up the kingdom of God, over which He has been reining and which He has been guiding since His ascension into heaven. He submits His church, successfully saved and sanctified, to God the Father, having conquered every other authority and power.

Everypower? Yes. Even death, we are promised, will eventually be vanquished: “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (26). Nothing is left to oppose the reign of Jesus Christ, or the glory of His Father.

This is a thrilling, magnificent prospect, isn’t it? But why do you think Paul shares this reality with us? Is it simply information to be filed way for later, or to settle our curiosity about the future? No, it is so this future reality can enlighten and enliven our present situation.

If the end looks like this, which Christ victorious and all His enemies crushed, shouldn’t that effect how we live today? Why are we so awed by the wise and mighty of this world? Why are we so eager to please ourselves and others?

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5 Truths for True Love in Your Marriage

By Dr. Tim Clinton & Patrick Springle

We all carry relational wounds. So we go through life with a skewed definition of love. Our actions are often a far cry from true love. The truth is, we may be trying to “love” the other in an attempt to satisfy our “need” for the other.

When we act out of enmeshment and codependency, we may think we are experiencing love, but it’s a shallow substitute for the love God longs for us to experience and enjoy. True love, on the other hand, moves us from a place of saying, “I want to do something for you because it meets my needs” to “I want to do something for you because I love you.”

1. True Love Seeks to Love as Jesus Loves 

How does Jesus love? Genuinely. Unselfishly. Radically. In order to love with the genuine love of Jesus, we must learn to answer two critical questions. When does true love give in? When does true love push back?

2. True Love Is Wise and Strong 

True love is strong enough to speak the truth and do what is best for someone else, even if that person doesn’t like it. We come to understand the dynamics of motives and actions in relationships.

3. True Love Stands against Evil 

A weak, misguided definition of love causes us to give in repeatedly to the detriment of everyone involved, but a stronger, more accurate view of love directs us to speak and act wisely to address evil, manipulative behavior.

4. True Love Is Rooted in God’s Love 

Rooted. Grounded. Established. Having power. Filled to overflowing. When we choose to live in true love, we bring our hearts and minds back to the fundamental, unchanging truth of God’s love for each one of us.

5. True Love Will Not Fail 

Love never fails, because it is rooted and grounded in God’s unconditional love, not the need to fix or control someone else. True love has the strength and courage to never quit.

In the life-long process of discovering what true love is, God’s steadfast love holds us up. He will never leave us or forsake us along the way.

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This is an excerpt from Dr. Tim and Patrick Springle’s book, Break Through: When to Give In, How to Push Back. Break Through offers practical, positive guidance for building a strong foundation for all your relationships that is rooted and grounded in the love of God.

Your Daughter will Thank You for Your Time and Tenderness

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By Dr. James Dobson

The passion I feel for the subject at hand is related to the daughter who still calls me Dad. Danae is grown now, but I love her like I did when we were first introduced in the delivery room. Something electric occurred between us on that mystical night, and it endures today. I thank God for the privilege of being the father of this remarkable woman!

Being a father and a type A personality myself, I look back on my parenting experiences and recall instances where I could have done a better job. I wish I could relive some of those busy days at a slower pace. Unfortunately, none of us is allowed do-overs or mulligans. When our record is finally in the books, not a word or a deed can be altered.

Would it be self-serving to tell you that I also did some things right during my early days as a father, and that the memories of some very special times with my kids rank at the top of my list of accomplishments today? Among my favorites are recollections of Danae when she was five years old. We used to take bike trips together to a nearby park on Saturday mornings and play in a sandbox with shovels and buckets. I taught her to build sand castles, explained what a moat and a drawbridge were, and talked about anything else that seemed to interest her.

Then we would go to a nearby taco stand and have lunch before riding home. On the way back, we listened every week to a favorite recording of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella on a small Craig recorder, and we sang the songs together. Danae loved those outings, and she can tell you in detail about them today. And guess what? I loved them too.

From where I sit today, I can say that nothing, and I mean nothing, from that era turned out to be more significant than the hours I spent with my little family. The relationships we enjoy today were nurtured during those years when it would have been very easy for me to chase every professional prize and ignore what mattered most at home.

Some years ago, I asked our radio listeners to call our organization and record a message for their dads. More than six hundred people participated, and not one caller focused on what their father did professionally. None of them said, “Thanks, Dad, for earning a lot of money” or “Thanks for the big house you provided for us.” Instead, caller after caller said, “Thanks, Dad, for loving me and for being there for me.” Some said with strong emotion, “Thank you for letting me interrupt you, even when you were busy.” Nearly all of the calls coming from women mentioned the presence of tenderness in the relationship.

I address this specifically to dads who are still raising daughters and want to respond to the desires of their little hearts. My advice is also relevant to fathers whose daughters are grown. The woman who used to be “Dad’s little princess” may still long for what she didn’t receive when she was young. Even though these fathers can no longer play in the sandbox with their five-year-olds, it is never too late for them to say, “You are precious to me.”

From Dr. Dobson’s book Dads and Daughters.

Biblical Answers to Tough Questions, Day 10

Today’s reading is drawn from Hebrews 10:24-25. Do Christians Really Need to Attend Church? Yes! The Bible stresses the need for Christians to be part of a local church and have significant relationships with other believers (Ecc 4:9 – 12). Christians who are not involved in a local congregation are inevitably stunted in their spiritual growth and their witness for Christ to others. Most important, Christians must be part of a church to please our Lord. In John 17:20 – 23 Jesus prayed, [May] those who will believe in me . . . be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Together we are Christ’s body in this world. Our unified presence — as we actively love each other and fulfill our particular functions in the body — honors and delights the Lord. What’s more, our life together as his church makes the Lord visible to the lost world. And our unified prayers and decisions have the power of Jesus’ own presence (Mt 18:20; Jn 20:22 – 23). Jesus also ministers to individuals through other believers in his body. The mutually edifying use of spiritual gifts (Ro 12:3 – 8; 1Co 12:4 – 31) builds all Christians up as each one does his or her part. Furthermore, we carry each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2), encourage one another in worship (Eph 5:19), admonish one another with all wisdom (Col 3:16), submit to one another (Eph 5:21) and consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:24). We do all these things because of the deep spiritual unity we have in Christ: There is one body and one Spirit . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all (Eph 4:4 – 6).