After talking with many people about walking with the Lord, it seems the most productive way to walk with Him is to simply say “yes” whenever He asks us to do something or gives us directions. It seems logical, doesn’t it? Saying yes to Him allows us to avoid many pitfalls, and literally gives us a clear path to follow. Yes, Lord!
Is your family for one another? I don’t mean, do they tolerate one another; I mean, are they interested in protecting the interests of the other before their own interests? Are you an example of being for your wife? Is she safe in the understanding that you will make decisions concerning her for her best interests rather than your own?
It’s mandatory in God’s eyes concerning marriage, you know! Ephesians states that you are to love your wife just as Christ loves the church. He gave up His own interests - even His life - for the church. You are to do the same for your wife.
Whether you know it or not, your children are watching how you behave with your wife. They understand your selfish, self-interested behavior, and do the same toward you and the other members of your family. They learn a self-serving spirit from you. They learn to look out for themselves first, just as you do.
On the other hand, if you serve everyone - looking out for their best interests before yours, especially your wife - you fall in line with the heart of God. His power then reigns over your family. His life is given to those who act selflessly toward others. It is the pattern Jesus set, so He honors it.
If you want your family to be healed, lay down your self-serving life and determine to serve your wife and your children with a Christ-like attitude. Become for them rather than for your own interests. It may take a while to turn the selfish tide you’ve set, but as you continue to show your children the life of Jesus through your actions, they will begin to turn their hearts also. Become for those around you, and watch the life of Jesus weave His love to all concerned.
Let’s talk more!
Jim Corbett
With all the demands that are on us as husbands and fathers, the idea of changing our focus to pursue holiness as our priority goal seems impossible. Without a holy heart, however - one that is totally dedicated to making the Lord and His priorities our priorities - there is little hope of overcoming the world and its challenges. There is also little chance of us leading those we steward to spiritually safe places.
In a world that is proclaiming darkness out loud and bent on destroying anything that resembles Christ-like living, our only hope is to dwell in an immovable place in God’s presence and power. That can only come from making a determination to pursue His throne-room presence with every fiber of our being. There is no more important task, as formidable as it may seem.
In the soon coming darkness, those who are wise will already have determined to refocus their lives. Because we say that we follow Jesus, we must walk and conduct ourselves as He walked and conducted Himself when He was on this earth. We are to make it our only priority to seek God and His ways. That will require a determination to take the time necessary to find an intimate relationship with the Lord, if we want to overcome the world as He did. In leading a full life, the last thing we want to eliminate is the only source of hope we have. Why have we chosen to do so?
Let’s talk more!
Jim Corbett
The world is always attempting to delay the end of things. Death can be an incredibly frightening prospect. The end of a job, the end of a marriage, the end of anything has to be dealt with.
A believer, on the other hand, has the joy of knowing that the end of something can lead to a new beginning. When we surrender to Jesus, the end of our old life opens up an amazing life of redemption for us. The end of our life on earth is the beginning of an eternity of joy. The world fears the end. Believers can embrace it as the door that leads to everlasting life in the presence of the living God!
If the picture you have in your mind of someone who is holy includes a halo, a Caspar Milquetoast demeanor, and a mentality that flees at the onset of any conflict, you are way off. A holy man of God is a mighty warrior for the kingdom of God, his marriage, and his family.
To be holy means to be totally separated from the world, its siren songs, and its attachments. It means to be unashamedly dedicated to the Lord, focusing solely on living out the life of Jesus in daily life. A holy man is, therefore, untouchable by the world, unavailable to any fearful distractions, and unreachable when called upon to violate any portion of the heart of God.
If you desire to walk in Holy Spirit power as a husband and father, seek holiness. Seek an intimate, loving relationship with your Father in heaven. Be determined to know the heart of Jesus and live it out on behalf of those you steward. Allow nothing to stop you from walking and conducting yourself as Jesus did. Live a holy, separated life above the world and all its ways. It is your heritage. It is your calling. It is your covenant promise if you seek it with all your heart.
Man of God, be holy as He is holy!
Let’s talk more!
Jim Corbett
