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8/01/23 Respect

Saying that we have respect for someone is becoming a statement that is almost obsolete. The world has turned so dark, that the qualities determining if a person is to be respected are not qualities admired. The appearance of success or power has taken the place of a life that is worth respecting by those who are watching.

When was the last time anyone in your family said that they respect you as a father or husband? When was the last time that you have exhibited a life, or even an action, that was worthy of being respected in God's eyes, and then in those around you?

God has ordained the offices of husband and father as a covering for those he has been given. We are to provide a safe place for our families to function in as they grow in Christ. You, as the one functioning in that office, are to act as Christ would act if he were in your position. Obviously you will only be able to act worthy of the kind of respect He would have if you have been with Him enough to learn His ways.

The life we live in this world is important to God. How we function in front of others determines how they perceive a man of God should act, especially those in our families. Are you acting in a manner that garners respect from your wife or your children? Do others show respect for Jesus because you act in a way that represents Him properly? What are you going to do about it if you are not?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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7/31/23 Eternal Changes in the Heart

“The world will always attempt to draw you into contentions that distract you from the real purpose of your life with Me. It will goad you to focus on issues and circumstances that affect your surroundings and bait you to submit to its priorities. Do you understand that you have never been called to place moral restraints on the society in which you live? They will never be able to understand the need for them. You are called to show dead people a life opportunity through Jesus. Watch how He lived in the world and follow His example. Issues of the day were never part of His heart.

"He knew that they only afforded temporary change. Involvement only caused distraction from the real issue of proclaiming eternal change in the hearts of people. Make sure that you know that your steps are ordained by Me and not by seemingly important issues. As Jesus enters a life, it is changed for eternity. That is the most important issue of all time and any generation. As you become involved in the eternal issues that surrounded the life of Jesus, you will see My purpose for your life.”

Psalm 127:1 AMP 

Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

Amos 5:14 NIV

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you just as you say he is.

John 4:34 NIV

”My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

Acts 8:1&4 NIV 

1) On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…

4) Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

 

Jesus walked on the streets of cities every bit as evil as any generation. Herod called for the mass murder of children because of his fear. Innumerable crucifixions lined the roads into cities. Rampant sin shrouded every corner of every neighborhood. With all of the decadence, never once did He encourage those who followed Him to do anything about the society in which they lived. He taught them to consider eternal values, rather than important-looking daily challenges.

Jesus was after the heart of sinners. It was His Father’s quest. He showed everyone that tax collectors became honest and prostitutes were cleansed, when their hearts were made new. His life and the eternal promise of His mission carried people above the effects of the society in which they lived, when they embraced the love of His Father. He showed those who had ears to hear a new way to live, one that was not encumbered with the dictates of their days, but one of freedom from earthly restraints. He had a better plan; so should we.

Direct my steps, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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7/31/23 Why Are You Married?

Most of us would answer that question in some way that has hopefully grown past the "I really love her, man" kind of statement. Let's forgo the stupidity of the "I really can't keep my hands off of her" answer and get on with why our Father in heaven has given us permission to be married.

In a nutshell, God has had us men covenant with Him to marry the one He has chosen for us, for His honor and for her best interests. I know that kind of thought has rarely passed through our world-trained, pea-brain ability to understand His ways about marriage; but it is, none-the-less, true. We are to join together with one of His precious children so that she has fertile soil to become all that she can be in Him. That honors Him!

In Ephesians 5, we husbands are called to lay our lives down for our wives in the way that Jesus laid His life down for the church. He died so that we could live. That is how the Lord can use marriage as an example of the relationship of Christ and His church.

When two people are joined together, they are given the privilege of knowing the most intimate details of the other person. They get to see whatever is undone in the other. Most of the time, especially after many years together, those cute little habits or actions become a source of irritation, sometimes even separation, instead of looking at them with Christ's heart. Jesus would hold them before His Father so that we and our wives could be healed. So should we.

God sees our job in marriage as laying down our needs, our desires, and our comforts, and living for the best interests of our wife and our children. The best interests of our circle of influence violates every area of our fleshly comfort zone. It demands that we live in the spiritual zone where Jesus lived for us. That is why He has given us someone to go through our lives with. They are to be given an atmosphere to learn how to love Him with all of their hearts. We are to provide that atmosphere by the power of the Holy Spirit. How's that working for you?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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7/29/23 Prepared for Everything That Comes

“Will you know how to walk in My light when there is only darkness all around you? If you are hearing My call to press in with Me, the answer is yes! I will protect you. I will be with you. More than that, you will be prepared for everything that comes your way. You see, I am making you into proper warriors who will flood this land with My presence. You will be places of safety for those who are too frightened to think straight. Because of your training now, your thoughts will be My thoughts then. We will move in concert, so you will be unavailable to the terrors that stalk the land. Remember My warriors in My Word.

“Remember how I fought the battles for them. Nothing has changed. I am available to you now and in the future. Now, somehow, you feel that I am not needed every moment of the day. When everything falls away, you will need Me all the time. I will be there for you. I am your covenant Lord. I will never leave you. I promise.”

Luke 10:19 KJV

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

 

Being a Christian is so wonderful, that sometimes all I can do is stop and praise. Think about this. We have the answer to life and death. We have been given all we need to make every proper decision in life. We are friends with our Lord. We have been given freedom, absolute freedom. Should I go on?

Do you know that most people spend more time picking out a new car than they spend determining for sure what happens after they close their eyes for the last time? Isn’t that an astounding truth? The most important decision in everyone’s life - what really is eternal truth - and few understand the impact of that decision well enough to go and find real truth. Pretty incredible.

What is even more incredible is that you and I have found the answer if we believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That belief, and the acceptance of His Lordship, is the answer that the confused world needs. Few are really aware of their need; but none-the-less, they need the answer.

Have you ever thought of what might be one of God’s major requests if He had the need to make one? That may sound like a pretty stupid statement, but have you? Over the years, I’ve tried to find out what it would be. I believe that our Father would desire that everyone who embraces His Son would fully grasp what has been provided for him or her because of the cross, and then walk in it. I think it would be that simple and that complex. Tell me if you’ve come up with something better.

Think of it. If everyone really did that, He would have warriors fully completed in His power and available for His plans. He wouldn’t have to spend the time convincing us that He means what He says. We could all get on with the business of bringing others into the kingdom, and then we could all go home.

Boy! Home sounds really great!

Jim Corbett

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7/29/23 Comfort Zone Gifts

After broadcasting a person's need for a couch over the air at our radio station, we found ourselves staring at something that once resembled furniture in the living room of someone who answered the request. When we refused the explosion of stuffing that was home for her cat, the woman said, "Well, what am I supposed to do with it now?"

Her "gift" to someone in need may be the extreme example of wrong motives, but her attitude resembles the attitude of the church throughout history. Although heartfelt generosity propels the gospel of Jesus, there is an underlying plague of corrupt thinking originally confronted by Jesus. As gifts were being given, He asked a question that rings through the centuries right up to each of us. "Who gives more, those guys over there who give out of their abundance, or the widow who gives a small amount, but it is all that she has?"

As a covering for our families, we as men are to teach those in our midst about the heart of Jesus by our actions. When referring to gifts and giving, we are stewards, not owners of everything we have. We are to teach others about the cross of Jesus by sacrifice, not by giving away our surplus. If a person has untold wealth and gives a seemingly large amount away, God looks upon the gift as far less than one who gives very little, but it is all they have.

Be assured that people who don't know Christ - and for that matter our children, - are watching us as fathers, and how we function. Without knowing it, how we act in every area of our lives is speaking much louder than our words. The freedom in which we give to others, especially sacrificial giving, broadcasts volumes to those who may not understand the cross and its work. People see Jesus in every cup of cold water given by us, especially if the water given means that we go thirsty. Are you ready to be uncomfortable?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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