Tag: jesus christ

A while ago, my family and I had the opportunity of having the Lord seemingly remove just about everything from us for about two-and-a-half years - friendships, finances, ministry. Sometimes it felt as if  even His presence had left us.  What were we going to do with that?  We'd be the first to say that we spent a lot of the time simply surviving.  If I could go back, that would be something I would like to have changed.

What impression did we make on those around us?  It's hard to say because hardly anyone seemed to really want to talk about it.  It probably didn't make any sense to most, and those that decided they "knew" what God was doing with us walked away.  I don't think the world found our circumstances so strange, but the church did. (Isn't that interesting?)

Being relieved of most everything you're used to gives you the opportunity to ask yourself some valid questions.  What is my picture of God, and is it accurate?  What is suffering and how does God use it with those who are His?  The point I'm coming to is that we, as a body of believers, need to have an accurate picture of God and an accurate view on His working in our lives, especially if we're going to share them with others.  Being "blessed" continually is not an indicator that all is well, just as suffering is not necessarily an indicator that you're out of God's will.

The life of the believer here on earth is a totally submissive crucified life.  God knows what it will take to accomplish that in each of us.  Do we blow it along the way?   Yes.  God has taken that into account in His dealings with us.  Keep going.  God is in the business of putting an accurate picture of Himself in your life, not only for your sake, but for the sake of others.  And isn't that an answer to your prayers?

"Lord, please don't take me out of the refiner's fire until Your goals are accomplished."  That's hard to pray, but so rewarding!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

As a daddy, you have the privilege of loving your children right into the kingdom of heaven! You have the opportunity to forgive them for any time they’ve offended you, and be there for them when they fail and fall. You have the honor of sticking up for them when others decide to separate from them for whatever reason, and the joy of being their guide, counselor, father, and friend.

In today’s society, there are few opportunities to have really close lifetime friends. Other than Jesus, who promises to stick closer to us than a brother? Most of today’s youth rarely find that kind of companionship. You can be that person they can count on to love them no matter what, even if they don’t want it or ask for it.

No one can stop you from loving them. No one can stop you from praying for them. No one can hinder you from holding them in your spirit before the Lord until they can walk in the way God has planned for them to walk.  You, as a father, have the privilege of watching them grow and blessing them at every turn.

So let’s get on with it! Put aside anything that may separate you from your children. Stop being a watchdog and become a devoted father/advocate. Love them even if you can’t tell them. Hold them before the Lord even if you can’t hold them in person because of the past. Become the father God intends you to be. God loves them; so should you!  What happens next is up to Him.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Fathers, if you continually find yourself putting more restrictions on your children and applying stronger consequences to help them comply with what you feel is best, you’re doing something wrong. You can build higher and higher fences all you want as they continue to grow, but one day they’ll find a way over the fence into total rebellion.

Somehow, your children have been taught compliance under your stewardship. They get in line to avoid the consequences you set in place, but their hearts are wandering or maybe empty. Perhaps it’s time for you to get on your face before God and repent of your ways. Are you also walking in compliance before God, doing things to avoid consequences, rather than doing them because you love Him and want to please Him with your obedience? Is this somehow being communicated to your children and they’re just following your lead?

Fear not. As you spend time with God and your love for Him grows deeper, you will learn to walk in Christ-like obedience. Then you will be able to love and nurture your children into walking in genuine obedience through the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will accomplish in them what the laws you’ve established can never do.

If it seems too late and your children are walking in full-fledged rebellion against you and God, your only recourse is to pray and intercede until they find freedom in Christ. They’re in rebellion in part because your priorities and/or methods have been out of order. Do you care enough to do what is necessary to help them? They need you!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered, meaning the times that He won over His flesh.  Complete obedience means that He willingly and joyfully submitted to His Father in all things, no matter what. The heart of someone who is truly obedient thrives in doing another's will, forsaking his own will in the process.

Please notice that there’s a difference between obedience and compliance. Compliance is doing something because we fear the consequences if we don’t. Our joy will never be complete as compliant individuals. We will always want more for ourselves in our relationship with God. Obedience is doing something we’re told to do out of love. When we cease from doing the right things only because they’re right, and do them only because we want to bless our Lord, we enter into that little known realm of true obedience. When our greatest joy is to do our Father's will, we will walk in true obedience.

As husbands and fathers, it’s impossible to represent Jesus properly to the world and our families unless we take on His heart. He was always obedient.  In obedience to His Father's will, He lived, loved and moved as His Father desired. God can’t trust merely compliant men to raise His children and properly care for their wives as He desires. He can only trust Christ-like, obedient servants who understand His heart. Which one are you?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

I once heard a character in a movie state that people marry so they have someone to witness their lives. The more I thought about it, the more I saw it to be the world’s way of feeling valued and needed. People without the Lord continually attempt to find acknowledgment and purpose for their lives. They marry for their own good to satisfy an inner need of some sort.

One of God’s purposes for marriage is for the husband and wife to witness each other’s life so they can help each other become all they can be in Christ. They’re to observe each other’s spiritual needs so they can pray and encourage each other in the things of God. It’s the opposite of the way the world thinks.

We, as believers, are to marry for the good of the other. The world marries for their own good to fulfill their own needs.  As Christian men, we are to lay down our lives for the good of our wives. Our obligation before the Lord is to love our wives as Christ loved the church. He died for the church. We are to die to our own desires daily for the good of our wives.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett