Tag: salvation

I wish I could give proper credit to the players in this story, but I don’t remember who they were or when the story took place. I just remember how much it impacted me.

The story goes that a father set some rules for his children to obey, so that there would be harmony in the home and Jesus would be glorified. If a violation of any one of the rules took place, the violator had to spend the night in the barn - not only for punishment, but to have that person think about how good it was to not be separated from the rest of the family. At the time, belonging to a family unit was a very important thing, so being an outcast (even for a short time) hurt.

After one of the children was sent to the barn for a violation that had occurred during the day, he heard - amid the strange groans and creaks encountered in a loft late at night - a particularly clear presence of someone else in the barn. As he cowered in fear, awaiting the intruder to make himself known, his father’s face appeared at the ladder. As he entered the loft with a pillow and blanket in hand, he said something like this. “I had to follow through with giving you the consequences you earned, so I couldn’t let you in the house; but that doesn’t stop me from coming out here to spend the night with you so you won’t be afraid.”

As a father, have you ever given of yourself even when strong discipline is deserved by one of your children? Has there ever been a big dose of love accompanying it? As it says in the Word, our Father disciplines us for our own good. Do you do the same?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

I remember the time my dad came to me at 2:00 AM with a spare tire in his hand, because I had burned the rubber off my own tires after about two months. I had a flat about a mile from home, and I woke him up to take me back where I left my car. I was sure that I was really in for it this time. He had commented on me driving foolishly for a long time, so I knew this was incredible fuel for a fatherly “I told you so” kind of lesson.

What surprised me, though, was the fact that he said nothing that night, or even after that I can recall. He didn’t have to. I knew how wrong I had been. Now, I’m not going to say that I changed my ways immediately since I went through many sets of tires before I finally wised up; but that instance had a great impact on me none-the-less.

My dad’s quiet assistance at that time said more than any lecture he could have given me. He simply served because he was my dad. In his own way, he said out loud that he loved me without saying a word in a situation where I deserved many words.

As a father, it might be good to take a thorough look at the way you are directing your children into wholeness. Are you continually correcting them, or are you giving them some space to learn some valuable lessons in ways that allow God to work on their hearts? Sometimes the most is said when no words are involved. It gives you time to pray for their best interests, too.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

So many of us guys have been taught that failure in any area of our lives is a horrible thing! Most of us were taught that not having all the answers means weakness, and weakness is a bad thing. If you really study the Bible, you will find that only in our weakness is God able to prove Himself strong to us.

On my tombstone, I would like the words, “Here lies a man who understood his desperate need of God.” I want everyone to know that I understood that without a moment by moment need of my Father in heaven I could do nothing.

The most important, most powerful man in history was Jesus. Far from being weak, He said that His every move was ordained by His Father. He did nothing of Himself. That’s a full understanding of where the power to walk in the kingdom of heaven on this earth came from. His submission brought heavenly power down to this earth.

I know this may sound wrong to some of you fathers, but sometimes it’s good to need to seek help in a situation in front of your kids. To do so shows them how to do the same, especially when you seek help from Jesus. Their learning how to go to Jesus is the best lesson you could ever teach. Would you be willing to be in need so you could be used by the Lord to teach them that lesson?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

As a father and husband, if you are where you’re supposed to be with God, then those in your circle of influence have a much better chance of being where they’re supposed to be. It stands to reason that if you are setting an example of obedience to God and make it comfortable for your family to walk in obedience to God, they will be able to search His heart for their lives.

Conversely, if you are going about your days moving in your own thoughts and abilities, never really understanding the importance of finding His heart and His will, they will do the same simply because it’s a family pattern you’ve established.  Is it any wonder that so many families are fractured and directionless as far as God is concerned? Is it any wonder that most families will not be prepared to face the challenges on the horizon and will seek direction from other sources than the Lord?

Your job, dads, is to provide an atmosphere of dependence on the Lord in every area of your life and each situation you face. In doing so, you will be allowing those around you to do the same. That dependence is the only place of faultless direction and powerful wisdom available to any of them to face every challenge, even when you’re not around. Cultivating the habit of seeking God for direction and following that direction in absolute obedience is the best gift you can give to those around you. It’s the only place of real safety for all of you.

Jesus loved doing only His Father’s will. If you and your wife love walking in obedience to Him, your children will have the freedom to follow His will, too. That’s a very good thing! Will you walk in obedience to help your family do likewise?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Men, as leaders of those under your stewardship, are you preparing yourself for an encounter with God? Does your heart long for such intimacy that only His personal invitation into His throne room - where He anoints you in preparation for the times and seasons ahead - will satisfy you? If not, why not?

You have been born spiritually because of the work of Jesus. You have been invited into an intimate relationship with your Father in heaven. You have been called and selected to walk with Him throughout your days in continual communion. He has become your Father in the truest sense of the word.

He is also your Almighty God. Meeting with Him on a regular basis will change you. Any encounter you are privileged to have will destroy all those things that hinder you from walking in His truths. It will change how you think, how you act, and you will know why you have been given breath. You will have answers for yourself and for those around you.

As a watchman looking past what we have been told to believe and observing what is really on the horizon, I am convinced that nothing but the keeping power of God will suffice in the near future. Nothing but clear directions and God-ordained paths will be safe places to travel. Those paths only come from having moment by moment encounters with a loving, direction-giving Father. He is waiting to meet with you long and often. Maybe it’s time to make such encounters the priority of your life - for your sake and for those around you.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett