I counsel many people who struggle because of words that were spoken to them as children. Certainly, God can use that for good as He helps them find their identity in Him, but how sad when our kids must overcome our parenting, and not remember it with gratitude. How about you? Do you spend most of your time criticizing and correcting your children or do you remember to give encouragement, as well? Your kids will be grown before you know it. How will they remember you? Even if they know you love them, do they believe you like them?
Today’s Readings:
2 Samuel 3 & 4
Psalm 62.5-12
Proverbs 16.13-15
John 4.31-54
Do Your Kids Know You Like Them?
Proverbs 16.13-15:
Encouragement or Discouragement
In the light of the king’s face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain (v. 15).
Leaders can be either a blessing or a curse to those under them. A while back, my husband picked up a book about the top 10 mistakes leaders make. One of the big 10 was failing to give encouragement.
But we are all leaders in various ways, as husbands, parents, small group leaders, on the job, and in dozens of other ways. And nowhere do we have a greater opportunity to give encouragement (or discouragement) than in our homes with our spouses and children.
That’s one reason husbands are commanded to live with their wives in an understanding way (1 Pet. 3.7) and wives are commanded to show respect for their husbands (Eph. 5.33) and to have a gentle spirit (1 Pet. 3.2). Even when we must reprove one another we are to do it with gentleness (Gal. 6.1).
Parenting & Encouragement
As parents, Colossians 3.21 instructs us to “not provoke [our] children, lest they become discouraged.” Parenting is not about giving our children everything they want (far from it!) or allowing them to do what pleases them, but we can and should parent in a way that encourages them and not in a way that discourages them.
How are your relationships with your children? Do you spend too much of your time on what they do wrong? Is it all about getting their homework and chores done and beginning the next scheduled activity? Or do you take time to just let your kids know you like them and enjoy spending time with them? What an encouragement that is when we do!
They’ll be grown before you know it. How will they remember your parenting? Consider making it a goal to find something good to say to each of your children every day. Be purposeful about giving encouragement and letting them know you like them.
Today’s Other Readings:
2 Samuel 3 & 4:
Politics as Usual
As we go through the book of 2 Samuel, we’ll soon see that there is truly nothing new under the sun as Solomon said.
As the book opens, Saul is dead and David has become king. But as David rises to greater power, we see and will continue to see political infighting (Abner and Joab), jostling for power (Abner), and the forming of alliances through human means and not God’s (probably the reason David took many of his wives).
Even though David was God’s chosen king he fell far short. Some of the things kings were strictly forbidden to do were to gather wives and horses, gold and silver, and the like (Deut. 17.14-20). They were to rely on God and depend on His power and means. Yet, he often resorted to human plans and resources.
God presents those in the Bible with all their warts and foibles, in part, to give us encouragement and hope that God can and will use each of us. But He, also, shows us the consequences so we can be warned and not make the same mistakes ourselves (Rom. 15.4).
Psalm 62.5-12:
Trust in God Alone
The psalmist continues his theme of trusting in God and making Him our Rock. He warns that all else will fail us:
Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart on them (vv. 9-10).
We are warned against trusting in our own perceived humility, in our own power or influence, in forcing our will on others, in stealing or deceiving to get what we want, and in financial success. All those things will fail you, as David learned, but God never fails.
John 4.31-54:
In Our Own Hometown
For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country (v. 44).
Even in Jesus’ personal life, we see the truth many of us have learned: often our own families are the most critical, the least likely to see God’s hand in our lives, and the last ones to receive biblical truth from us.
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be faithful to speak the truth in love as we have the opportunity. But we should also be careful to live uprightly before them, so we don’t give them a reason to reject the gospel.
What about You? Questions to Ponder or Journal:
How are you when it comes to giving encouragement? Do you spend more time correcting and criticizing? Can you think of some ways you can give encouragement to those around you? If you have children, do they know you like them, as well as, love them?
And how would you rate your trust in God? Do you trust in Him alone or has your trust been in the things of this world?
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll discuss the cost of losing God’s restraining grace, look at answers to life’s toughest questions, talk about true friendship, and discuss the various reactions to the claims of Christ. We’ll also look at the question of who is Jesus and check to see if we’re living in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If you would like to receive a FREE downloadable and printable Bible study through the book of Mark, you can click here for more information.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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