Play, Play, Play

This past week, as I’ve watched my children play, I remember Jesus’ words:  “let the children come to me.”  Click Here To Read More

From Angela Randall

randallsinthailand.blogspot.com

The extra 10 commandments

[Picture by:Sofia Di]

Luke 10:41 Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

In our media society, we are bombarded with information. We have magazines, Internet articles, news papers, research papers, TV advertisements. It looks to me that all the information we receive from the media is adding commandments to the 10 commandments. By this I mean, I've read articles that have titles like: "10 things you should do to make your husband happy." "10 things to do to have the perfect family." "10 things to buy to be successful." "10 things to do to bond with your children."  All this information has the potential to add stress, condemnation and worry into our lives.  Apparently, Martha was not free from the "to do" influence back in her time either.

Sometimes, we fall in the same trap Martha fell. I wouldn't be surprised if  Martha, read a magazine the day before Jesus came to her house where it said: "10 things you have to do to be a good hostess."  Martha represents man's effort, self-reliance, self-righteousness. Martha was not depending on Jesus' love and grace to be a successful hostess. She wanted to please him with her own means and her own strength. On the other hand, Mary represents those who receive God's love and grace.  Mary was observing Jesus, she thought: "Jesus loves me!" "He will die for me and my sins will be washed away!" "If I sit and listen to him, I will be saved by his grace not by my own efforts." This is the reason why Jesus said that the good part, her salvation, was not going to be taken away from her.

 Luke 10:41 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.  

Jesus kept things very simple. He reduced the 10 commandments in one "LOVE" In John 15:17 he says: "This is what I command you: that you love one another." Now, he didn't say this for us to become weary and self-conscious like Martha. He does not wants us to love our children or family out of our own strength. We can do nothing without him. Also, if you read carefully, the first verses of this chapter (John 15), Jesus tells us that the only way we can bear a fruit of love is to remain in him. We need to remain conscious of his finished work at the cross.  

If we try follow rules in the bible or in the world out of self- effort like Martha, we can become overwhelm and bitter. Martha ended up being a really bad hostess. She accused Jesus of "not caring," she also bashed her sister in front of everyone else--how embarrassing!  That is the result we'll get if we try to love and "do things" without first feeding on Jesus' finished work at the cross.

When we rely on Jesus' sacrifice for our success then our house, family and children will be saved from any situation. When we rely on what he has done, the good part will not be taken away from us. Jesus' sacrifice represents salvation from the curse of this world and salvation for our souls!

Next time you read anything that talks about what you should be doing, think twice before you believe it. Remember, one thing is necessary--what Jesus has done. Rely on Jesus' grace to bless your marriage, your children and your family. Meditate in God's love for you. He was nailed on the cross to deliver you from disease, sin, death, divorce, poverty, unforgiveness. He hung on that cross to restore your children back to God! He payed for any mistake you've made as a mom.  He has forgiven all of your sins!

                                                                                                    Posted by: Sofia Di

Do you see Christ in your children?

 
When our children make mistakes, we overlook their position in Christ. We tend to focus on their bad behavior.   I've heard parent's call their kids names, such as, "dumb", "clumsy", "silly" when they make mistakes. This is the opposite of what Apostle Paul did when he heard his children were misbehaving.

Paul was the spiritual father of the church in Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 4:15 The church in Corinthians was considered by man an immoral church. They committed worst sins than an unbeliever. Not only were they sinning, but they were also proud of their sin. 1 Corinthians 5:2.

Paul was a wise father. He realized that the  problem with his children began when they removed their eyes from Jesus Christ.  In 1 Corinthians 3:4   Paul told his children that they were acting just like everyone else in the world because they were focusing on men and not on Jesus. This attitude lead them to pride, envy, jealousy, and sexual immorality.

Paul dealt with the root of their sin problem by turning their attention towards Jesus, which is an important lesson we can learn from him. When our children make mistakes, Instead of telling them how great their sin is, we can tell them about what Jesus did at the cross for all of us. There is no greater wisdom or speech than that. God's power is released when the message of the cross is being preached.

 1 Corinthians 2:1 "And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

 Since Jesus died on the cross for the Corinthians church, Paul resolved to see Christ in them. For Paul, their identity was no longer based on their performance. Instead, it was based on Jesus' finished work. That is the reason why in 1 Corinthians 1  Paul calls his children: "Us who have been saved," "sanctified in Christ Jesus," "temple of the Holy Spirit."

If we look at the things Paul mention in 1 Corinthians 1:4, we realized that he proclaims to his children grace and peace from God. Paul knew that all their pride would diminish if his children turned their eyes towards Jesus' grace; there is no room for pride when we are humbled by the death and resurrection of our Lord.   Then, Paul announces them that they have been enriched in Christ; there is no room for jealousy when we know about the resources available for us in Christ. Paul also reassures their salvation by faith. He tells them that God will sustain them without guilt on the day of judgment; sin loses its power when we believe we are saved by Jesus not by our own "lawful" works. 1 Corinthians 15:56  "For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power." Lastly, he encourages them to come closer to God; a genuine transformation occurs when we fellowship with God.

1 Corinthians 1:4 "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 


As parents we need to turn our eyes away from ourselves and away from our children's behavior. We need to look at Jesus. We must receive the freedom, right standing, forgiveness, salvation and restoration that Jesus has given us.  Only then, we will be able to see our children's identity in Christ. Only then, we will  be able to share the message of the cross. The proclamation of the cross will empower our children to do what is right.  The proclamation of their identity in Christ, apart from their behavior, will set them free from the power of sin.  Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

Post by: Sofia Di