Honor your elders

1 Timothy 5:17-22

Of all the things in life young people should keep in mind, but many often neglect is, the fact that one day they’ll get old. I remember a time when I could count on one hand, the gray hairs on my head and face, but finding them now is as easy as eeny meeny miny moe! Time stops for no man, and the world will continue to turn, despite how we live our lives, so it’s of great importance that we utilize the time God gives us to do good works, and give honor to those who have withstood the tests of time.

Without proper training and upbringing, children have the tendency to develop bad habits, one of which includes disrespecting adults. Gone are the days when the younger generation would use words like “yes sir”, and “yes ma’am” when engaging in conversation with their elders. Children today seem to have little, to no respect for adults, or any other authority for that matter. The Bible teaches clearly that we are to respect those who have lived long enough to gain experience, that can even help us live better lives. It annoys me when I see children who try to out-talk their parents, assuming their own knowledge is superior, when they’ve only been in existence five to ten years. God gives wisdom and understanding to parents to help them as they train up their children in the ways they should go, so the skills they’ll need when they get older can develop and mature over time.

The body of Christ should be a community where respect for elders is the norm, because many have ruled well, and worked hard, so that the people could grow spiritually, mentally, and possibly financially. It’s not an easy assignment to teach, preach, and try to consistently oversee countless men, women, and children, while also maintaining your own family and life affairs. In our text, Paul’s advice to Timothy was, to show honor and respect to the elders of the church, especially to those who rule well. That’s important, because some rule, and deserve respect for their position, but not for the way in which they rule. In the previous chapter, Paul prophesied that in the last days, some would depart from the faith, giving in to the persuasions of evil spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1). It’s evident we are living in this time, by the way in which many who were once firm believers in God’s Word, have been deceived, and joined allegiance with doctrines of devils.

Churches are being overrun by men who claim to be prophets (profits), Shepherds (wolves), and Apostles (pedophiles), who have been hired by satan, to tear up what God built up in the lives of many members who faithfully attend. We can show respect to a man for the title he bears, but if we discern his works are not aligned with holiness, the honor and respect he could attain, should be directed to those who rule well.

Times today are different from the past, yet the same. Although we live in a time where technology seems to be booming, the same evil spirits that roamed the earth in the days of old, continue to manipulate men today. Let your good works shine brighter than the evil the world promotes today, and take time to give honor to those who have lived long lives, working diligently to fulfill God’s Word. Always remember, one day, we’ll stand in the same place our ancestors once stood, and how we treat our elders now, will determine how the next generation will treat us.

Walk in love,

Ell

Keep God’s commandments

Proverbs 3:1-10

This lesson will be a short reminder to all those who claim to be born-again sons and daughters of God, that keeping His commandments always yield amazing benefits. Although heaven and earth are soon to pass away, disciples of Christ are yet mandated to live by a godly, and holy standard. Serving God, at times, seems tedious, and can cause the minds of even the most faithful to question whether or not He sees all the troubling experiences they encounter, but the Lord never slumbers, nor sleeps, and pays close attention to every detail of everything we face. God commanded His people to do things a certain way for a reason. For example, to obtain peace and long life, one must only remember God’s laws, and keep His commandments. While that may be a simple command to obey in order to reap such great blessings, attempting to follow God’s words are usually met by inevitable confrontation. Satan has a hard time ignoring those who seek to please God, because he was deemed, “the author of confusion”, and directs all his focus on knocking them off track. For this very reason, the text reminds us in verses five and six to, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledged Him, and He shall direct thy paths”. When we consult God’s advice on all the situations we face in life, it will greatly reduce the possibility for satan to influence us to sin. God’s power never fails, and if we commit all our trust to Him, then He’ll make sure our choices and decisions are stamped with His approval.

From morning, to afternoon, and in the evening, God should be at the forefront of our minds and hearts. His way is right, and those walking along the path He directs exhibit consistent righteous behavior. Make sure you have a full understanding of what God expects of you, after claiming to be His own, because many wear the title “Christian”, but live contrary to what it stands for.

Walk in love,

Ell

Godly trust leads to fruitful life

Jeremiah 17:5-8)l

Men place their trust in many things including security systems in their homes, financial investments for their funds, and medications prescribed by doctors for their health. Although it’s good to protect your property, balance and secure your finances, and monitor your health, much more can be gained when our trust is placed totally in God. When God controls our lives, we won’t have to worry about losing investments, or the stock market plummeting, because God’s resources aren’t affected by man’s systems. The economy of God harbors an endless supply of everything we need to prosper on the earth, and be in good health. Doctors do good in their profession, but up to a certain point. Where their research ends, God’s wisdom is only beginning. God has the power to heal all manner of sickness and disease, and he never runs out of healing. He has enough healing to go around until the end of time.

Trusting in man, over the wisdom of God, leads to a cursed life of lack, drought, and unfruitfulness. I’m amazed at how many people trust in television personalities like Oprah, Dr. Phil, and others with their lives and personal business, when their knowledge is limited to opinion, and does little to actually change people’s lives. Counseling is good, but without the knowledge of God, how much can you really affect a person’s soul? Similar to the previous lesson’s text, this text helps us understand that only when God is our primary focus, will we enjoy life in its fullness. It’s easy to get caught up entertaining the thoughts and ideas of men, because some actually present themselves worthy by using enticing words and manipulative methods, but godly wisdom helps us see past the falsehoods of man, and focus on God’s guiding light.

Every day, the believer should bring forth some type of fruit. Whether it be love, joy, peace, or any other beneficial godly attribute, our lives should be lived producing positive works and deeds daily. With God before us, there’s no reason we should allow anything to keep us from living a blessed and fruitful life, but be mindful not to give in to the opinions of worldly men over the all-knowing wisdom of the God who created all things.

Walk in love,

Ell