Handle With Care

Sometimes we see on packages the instructions “Handle with Care” or “Fragile” written on them.  It’s important to pay attention to instructions when we come across them.  If we didn’t follow those particular instructions, we could break something very valuable.  That happened to us one time.  Some relatives from back East shipped us a beautiful, antique engraved crystal vase.  It was a family heirloom that was a wedding gift to a relative 150 years ago.  It came with an antique photo of the woman with the vase.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t handled with care, which ended in its destruction.

God had some important instructions for us to follow too.  In the Old Testament He told the Israelites in Exodus 20:12 –

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

Then Jesus thought it was important enough to repeat in Luke 18:20 –

“You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

In other words, nothing has changed, God expects us to still honor our parents.  To honor means 1) To hold in respect; esteem, or 2) To show respect for, or 3) To confer distinction on.  God knows that we sometimes won’t agree with our parents.  God knows that we won’t necessarily have the same lifestyles or likes as our parents.  Yet, God still expects and commands us to honor them.  After all God placed them in our lives.  He made them our authority.  Even when we don’t agree with our parents, this gives us a chance to apply biblical principles as we develop our relationship with our parents.  It is also a means to show God’s love to them, even when we disagree. 

If we don’t follow God’s instructions about our parents then we may end up with a relationship that is like that “Handle with Care” packaged vase that arrived in a million pieces.  Take time to show your appreciation to your mom, no matter what your history with her is.  Take time to honor and love her as God expects you to do.  Bless your mom with your love.

Debating the Devil

Wisdom is not to debate with the devil, when he is tempting you to do wrong.  The devil has been around for a long time.  Longer than you.  He has a lot of tricks up his sleeves.  He studies you, so he knows what will work on you.  Once he hits us with a temptation, we need to not stick around.  We need to not think about the temptation, as if we can rationalize it in to not being a sin.  We need to come back at the devil with the Word of God.  The only we can do that is if we spend time in the Word.  We have the nasty habit of spending time dwelling on the thought, instead of finding a way to change the subject, or flee from it.  Jesus is our best example in Luke chapter 4 verses 1 through 13.  Jesus just tells the devil like it is from the Word of God, which is the truth.  You don’t see Jesus standing there discussing the options or looking at the temptation in some context that it is only a one time thing and it isn’t as bad as murder.  He simply goes back to what is right and wrong and tells the devil why it is wrong.  The devil knows he can’t win in that situation and will leave.  Read this passage and watch the expert at work and take it to heart.  Start learning the Bible and learning how to dismiss those temptations. 

 ¹ Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness ² for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry. ³ The Devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

    ⁴ But Jesus answered him, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone. “

    ⁵ So he took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ The Devil said to Him, “I will give You their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. ⁷ If You, then, will worship me, all will be Yours.”

    ⁸ And Jesus answered him, “It is written:  Worship the Lord your God,  and serve Him only. “

    ⁹ So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written:  He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you, ¹¹ and they will support you with their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. “

    ¹² And Jesus answered him, “It is said: Do not test the Lord your God. “

    ¹³ After the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time.