 I help my daughter in small math groups in her first grade class. The children bless me with their hugs and encouraging comments. Jesus loved childen too, and I bet they blessed Him. Even more, He blessed them.
One time Jesus was talking with children and the disciples started turning them away. They thought he should spend time with religious leaders to improve his ratings. But Jesus didn't have to improve his status. He was (and is) God. He became indignant with his followers when they turned the children away. He said, "Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14). After He took them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them. Think About It Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to such as kids. Imagine that! He loves you. I like the way Max Lucado says it. "If He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it." I think what Jesus meant was, the kingdom of God belongs to those who trust Him like children do. They hold nothing back. They love and trust easily. Pray About It Thank you, Father God, for Jesus. Thank you for loving us with an unstoppable love. Thank you for telling us about Your kingdom. Thank you for the hope You bring. Amen.
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 The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus on a question about divorce. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
Jesus said, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away." "He wrote this commandment for you because of the hardness of your hearts. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate," Jesus said (Mark 10:5-9). Think About It Marriage is forever. Besides our relationship with God, the marriage relationship between a man and woman is the holiest of all relationships. How can a young person be prepared for such a forever commitment? Only with God's help. Learn to be faithful to God before marriage, and remember marriage takes three. Love, respect, appreciate and serve each other as if you were serving Christ. It won't always be easy, but God is always with us, to encourage, counsel and strengthen us. Pray About It Holy God, teach us Your ways. Help us to be faithful to you and our family relationships. Help us to consider the right person to spend our lives with--that they love you above anything and anyone else. Amen. Have you worried that you committed a sin God cannot forgive? Do not worry! Jesus talked about this when the teachers of the law said "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons!" (Mark 3:22) This is the unforgivable sin. These men gave Beelzebub (Satan) credit for something the Holy Spirit did--the healing and miracles performed through Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." You and I know that Satan is at work today. He works against God in our hearts by tempting us to do things God doesn't want us to do. His kingdom is not divided, and God's kingdom is not divided. We have a choice to follow God or not. Jesus said, "All the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin" (Mark 3:28-29). Think About It To commit the unforgivable sin is a problem of the heart AND the heart of the problem. A hard heart set against God will deny His power. A person that lives his life with this heart problem is at the point of no return. If you love God, you do not have to worry about committing the sin He cannot forgive. Be encouraged. Pray About It Father God, thank you for your love that covers our sin through Jesus Christ our Lord. Teach us Your ways. Show us Your paths. In Jesus' name, Amen. |
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