Last night our family started to read the gospel of Mark.  Each of us took turns reading from Scripture.  Afterword, we talked a little, had a prayer, and hugged each other on the way to bed.

There are benefits to studying the word with your family.  (My oldest two children are 9 and 10 years old.)

Improve reading skills.
Improve study skills.
Improve family structure.
Improve dedication to God's word.
Improve relationship with God through an obedient faith in Jesus Christ.

We love our children.  Yet, we know that if God isn't first in their life, because of our lack of teaching, we have done a disservice to God as parents.

Remain humble before the Lord.

The Lord's humbled
John A. Reeves

Add Comment
 
 
"I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:23).

Years ago I worked with an individual who lost his desire to follow God.  He was bitter and angry at God.  He said that he had done everything right and God didn't bless him.

What was wrong with him.  Was he bitter for no reason.  Did he have a "works" oriented salvation concept.  Was he taught wrongly about "name-it-claim-it-faith".  Could it be that his understanding of God was wrong.  Who taught him what is the best blessing for us other than the love of God through Jesus Christ?  Was he humble before God?  Are you humble before God?

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
Consume Jesus 07/24/2010
 
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.  As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever" (John 6:53-58).

Some people have studied this passage and use it for teachings about the "Eucharist/Communion/Lord's Supper".  But the context doesn't attribute these teaching to deal with worship specifically.

Jesus is stressing the importance of consuming Him; that is, His teachings, godliness, and lifestyle.  If we truly choose Jesus and follow Him we will have everlasting life.  So, consume Jesus and be humbled before Him

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
 
"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:17-21).

Within the Book of Ephesians the Apostle Paul teaches about living the life of a real Christian as apposed to living as a Christian in name only.  How many Christians do you know who are not very serious about their life in Christ?  Sadly, it seems like alot.  It is true, fortunately, that Christians are not saved by perfect law keeping; rather, through the grace of Christ.  Yet, does God want a fake Christian?

Paul speaks of drinking in the above passage.  Now he does not say it is wrong to drink but he does say that one whose lifestyle is of drink when they are a Christian is ungodly.  He says, basically, don't chose a lifestyle of anything other than Christ.  In fact, fill yourself of the Holy Spirit by "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5: 19-20).

If this understanding is not sure for you, please read and study the Book of Ephesians in context from front to end and this teaching will become more and more clear.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
I Love My Wife 05/19/2010
 
Ephesians 5.

I love my wife.  She is truly a godly partner in life.  She is kind and thoughtful.  She seeks to fulfill who and what she was made to be by God - not man. 

My wife doesn't stive for equal rights.  Why would she want to lower her standards.  I thank God every day that He blessed me with a woman I DON'T DESERVE.  I will accept this beautiful and godly gift under one condition.  The condition is . . . that the love of Christ is superior in every way.

Jesus is my primary relationship in every relationship.  How I treat my wife, as well as all people, must be and remain secondary.  The awesome thing about this understanding is that I don't seek to treat people based on how they treat me; rather, how I understand and relate to my primary relationship - Jesus.  (cf. Love and Respect)

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment
 
John 3:16 04/27/2010
 
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [unique] Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

This is possibly the first memory verse I learned as a child.  It says a lot.  First, it says that God loves us.  Second, it says that God loves us.  Third, it says that God really does loves people.

Yet, there are obvious thoughts in just this one passage that also teaches that people need to love Him.  First, people must believe in God.  Second, people must believe in who Jesus is as God's Son.  Third, people must believe.

Like all passages in the Bible (as well as any other good literature) context of what one is reading is important.  What does begotten mean?  What does belief mean?  How can a person perish?  What is eternal life?

Within the context of a particular passage things can be answered.  Within the context of the letter, it is written in, meaning can be understood.  When one looks at the entirety of Scripture - well, duh - understanding leaps from the pages to your heart and mind.

Now, look at this "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).  Is there understanding within this context.  Belief means understanding who Jesus is as God's Son and being obedient to His teachings.  It is not enough to say the words "Jesus is God's Son" as if your making some sort of incantation.  Belief entails action. 

Perishing is the idea of not having eternal life; rather, eternal death (God's wrath).  So, to have eternal life not only necessitates understanding who Jesus is but also following His teachings that come through the word (cf. John 17:20-21). 

Be the Lord's humbled and let Him guide you through His word.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Add Comment