Regeneration in a Sinner > Reformation of a Sinner
Sanctification of a Believer > Stagnation of a Believer
God, please save our sons! Please save our daughters. Please save our country — we expect You to use each of us respectively doing our part to bring closure here! Closure on Your Great Commission via adhering to You and Your Great Commandment! All people, all parents and all children need regeneration in Jesus Christ a.s.a.p.
If you win a lost sinner to Christ, then Christ can begin to clean up the saved-sinner's words and lifestyle in order for them to go live as a good example and even go win some other people to Him. The great Fisher of men catches His fish if you will and then He cleans them. We simply cooperate with His Spirit.
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” Mk. 10:13–16
God’s Kingdom must be received “like a little child.” Mk. 10:15
“He (Jesus) called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me’.” Matt. 18:2–5
“If anyone causes one of these little ones — those who believe in me — to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” Matt. 18:6
“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies.” Psalm 8:2
Remember the children “shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David.’” Matt. 21:15
God’s Kingdom must be received “like a little child.” Mk. 10:15
“He (Jesus) called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me’.” Matt. 18:2–5
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| Photo by Juliane Liebermann |
“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies.” Psalm 8:2
Remember the children “shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David.’” Matt. 21:15
“Listen to your father, who sired you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; get wisdom and instruction and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who sires a wise child will have joy in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice in your wise and godly choices.” Prov. 23:22–25 amp
I like how the repeated “do not”s here in Proverbs 23 clearly reminds us that there are some things God in love.. does not want His children to do. It’s for their own benefit.
Respect and go with the Truth, it Doesn’t Change. That’s a Daily Choice.
“Buy the truth, and do not sell it” is the advice of Proverbs 23:23. Lot sold the truth for a home in the city (Gen. 13:1–13), and Esau sold the truth for a mess of pottage (Gen. 25:29–34). King Saul sold the truth for the support of the people (1 Sam. 15:24–35). Judas sold the truth for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14–16), and Pilate sold the truth for the approval of the crowd (Mark 15:15). It is not worth it!
Do not live for nice stuff or other things, you know, or for that fancy lux-lifestyle. Why crave mere earthly luxuries when God has SO MUCH better for you? (vv. 1–3). Is God against you having nice things or some luxuries? Probably not. I mean why live for stuff even if the rich offer them to you? Idolatry is simply not for you — never helps anyone! Ask, do those rich folk have some strings attached? You may over time gain an appetite for such things and start living to get rich and that’s lame (vv. 4–5). But riches often flee away. Riches fly away, while godly character remains for eternity.
Do not speak carelessly around fools so they can find stuff to use against you (v. 9). Fools often don’t get it. They often misunderstand and misquote you and then they get you into trouble. Do not change the boundaries that men and God have made (Proverbs 23:10–11; 22:28; Deut. 19:14). This is robbery and oppression, and God will judge it.
Do not fail to wisely discipline your child — you’ll want to hang out together later on as they are act courteously (vv. 13–14). Wisely discipline each one appropriately so that he or she might choose Christ and gain wisdom to bring you joy inside (vv. 15–16). No matter what other families may do, do not envy sinners (vv. 17–18), but trust the Lord and obey Him. Set a good example by respecting your parents (v. 22).
Do not mix with drunkards and gluttons lest you become like them (vv. 19–21). Limit your time with all those worldly people who can pull you down spiritually. Do not even look at the wine (vv. 29–35) lest you end up embarrassed and bruised.
“There is a generation (class of people) that curses its father and does not bless its mother. There is a generation (class of people) that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation (class of people) — oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are raised in arrogance. There is a generation (class of people) whose teeth are like swords and whose jaw teeth are like knives, to devour the afflicted from the earth and the needy from among men. The leech has two daughters, “Give, give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that do not say, “It is enough”: Sheol, and the barren womb, earth that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “It is enough.” The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young vultures will devour it.” Proverbs 30:11–17
So much division, confusion and unrest out there! Lord, save the next generation one by one — use me. Some things in life are never satisfied (15–16). The leech wants more blood, the grave wants more dead, the barren mother yearns for children, the earth thirsts for more water, and the fire wants more fuel (Prov. 26:20–21). Dissatisfaction creates many problems in our world, but Christ satisfies. What do you try to fill that inner void inside with? Turn and invite Jesus in — He promised to meet every need, believer. Remember how the masses of people could SO RELATE TO to discontented Mick Jagger when he sang (what is now called the most popular Rock song of all time):
I like how the repeated “do not”s here in Proverbs 23 clearly reminds us that there are some things God in love.. does not want His children to do. It’s for their own benefit.
Respect and go with the Truth, it Doesn’t Change. That’s a Daily Choice.
“Buy the truth, and do not sell it” is the advice of Proverbs 23:23. Lot sold the truth for a home in the city (Gen. 13:1–13), and Esau sold the truth for a mess of pottage (Gen. 25:29–34). King Saul sold the truth for the support of the people (1 Sam. 15:24–35). Judas sold the truth for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14–16), and Pilate sold the truth for the approval of the crowd (Mark 15:15). It is not worth it!
Do not live for nice stuff or other things, you know, or for that fancy lux-lifestyle. Why crave mere earthly luxuries when God has SO MUCH better for you? (vv. 1–3). Is God against you having nice things or some luxuries? Probably not. I mean why live for stuff even if the rich offer them to you? Idolatry is simply not for you — never helps anyone! Ask, do those rich folk have some strings attached? You may over time gain an appetite for such things and start living to get rich and that’s lame (vv. 4–5). But riches often flee away. Riches fly away, while godly character remains for eternity.
Do not speak carelessly around fools so they can find stuff to use against you (v. 9). Fools often don’t get it. They often misunderstand and misquote you and then they get you into trouble. Do not change the boundaries that men and God have made (Proverbs 23:10–11; 22:28; Deut. 19:14). This is robbery and oppression, and God will judge it.
Do not fail to wisely discipline your child — you’ll want to hang out together later on as they are act courteously (vv. 13–14). Wisely discipline each one appropriately so that he or she might choose Christ and gain wisdom to bring you joy inside (vv. 15–16). No matter what other families may do, do not envy sinners (vv. 17–18), but trust the Lord and obey Him. Set a good example by respecting your parents (v. 22).
Do not mix with drunkards and gluttons lest you become like them (vv. 19–21). Limit your time with all those worldly people who can pull you down spiritually. Do not even look at the wine (vv. 29–35) lest you end up embarrassed and bruised.
“There is a generation (class of people) that curses its father and does not bless its mother. There is a generation (class of people) that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation (class of people) — oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are raised in arrogance. There is a generation (class of people) whose teeth are like swords and whose jaw teeth are like knives, to devour the afflicted from the earth and the needy from among men. The leech has two daughters, “Give, give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that do not say, “It is enough”: Sheol, and the barren womb, earth that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “It is enough.” The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young vultures will devour it.” Proverbs 30:11–17
So much division, confusion and unrest out there! Lord, save the next generation one by one — use me. Some things in life are never satisfied (15–16). The leech wants more blood, the grave wants more dead, the barren mother yearns for children, the earth thirsts for more water, and the fire wants more fuel (Prov. 26:20–21). Dissatisfaction creates many problems in our world, but Christ satisfies. What do you try to fill that inner void inside with? Turn and invite Jesus in — He promised to meet every need, believer. Remember how the masses of people could SO RELATE TO to discontented Mick Jagger when he sang (what is now called the most popular Rock song of all time):
“I can’t get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That’s what I say
I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no satisfaction
’Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no!”
