The Shepherd Press Blog

Jesus is Life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:68

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:3-6

 

The Gospel of John provides the setting for this final post on life that is truly life. John’s gospel is rich with references to the Trinity. It is rich with Christ. Two themes that we have been exploring are brought to a perfect conclusion by John. We have looked 1) at God’s Word being life and 2) that parents must present life to their children. In the first chapter, John identifies Jesus as the Word of God. Then, in chapter 14, He says that Jesus is life, the life. Christ does not lead toward the illusory life that I Timothy warns us to avoid. No, following Christ leads to life itself, for he is the life.

Life that is truly life

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. I Timothy 6:17-19

Paul makes an interesting distinction here. He urges Timothy to instruct people to “take hold of the life that is truly life.” This exhortation comes right after a warning to those who are rich in this world. Much can be drawn from this passage about the use of wealth, but I want to focus on the distinction Paul makes between “life” and “true life.” Recall that Moses urged the Israelites not to take the word of God as idle words, but as their very life (Deut. 32:47). I believe Paul is making the same distinction here in I Timothy.

Mini-Post: Radio broadcast

For those of you who might be interested I will be hosting a radio program regarding the state of the church today. My guest will be John Crotts, author of Craftsmen, Mighty Men, co-author with Martha Peace of Tying the Knot Tighter and the soon to be released , Your Family in God’s Family.  John  has needed insight to offer in this area. Among other things we will be discussing the family-integrated church movement. You can listen on the internet at www.callingfortruth.org. Click on the listen live button. The program will air Friday, July 25^th, at 1 p.m. eastern time.

Mini-Post: Upcoming Issues

Thank you for the excellent questions you sent in response to the Half-way Mark post. We will examine each of them in the coming weeks. Please continue to pray for the blog and for the ministry of Shepherd Press. 

For our new readers, the theme Mini-Post is used to provide updates about the blog or to respond to a story or event that is relevant to families. I would expect to see more Mini-Posts as the election season enters its final stages.

Consider Psalm 78 as it connects to our current series on the Word is Your Life.

O my people, hear my teaching;
       listen to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in parables,
       I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

3 what we have heard and known,
       what our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children;
       we will tell the next generation
       the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
       his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
       and established the law in Israel,
       which he commanded our forefathers
       to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them,
       even the children yet to be born,
       and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God
       and would not forget his deeds
       but would keep his commands.

 

Parents and Life

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3

All of us can agree that the challenges of biblical parenting can at times appear overwhelming. Sometimes the responsibilities of parenting can loom so large as to distract us from the promises of God to care for us and the promise that the Scripture provides all that is needed for life and godliness. God calls upon us to be strong and courageous as we take up the challenge of parenting. It is this vital relationship of parents knowing, trusting and finding life from the word of God that is the most significant gift that can be given to children.

These words are your life

They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.— Deuteronomy 32:47

How can you make the Bible real to your children? This is a question many Christian parents ponder. But there is another question that is more important – How do you make the Bible real to yourself?

Half Way Mark

Even though summer is officially less than a month old, July 15^th is really the halfway point of the season. In less than six weeks the school year will be upon us.  A lot is coming up in the next few months – the Olympics in China, the presidential campaign, and, of course, the new school year.

I want to say thank you again for your participation in the Shepherd Press Blog. Your comments, typified by ones like Michelle and Kristy, are an encouragement.

If you have an area of interest that you would like to see addressed in the blog, let me know, as I am now planning the posts for the fall. Thank you again. May God richly bless your family as you shepherd them towards Home. 

Protected From the Heart

How can a young man keep his way pure?
  By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;
  do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart
  that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9-11

Our children need to be protected by God’s word when they sleep. We know this, at least in part, because Scripture promises it will offer protection while one is sleeping. By implication, those who do not seek the protection the Scriptures offer are vulnerable to spiritual attack during sleep. The question at the end of the last post was How do children acquire this protection? The verses above, from Psalm 119, are a good place to start.

Protected Sleep

When you walk, they will guide you;

when you sleep, they will watch over you;

when you awake, they will speak to you. Proverbs 6:22

On average we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping. Sleep refreshes our bodies. A good friend of mine, a pediatrician, tells me that when we sleep our metabolism slows down so the maintenance functions of the body can be accomplished. Cell and tissue repair occur during this down time, rather than when the body is active and needing energy to do other things. Sleep is an amazing component of God’s creation of man. It is a daily reminder of our finiteness as creatures. God, our Creator, has no need of sleep and thus is able to constantly care for his people.

Your sleep will be sweet

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,

  do not let them out of your sight;

  they will be life for you,

an ornament to grace your neck.

Then you will go on your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble;

when you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:21-24

 

Let’s review  this prayer for going to sleep.