One father said, “If I had it to do all over again. I’d love my wife more in front of my children. I’d laugh with my children more. I’d listen more, even to the youngest child. I’d be more honest about my own weaknesses and stop pretending perfection. I would pray differently for my children. I would be more encouraging and bestow more praise. And finally, if I had it to do all over again, I would use every ordinary thing that happened in every ordinary day to point them to God.” Wow! That’s good advice! You can’t do it “all over again”, so please use what time you have left in the best possible way. These are tough times and your family needs your leadership–the kind of leadership that comes from you following God. Determine right now that you will “keep the way of the LORD”. That will bring His blessings upon your family.

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”(Luke 6:27-31)

Early America presented unique challenges that we rarely face today. For one, during the Revolutionary War, those loyal to America’s independence had to be wary of loyalists and English traitors living among them. For this reason, the punishment for treason was usually death.

In the town of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, lived a minister, Peter Miller, who was close friends with George Washington. Miller did all he could to promote patriotism and helped organize men for Washington’s armies. In the same town lived an evil, critical cynic named Michael Wittman who was bent on opposing everything Miller did. Wittman let it be known that he did not like Miller or his church and openly mocked the work being done there.

One day, Wittman was arrested on suspicion of treason and through trial it was proven the cynical man had been secretly working to send information to the British troops. Convicted, Wittman faced death. Hearing of Wittman’s fate, Peter Miller couldn’t help but feel compassion on him. Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead George Washington for Wittman’s life.

After Miller pled his case, George Washington replied, “I’m sorry, Peter. I know we’re friends but we consider treason a serious matter. I cannot release this man simply because he is your friend.” “Friend?” exclaimed Miller. “Why, this man is my most bitter enemy.” Shocked, Washington replied, “You’ve walked seventy miles to plead for the life of your enemy? This puts things in a very different light. Because of that, I’ll grant his release.” Michael Wittman was released, and he and Peter Miller returned to Ephrata as friends.

How would you have treated Wittman were you in the situation? Would you have thanked God that your enemy was gone, that the thorn in your flesh had been relieved? Too often we view critics or enemies as simply pains in our lives without realizing they, like us, are simply lost souls for whom Christ gave His life.

Time and again in the Scriptures, God reminds us to love our enemies, to care for those who mistreat us, and to show kindness to those who belittle us. We are told to reject the world’s commands to seek revenge and treat others as we want to be treated by them.

Consider that thought. How do you want your enemies to treat you? Wouldn’t it be nice if they forgot their hatred and treated you as a friend? God commands you to take that image of how you wish to be treated and show it to those who hate you. Treat them how you wish they’d treat you.

More often than not, people lash out in anger and unkindness because they are hurting. Reject the thoughts of revenge and evil, and treat your enemies as lost souls in need of hope. As God says, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.”

Who should you be praying for today? What enemies need your prayerful support? Ask God to keep you humble and kind despite the hateful actions of others.(Dr. Paul Chappell)

In a recent conversation about the low attendance on Wednesday evening it was pointed out that most people do not see the importance of Bible study. And that’s obvious. It is true even of church members. So, how do you feel about it? Can you honestly say with Job,”I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”(Job 23:12)?

When we talk about what is most important we better be careful.  All too often we get things out of their proper order.  However when I say that nothing is more important to the Christian than the Word of God, I do so without reservation.  It is impossible for us to live as God desires if we neglect His Word.  We must know it and obey it, but sadly most folks don’t care. They go day after day without ever reading it.  It’s no wonder that they fail to grow spiritually, and are unable to resist temptation, cope with difficulties, etc.  They are spiritually malnourished.

I can’t understand how a Christian could not love the Word of God.  It is food for the soul, light for our path, a map to guide us, and a weapon against our enemy.  It provides information, insight, and inspiration.  We need that whether we think so or not.  However, as great as the Bible is, it does you no good setting on a shelf gathering dust. It is better to not have a Bible than to have a Bible and not read it.

It would be good if every believer would study the Bible as does a teacher who is preparing a lesson or a pastor who studies in preparation for a sermon.  The problem is that many do not see it as the treasure it is.  That is a dangerous thing. Your attitude toward the Bible reveals what you think about its Author.  Thomas Guthrie wrote, “If you  find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven – take alarm.”

A. W. Tozer gave us this wise advice: “Read it much, read it often, brood over it, think over it, meditate over it—meditate on the Word of God day and night.  When you awake at night, think of a helpful verse.  When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, think of a verse and make the Word of God the important element in your day.  The Holy Ghost wrote the Word, and if you make much of the Word, he will make much of you.  It is through the Word that He reveals Himself.  Between those covers is a living Book.  God wrote it and it is still vital and effective and alive.  God is in this Book, the Holy Ghost is in this Book, and if you want to find Him, go into this Book.”

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.–James 1: 5

It is a sad fact that we don’t always see our need. So, that being the case, sometimes our greatest need is to simply see our need. That’s why Bible study is so important–it produces the proper perspective. There is no better example of this than the book of Proverbs. It gives us practical advice for daily living and, right at the top of the list of things needed is wisdom.

But God doesn’t just tell us what we need, He also provides it. Wisdom is ours for the asking! Do you see the need for it? Perhaps these words from the pen of Warren Wiersbe will help you see your need:

Wisdom gives us perspective so that we aren’t discouraged when times are difficult, or arrogant when things are going well. It takes a good deal of spirituality to be able to accept prosperity as well as adversity, for often prosperity does greater damage (Phil. 4:10–13). Job reminded his wife of this truth when she told him to curse God and die: “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil [trouble]?” (Job 2:10, kjv). Earlier, Job had said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21, kjv).

God balances our lives by giving us enough blessings to keep us happy and enough burdens to keep us humble. If all we had were blessings in our hands, we would fall right over, so the Lord balances the blessings in our hands with burdens on our backs. That helps to keep us steady, and as we yield to Him, He can even turn the burdens into blessings.

“It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good”. (1 Sam. 3:18)

See God in everything, and God will calm and color all that thou dost see!” It may be that the circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our grief and gloom, “HE will compass us about with songs of deliverance.” To see HIM, and to be sure that His wisdom cannot err, His power cannot fail, His love can never change; to know that even His direst dealings with us are for our deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say, in the midst of bereavement, sorrow, pain, and loss, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath, taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts.–H. W. Smith