Daily Focus

God makes it clear drinking is a sin. If it is a sin for me to partake of it then it would be a sin to pressure my neighbor to drink. A general concept is available to apply here to all sin. What kind of Christian are we if we encourage sin in others? Time does not allow us to study this in full. We need to make sure that even in our liberties we do not cause others to sin. What are you encouraging in others? “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness” Habakkuk 2:15 NKJV “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.” 1 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

           Let us be careful to not make false and damaging statements about someone. Slander is merely making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. Why would we want to hurt someone like this? Someone once said, “You have two things in this life that will never leave you. They are your name and Jesus Christ.” What we say about people sticks to them. Somethings you can never shake. Love your brother to keep your tongue in check. “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy;” Psalm 101:5a NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 1:1-5 NKJ

We are to love a person who is actively opposed or hostile toward us or our life. An enemy can be a person that harms or weakens you. This does not mean you have to be bedfellows or best friends for life. It does say that we are to serve them and love them as we love ourselves. We are to love them the way God loves them. You must keep doors open on people to do this very act. If you write off everyone who is against you or hurts you, then you will not be able to provide this needed love in their life.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do

Who is my neighbor? What a horrible question to ask. It just seems like the person asking is just wanting to make a check on a list of things to do. It is as if there is no care for mankind. They only care for those they want to care about. Christ made it clear. Our neighbor is every soul around us. We are to love every soul around us like we love ourselves. “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”” Luke 10:36-37 NKJV ““Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:37-40 NK

The Law hangs on two commands. Love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. Love your neighbors as yourself. I do believe we understand what it means to love God. Although we may struggle with it, we understand it. Do we truly love those around us like we love ourselves? Do we do things for them, treat them, serve them, help them, and connect with them the way we want those things to be done to us? “Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””  Mark 12:29-31 NKJV

Your marriage is your marriage. It is no one else’s duty, service, or responsibility. You run your home for what is best for you to be faithful to the Lord. Your in-laws, friends, co-workers, family, church brethren, etc.… should not meddle or be allowed to meddle in your home affairs. Always remember you became one. You must manage your home now. The Lord is your guide. Stay true to Him and you will be just fine. “And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6 NKJV

Husbands fulfil your role in the family. Everyone needs you. They will respect you and honor you for what you do. If you are a father and husband according to the word they will always be grateful for you. Men, your purpose in the family is to provide, rule, and train all in the Lord. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 NKJV “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence   (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);” 1 Timothy 3:4-5 NKJV “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

Young wives and all wives should be godly women. Wives should always put God first in all things. Remember your role and the very important place in you have in your family. Be a wife according to the word. Your husband and children need you to give your all to that goal. They will love and appreciate you deeply for all you do for them. “that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” Titus 2:4-5  NKJV

Parents you have a job. Raise your children in the Lord. Fathers, it is your job as the leader of the home to make sure this is happening. You can ask your wife to help you. You cannot delegate it all out to others. You must bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. That is your job. Your goal is to get everyone to heaven. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NKJV ““And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”” Deuteronomy 6:6-9  NKJV

Children play a very big role in the family. They are the fruit of this holy union. They are a purpose for the God-given institution of marriage. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord. They are to honor their parents. If they do it will be well with them and they may live long on the earth.  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.   “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”” Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV

Wives love your husband as the church loves Christ. Wives submit to your husbands as the church submits to Christ in everything. You have a very important role. Your place is not being the head of the home. You can help him to be the man he needs to be for the home. You can help him make sure the home is godly and holy. You can help him a lot by being submissive in everything. Let him do his job so you can focus on yours. When both parties are focused on their role that is when the home runs like a well-oiled machine for God. That is how God intended it. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Ephesians 6:22-24 NKJV

Men, we have a great responsibility in the God-given union called marriage. We are the leader of the home. We are to love our wives as our selves and as Christ loves the Church. We must always consider them and treat them as the weaker vessel. They are our helpmate they need our leadership, our guidance, protection, and they need us to provide for their needs.  “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:22-24 NKJV “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  So

God institute this wonderful thing called marriage. You do not have to be married. You can be married if you so choose. A wise bride would be one in the Lord. If you choose to and can be on your own you are to be devoted to Lord and His work. You have more time and freedom to do that very thing. Be mindful of yourself and do not cause yourself to sin by not choosing to marry. “But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;   but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 1 Corinthians 7:6-9 NKJV

Marry in the Lord. There is not a direct command in scripture to be married in the Lord. However, we know God aspects fathers and husbands to be like Christ. We know that God expects mothers and wives to be like the body. We know that can not be unequal yoked with an unbeliever given them the power of influence over out lives. We know that we must raise our children in the Lord. How can this be done properly for the success of the whole family in Christ if we do not marry in the Lord? “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.   For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,   that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, no