Devotion
Like father, like son
David Jacobs
When my older brother had children, I was amazed at how quickly they learned and copied the things that adults did. My nephews would mimic one another and their parents, often not understanding whether or not their actions were right or wrong. I specifically remember one instance when my older nephew lied to his parents. Any adult would be able to decipher that he was lying because it was probably one of the first lies that he ever attempted, and we told him not to lie. His younger brother, mere minutes later, copied what his brother had done, lying about something trivial, copying the example that had been set.
Absalom had many of the great qualities that his father did; he was charismatic and the most praised man in Israel regarding his looks (2 Samuel 14:25). He was also cunning and had an eye for the throne. Although it must have broken King David's heart to have his own son conspire against him, I think he must have really gazed in the mirror and thought about his own actions. Who would have had a greater impact on his son's behavior? David was not shy of conspiring against others himself, scheming to kill the honorably Uriah the Hittite after committing adultery with his wife, Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). Like father, like son, and now King David must learn to live with his regrets as a father. Unfortunately, both David and Absalom made choices that displeased God, instead of obeying the word of their true Father.
Prayer
What is the impact that your parents made on you? Do you see similar character traits in your parents and yourself? If you have children, what kind of impact have you made on them? It is never too late to change. As with my nephews, habits can be learned quickly, so do your best to make positive habits for yourself.
Devotion
His Loving Kindness Endures Forever
Frances Taylor
Psalm 136 is a list of all the wonders that God had done for the Israelites from creation through the deliverance from Egypt and into the land promised to them, providing them with all that they need. I challenge you to write a psalm listing all the things that God has done for you using the same format. Several years ago, I did this myself and it was a wonderful reminder of all that God had done for me. "I give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his mercy endures forever; he has provided me with a family that loved me, his mercy endures forever; he hears me when I call to him, his mercy endures forever; when I was in trouble he rescued me, his mercy endures forever." I listed all the gifts he has given me and continues to give me and I thanked him for all the times that I was in pain and he healed me, and the times when I needed to be rescued. I'm sure if you take up my challenge and compose your own psalm, you will discover ...
Morning Prayer
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Inspiration
To reject the truths taught in God's Word, spoken by his prophets and apostles and by Jesus Christ his Son, is a grave offense. In the days when Hebrews was written, there were still true prophets in the Church, speaking from God. Today, we have his written Word as our "prophet. " If a preacher preaches truly according to the Book, we are in a grave sin if we reject it.
Prayer
Help me, O Lord, to discern when your Word is being taught correctly and when it is not. Teach me to embrace your truths and love them. Help me to walk in them and meditate on them. Let me not sin in rejecting the plain teachings of the Bible. Amen.
