OUR GREATEST JOY— KNOWING JESUS AND FOR OUR CHILDREN TO KNOW HIM!
But his sons did not follow his ways. —I Samuel 8:3
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” —John 6:28-29
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” —John 6:39-40
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. —Proverbs 14:34
The desire of any parent who loves our Lord God Almighty desires to see their children love Him as well. How sad when that does not happen. It is grievous to parents. So was the case with Samuel’s sons. Samuel “appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders” as he grew old. “But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have” (I Samuel 8:1-5).
Samuel’s sons missed what was most important. What was their relationship like with their father? How did he instruct them? Did they reject his instruction about our Lord? They surely rejected Him and did not acknowledge—
“The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” —Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Samuel’s sons were not committed to the truth that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Proverbs 14:34). But what about you and me? Are we committed to the righteousness that exalts a nation? It starts with us to be able “to do the works God requires” and “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:28-29). This is our foundation for life “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39-40). We need to understand that “God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21). Yes, this is the basis for our being able to serve God as a life-style. Dear Father, may we do so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus and all for Your honor and glory! https://youtu.be/u2q9UbaBHzI?list=RDu2q9UbaBHzI&t=16