Words

Have you ever heard the term “mortification of the flesh”? That’s how theological writers of old termed what Paul presents in our passage today. These writers understood the spiritual battle—the old life, ruled by the sinful nature, versus the new life, ruled by the Spirit.

Fear has the power to debilitate us, cause us to make unhealthy decisions, erupt within us a volcano of hurtful words, and lead us down a dark path. Fear can come quickly and leave just as expeditiously. Or it can settle in our hearts and threaten to never leave. Fear is often brought on by uncertainty in our lives. It was the fear of uncertainty that changed the course of George’s life.

The early followers of Jesus misunderstood. They wanted a better temporal life. Jesus came to deliver eternal life. Subsequently, many of the disciples stopped following Jesus.

How can we live family strong? There is no simple answer to that question, but, for sure, the place to start is in the premier parenting passage of the Old Testament.

I have lived long enough to know that talk is cheap. From politicians to preachers, many words can flow from the mouth without ever resulting in meaningful action. My mom taught me early on that actions speak louder than words. So we are spending a few days considering the premier parenting passage in Scripture.

The problem with the talker? Sooner or later, they tell a story they shouldn’t. They take a “just between you and me” and make it headline news. They contradict themselves, leaving people scratching their heads. They exaggerate or embellish the facts. They say some things they regret and many things they can’t remember.

We must teach our children the power of words from their mouths or through their thumbs with Tic Tok, Instagram, texts, or Twitter. And, of course, an important part of teaching is show and tell. We must model what we teach!

Listen to the Good Shepherd’s voice. He knows you, loves you, and cares for you! He will always speak the words you need to hear, just when you need to hear them.

We worship Jesus as our Savior who paid the penalty for our sin. And…we read and study the instruction of Jesus our Teacher, who provides the words of eternal life.