America, America – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 44 – 46 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – 1 Timothy 4 – 6; Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13)
America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Proverbs 13:24)
Good morning. America, where is the brotherhood from sea to shining sea? When a child in a wheelchair (12 years old with cerebral palsy) is attacked by two others (they could also be as young as 12) and robbed, I have to say something. An EMT was indicted for stealing the victim’s credit card during an emergency call. Or how about the dad accused of killing his five children. There is a reflection on the parants of the young muggers, the theif, and the accused murderer that is not good. The Bible says…
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Proverbs 22:15)
Did they drop the ball? Did you know it is LEGAL to spank you children in New Jersey? Just remember, you are trying to train up your child, not kill him or her. Did you ever see the Handicap Parking Only sign? There is usually a sign below it that reads Penalty $250-First Offence. Subsequence Offences $250 Minimum And/Or Up To 90 Days Community Service. Tow Away Zone. Now you know what the penalties are. Now you need to descide if you will pay the price for breaking the law. Train up a child in the way he should go. So…
1) Get a paddle and a Sharpie, or other permanent marker.
2) Sit down with your better half and discuss what offences your child is commiting, and what the penalties should be.
3) Write on the back of the paddle: CRIME……….PUNISHMENT
4) Write the list you made also…
Stealing………………….2 swats
Liing……………………..2 swats
Fighting………………….2 swats
Bad Language………….2 swats
Tantrums……………….4 swats, etc.
5) Sit down with you child and explain that this is what you will get if you do this. He now knows the price he will have to pay if he is disobedient, and SO DO YOU. You need to train your child, you need to follow through with the punishment. The judge is not going to say to you, “Well, I understand it was raining, and you didn’t want to ruin your new hairdo. And that you were only going to be in the store for a minute. Case dismissed.” No. The judge will say, “First offence: $250. Pay the bailief.” If you don’t follow through, your child will think he can get away with anything.
6) After the first offence and punishment, explain to your child that the penalty for that offence is going up one swat: from two to three. Also explain that you are doing this for his own good; to keep him out of the detention center, and maybe, even jail.
7) Tell him that you love him, and he will always be your baby.
That’s what an earthly father or mother should do. What do you think your Heavenly Father should do when He hears His name spoken in vain. His laws removed from the government He put together through His Word. Inocent babies sacrificed to Baal in discuise as abortions. What would you think your Heavenly Father would do when His churches bring false teachings and false doctrines in the form of other bibles: other than the King James Bible into English speaking churches…
“And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel. And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.” (Ezekiel 44:6-10)
Look around, America, it is not a pretty site. And the solution is right in front of us. Run to God. Confess that we have done wrong. Ask the LORD for His forgiveness and help…
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)
Peace. (Hosea 13:4)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 1 comment.
Amen. Not a day goes by that I don’t see or hear about some new crazy thing that has happened on the news. It pretty much comes down to this matter of training up children. It is very sad indeed.