Daily Devotional, Year 2, December 24 (Liberty of Conscience in the Family)

By admin On November 6th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2, December 24

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Liberty of Conscience in the Family

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“For I (God) know him (Abraham),

that he will command his children and his household after him,

and they shall keep the way of the LORD,

to do justice and judgment”

Genesis 18:19

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In centuries past, the family was often ruled over by the stern hand of the father.

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Divorces were rare and family members knew they had to obey when in the sight of the father.

Jewish Children with their Teacher in Samarkand – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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FAMILIES TODAY

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Fast-forward into our current-day society.

To a great extent, the father no longer enjoys such supreme authority.

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Maybe in some other cultures.

But not the western nations so much.

And decreasingly so in all cultures, pretty much.

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As a matter of fact, it is not uncommon today, for the wife to be the head boss of the household.

Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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THE CHRISTIAN HOME

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But for the Christian home, things should be much closer to Heaven’s way of governing.

In other words, the Christian father and mother should take their respective roles, bringing up their children wisely and patiently and godly.

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Well, at least that’s the way it should be.

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But in most cases, the children, tragically, have been greatly influenced by outside associations (TV, Internet, radio…and even comic books, friends, public-schooling, etc…)

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And so, needless to say, family life in the west has become very complicated for all, but especially for the Christian!

Divorce – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

ABOVE PICTURE: TV indoctrination – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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“For I know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment…”

Genesis 18:19

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**Quite often, the newer Christian is very zealous to “command his (or her) children and his household after him”, just like faithful Abraham.**

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**But more often than not, the new Believer soon discovers that in today’s world, “the god of this world” has worked 24/7/365 to make things extremely difficult, especially for Christians!**

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“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”

Ephesians 6:4

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But as the Believer becomes more seasoned in the Word, he or she begins to let go of the “tight grip on the reins”, so to speak, thus allowing more breathing room for family members to continue their world-loving lives.

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And thus, that frustrated Believer begins to spend copious amounts of time in his or her “prayer closet”, praying and pleading for their Salvation!

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And this sad state of affairs causes the Believer to determine to live closer and more devoted to the Lord.

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And thus, by such fiery trials, the Lord, day-by-day, imperceptibly changes Believers into Christ’s glorious image!

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Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”

Romans 8:28

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Yes, God is able to take all such bitter situations and turn them around for that suffering Believer’s future eternal joy!

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**And God, indeed, “works ALL THINGS together for good”, even both the big and little problems of everyday life!**

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**But we have the following “exceeding great and precious” promise that we must cling to…**

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Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD;

that walketh in His ways.

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:

happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:

thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

Psalm 128:1-4

Second Coming – Return – Resurrection Morning – Jan Luyken – Bible – Wikipedia – US Public Domain (2)

Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to learn patience and forbearance with my family. And help me to more greatly lay down my life on the altar of self-sacrificing love on their behalf…”

Family Prayer Before Meal – Wikimedia – US-Govt. – Public-Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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ETERNITY NOT A PUFFY LITTLE CLOUD!

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“Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18

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In the beginning, God placed our first parents in a beautiful garden.

But as a result of sin, this world lost much of its beauty.

The curse has marred, to a great extent, the pristine condition of nature.

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But there are perhaps many, who are under the impression, that God’s redeemed will spend all eternity sitting on a puffy little cloud, strumming a harp.

Nothing could be further from the truth…“And I saw a new heaven and a NEW EARTH:” Revelation 21:1

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Do we really imagine that the same God who created that incredible garden for our first parents, would then put us through all this sorrow and hardships of this life, only to now stick us in some boring situation, for all eternity? Such people don’t know God nearly well enough.

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**The beauty and innocent joys of this present world, are just a faint reflection of what awaits all those who persevere on the upward pathway to that Celestial City of God.**

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***LET’S CATCH A VISION OF THAT PROMISED* *LAND***

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**So, Signs Of Heaven encourages the reader to begin to get a vision of the New Heaven and New Earth, and begin to get excited about it.**

When we hear the cry of a newborn baby, or the innocent laughter of little children.

When we see a little forest creature having fun, or we enjoy a walk along the sand at the ocean, and hear the majestic roar of the crashing waves.

These, and the many other joys of life were created by the One who has also gone to prepare an even more beautiful place for us to live.

He knows our needs, and will provide a place: a far more wonderful home than this sin-cursed Earth!

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And when we finally cross that river, and we stand together on the shores of that world to come, we will look in amazement at what He has in store for us there.

**And then we will know for certain, that “His mercy endures forever”, because “God is love”!**

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Wildpferde Tripsdrill wikimedia commons share-alike license

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TOMORROW

DECEMBER 25 (Come Out of Her, My People! Part 33: “Which Church Will You Choose?”)

ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who now in these last days destroys the churches via a world-loving prosperity-driven false gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

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EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN FORUM QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this small 30 minute sampling of the late Harold Camping’s nearly 50 year-long series of 90 minute nightly talk shows…This is Open Forum Show #42