Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
So often we hear parents who tell sadly that one or more of their children are no longer in the church. They were raised in the church, went to Sabbath school, even church school, Christian academies, etc., but now have drifted out into the world. These parents invariably say they are trusting to that promise in Isaiah 49:25, "I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." Precious promise; but is there something we can do to cooperate with the Lord in this wonderful work of reclaiming lost children?
The father of the prodigal son was a wonderful man, but still his son rebelled. So we are not assured of 100% success, necessarily. Even Jesus lost one of His twelve disciples, and actually almost lost Peter, and the others forsook Him and fled. But there is a reason why we lose so many people, and the problem can be corrected.
The problem is the same one that ancient Israel had continually: the effects of the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant was the promise of the people to do everything just right when they promised in Exodus 19:8, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." For generations, we have always assured our children, "Yes, the Lord will bless you; He will do this or that for you, provided you do your part!" Thus the basic idea that gets across to them is that the Lord is like a policeman or a CHP officer; He won't bother you if you keep out of trouble. It's up to you to initiate a relationship with the Lord, and to maintain it; and if you don't, then He backs off and leaves you to yourself. The emphasis is on what YOU do to save yourself, not on what HE has done and is doing to save you. What is the inevitable result? Dependence on self, and that leads to alienation from Christ. And then--wandering away.
Let's hope it's not too late to proclaim the New Covenant to the children who have lost their way, but in the meantime let's give the New Covenant to the children of today! They must know that Christ is their Saviour 100%; nothing but that Good News will reconcile their alienated hearts to Him.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 16, 1997.Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
So often we hear parents who tell sadly that one or more of their children are no longer in the church. They were raised in the church, went to Sabbath school, even church school, Christian academies, etc., but now have drifted out into the world. These parents invariably say they are trusting to that promise in Isaiah 49:25, "I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." Precious promise; but is there something we can do to cooperate with the Lord in this wonderful work of reclaiming lost children?
The father of the prodigal son was a wonderful man, but still his son rebelled. So we are not assured of 100% success, necessarily. Even Jesus lost one of His twelve disciples, and actually almost lost Peter, and the others forsook Him and fled. But there is a reason why we lose so many people, and the problem can be corrected.
The problem is the same one that ancient Israel had continually: the effects of the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant was the promise of the people to do everything just right when they promised in Exodus 19:8, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." For generations, we have always assured our children, "Yes, the Lord will bless you; He will do this or that for you, provided you do your part!" Thus the basic idea that gets across to them is that the Lord is like a policeman or a CHP officer; He won't bother you if you keep out of trouble. It's up to you to initiate a relationship with the Lord, and to maintain it; and if you don't, then He backs off and leaves you to yourself. The emphasis is on what YOU do to save yourself, not on what HE has done and is doing to save you. What is the inevitable result? Dependence on self, and that leads to alienation from Christ. And then--wandering away.
Let's hope it's not too late to proclaim the New Covenant to the children who have lost their way, but in the meantime let's give the New Covenant to the children of today! They must know that Christ is their Saviour 100%; nothing but that Good News will reconcile their alienated hearts to Him.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 16, 1997.Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
