A Tale of Two Dogs

Once upon a time, there was a dog that lived in a sprawling house in the middle of the city. Though the house had plenty of doggie toys and plenty of room for play, the city dog hated being cooped up inside. Day after day, it looked longingly out the window and past the fenced-in yard around the house to the street where cars zoomed and pedestrians rushed by. The dog made little use of its spacious accommodations, choosing instead to focus on the doors that were always closed and the curtains that were always drawn.

Every evening, the city dog anxiously awaited the arrival of its master – not because it loved the master but because the master’s arrival provided an opportunity for escape. As soon as the dog heard the master’s keys jingle outside the door, it attempted a mad dash out of the house and into the yard. But without fail the good master, with a pained expression of disappointment, made sure the dog stayed inside where no harm might befall it. Wearily the dog would retreat to a corner of the house and start planning its next escape.

~~~~~

A dozen miles away, there was another dog. This dog lived in a one-room house set on a sprawling country farm. At one edge of the farm’s borders was a cliff overlooking a rushing river. On the other side was a dark forest. But no fences were present. The country dog was free to roam the farm, but it usually preferred to stay close to the front porch. It worried that if it strayed too far, it might miss its master’s arrival.

Every evening, the master’s arrival was the highlight of the country dog’s day. As soon as the master came into view, the dog would bound to his side to greet him. It followed close behind him, wanting to get into the house, not because of anything special inside but simply because it was where the master stayed. Each day without fail, the master showered his love and affection on the country dog and then led it inside the tiny farmhouse, where it wagged its tail with great contentment. Even in a shack, it was so satisfied to be in the master’s presence that the outside world held no power of attraction for it.

Lesson

Growth in holiness does not take place when our focus is on the boundaries but when our focus is on the Master. Fences may keep us from harm, but love for the Master is what keeps us from fences.

(Source Unknown)

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A Word for Ministry Families with Children.

As a preachers kid, and now in the ministry myself; I am often asked what it was that my parents did that resulted in me following in their footsteps.

Before I go any further, let me first say that our ministry is a calling from God and it is not a “genetic” or an “inherited” thing. We all have a ministry as part of the body of Christ, and it is our responsibility to answer the call of God on our life and to do what He wants us to do. As parents, my wife and I do not pray that our children will become preachers, teachers, apostles, prophets or evangelists; but our prayer is that they will answer the call of God on their lives, and be involved in their God-ordained ministry.

My parents never put any sort of pressure or expectation on me to be a preacher or pastor. That pressure was there, but it usually came from “well meaning” people who would say things like “are you going to be a preacher like your daddy one day”. However, my parents did encourage me to be active in ministry, whether it was assisting in the maintenance of the church grounds (mowing lawns and gardening), playing musical instruments, or any other activities around the church.

So what did my parents do? First of all…..prayer! I acknowledge that it is only by the grace of God and the prayers of my parents that I am serving God today. I know my parents were not perfect, but they loved God, loved each other, and loved their children. What more could one ask for?

My parents were Godly examples – they were the same at home as they were at church. There was no “fake”. There wasn’t any “turning it on for the church people”. I believe that one of the most important things in raising children in the ministry is “authenticity”.

My parents modelled the importance of having priorities. We were taught that God was our first priority and my parents modelled the application of that principle in life. Now looking back, I can see that when priorities are “nailed down”, it makes decision making a lot easier. I remember many problems being sorted out by going back to our values and priorities. I recall a discussion about playing “just one game” of cricket on a Sunday. It was never going to happen – because Sunday is church. Cricket is for every other day of the week except Sunday. Although I wasn’t always happy with the outcome of the decision, it was always consistent.

There were times when I would have preferred to be just one of the other church kids, and not have to deal with the expectation that preacher’s kids are born angels and don’t do anything wrong. If you don’t remember anything else I’ve written, please remember that preacher’s kids are like any other child. Please don’t expect them to be anything else.

Recently I was reading the gripping account of Abraham and Isaac, and it occurred to me that Isaac was never consulted about the little expedition he and his dad took. When Abraham headed up to the mountain to worship, we do not read of Abraham asking for Isaac’s opinion. Similarly, being born into a ministry family is not something children get to choose.

When Isaac was bound on that altar, he was caught up in something that was a matter between Abraham and God. Abraham said, “me and my boy will go yonder and worship” (Gen 22:5). I cannot see anywhere where Isaac was okay about it.
Isaac was a “victim” of somebody else’s decision, and his dad called it worship. Sometimes being a “preacher's kid” feels like that.

To take it a step further, Abraham made Isaac carry the wood for the sacrifice. Here is Isaac climbing up the mountain carrying the wood (a burden) which was somebody else’s decision entirely. Isaac ends up bound on an altar with a knife to his throat and it was all because of Abraham’s issue with God. This was not a matter between Isaac and Abraham, it was about Abraham showing his love to God.

Reading through the account I was gripped with thoughts of what Isaac must have been thinking when it dawned on him what was going on. Abraham didn’t say “we are going up to the mountain and I’m going to slit your throat”. No – he said “we are going to go worship”.

Isaac says, “I see the wood and I see the fire – but where is the sacrifice”. (Gen 22:7)
Abraham didn’t say “you’re the one Isaac – I am going to sacrifice you”. He said “God will provide the sacrifice”. (Gen 22:8)

Without these words, I don’t think Abraham could have made it - “Son….God will provide”.

The next time a question comes, speak these words “God will provide”.

Worship requires sacrifice. But God will provide what is needed for you to achieve God’s pleasure in your life. Our responsibility is to climb and rely on God to provide.

As the story progresses, the knife is about to come down and Isaac is gazing into his fathers face (who is worshipping remember). Isaac is the victim and he is about to lose his life. Then, right in the middle of his dilemma, Isaac heard the voice of God. The Bible says that the angel of the LORD spoke to Abraham out of heaven (Genesis 22:11). As a result of this whole expedition, not only did God know Abraham was committed but there was a young man who heard the voice of grace. Isaacs bonds are loosed he is a changed individual, because he heard the voice of God in his dilemma.

If I was Isaac, I would have responded by saying, “Dad, let me have a word with you. That almost killed me and I don’t want anything to do with it. Your idea of worshipping God and serving God is too much for me and I want out”. But that was not Isaac.

We read in the Bible about God being “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. Here is Isaac, who for the most part was not notable. Other than being the one on the altar at the mercy of his dad, Isaac is not really known for anything. Everything Isaac received, he received from his dad. Isaac didn’t dig his own wells, he re-dug his dad’s wells. Isaac didn’t accumulate wealth, He inherited wealth from his dad.

While Isaac didn’t dig his own wells, he still had to access the life giving water for himself. In other words, he had to make them his own. All children, especially ministry children, need to make “things” their own.

As parents, we need to demonstrate to a lifestyle/environment that will hopefully influence them to choose life. They must experience the same God that we love and serve! They must experience God for themselves. This will give them a thirst that can only be quenched by God himself, leading them to drink for the same wells that we drink from – following in our footsteps.

For most people, if they had to go through an experience like Isaac, it would turn them against God for the rest of their life. Sometimes it can feel like your on the altar and you had no say in it at all. It can feel like you are carrying a burden to your own sacrifice – all because dad and mum are doing the “worship thing”.

I’ve heard of many tragic stories of preacher’s kids developing bitterness against God for what they had to go through as a child in a ministry family. Some walk away from God, not wanting anything to do with church. Some even walk away from their parents.
However, looking at the account of Abraham and Isaac, it strikes me is that after such a traumatic experience – Isaac went still we onto to live for God and still served God.

Think about it……
· How could Isaac go down that mountain and look at his father again?
· How could Isaac go on to re-dig his dad’s wells?
· How could Isaac go on to succeed his dad in his legacy by embracing his heritage?

Isaac equated his dad’s desperate attempts to please the Lord to his faith! He equated his desperate attempts to please the Lord to the credibility of his God, and Isaac said “I want that” and I am going to spend the rest of my life honouring my father.

The best thing you can do for your children is live a life of faith. When you do so, you are showing your children that we serve a great God. Your illogical decisions (in trusting in God) will serve to show your children that there is a power beyond “the preacher”. Your children will equate your worship to the credibility of your God. God will provide!

Your act of faith will allow your children to hear the voice of God for themselves, and they can walk off that mountain knowing that God will provide. There will be no hesitation in trusting God through the sacrificial giving of their life – in ministry.

Another Level

Genesis 19:15-22
[15] And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
[16] And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
[17] And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
[18] And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
[19] Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
[20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
[21] And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
[22] Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
[23] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

Judgement is centered on Sodom and Gomorrah, but mercy provides a way of escape for Lot. The Bible says that the angel of the Lord hastened Lot to get out of the city let he and his family be consumed in the iniquity of the city, but Lot lingered.

The Bible goes on to say that God put him outside of the city and told him to “escape for they life, don’t look back, don’t stay in the plain – go to the mountain – let thou be consumed”.

Grace and mercy reaches after him and pulls him and his family out of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Notice this…..the mercy of God can pull you out of destruction, but will always give you instruction. We must heed God’s instruction.

The mercy of God will always be accompanied with instruction. Think about the woman caught in the act of adultery. Mercy steps on the scene and saves her from destruction, but Jesus gives her some instructions.

Mercy meets a man possessed with demons, heals him, and puts him in his right mind. The mercy of God reaches out to Him, then Jesus gives him instruction (Mark 5:19).

If the mercy of God has pulled you out of destruction – be careful to follow the instruction of the Lord! Follow the instruction of the Lord.

God told Lot to go to the mountain (another level), but Lot compromised and wanted to stay in the same proximity – the familiar. Lot said “Oh, not so, my Lord” (Genesis 19:18), how about I go to this small place nearby (Genesis 19:20). Lot thought he had a better idea!

I’ve been in the church long enough to know the some people want to be delivered, but they aren’t ready to change their lifestyle. They prefer, like Lot, to go to a small place that is nearby. They prefer the same old same old. Lot comprises going to another level to go to this little place.

[20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

If the mercy of God has touched your life, make sure you follow His instructions because He will take you to another level.

That’s my five minutes!