A Good Father

I recently asked a housekeeper at a hotel for a couple of extra hand towels, since there was a leak in the bathroom near the front of the bathtub.  At first, he brought me a large blue towel and asked me if it would work for me.  I told him, "No!"  I asked him to get a couple of dish towels if he couldn't find hand towels.  When he came back to my door, he passed me through the cracked door what appeared to be a blue hand towel.  However, after he left my doorway, I realized that he brought me three blue hand rags which he had been holding all folded up together.

God tells us in His word what it means when you ask for one item and you get another item instead.

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:11-13, NKJV)

Some people are wrong in their head and heart.  This particular incident reminded me though that God is not like those people at all.  He brought the above scripture to my mind then.

He calls people who give or bring us different items than what we ask for --- evil.  He goes on to say how a good father gives good gifts to his children.  Then, how much more would He give good gifts to the ones who ask Him?

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13, NKJV)

God is a good Father who knows how to give good gifts to His children!

Later the next day, another staff member not only brought me extra hand towels as I had originally asked but also extra hand rags.  My Father is really good!  He gives abundantly more than we ask and imagine according to His power within us (See Ephesians 3:20).

Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

The Need for a Savior

Everyone needs a Savior, and His name is Jesus.

It doesn't matter if you are "good" like a Pharisee in your own eyes or one of the worst of sinners like the Apostle Paul was considered for persecuting Christians before his actual conversion. It doesn't matter if you haven't ever accepted Jesus and His "free" gift of salvation, or you have been a Christian warming the seats on the pews for decades. It doesn't matter if you have not ever stepped inside a church building, or you grew up in the church and attended on a weekly basis. It doesn't matter if you keep all of the man-made rules, regulations, and traditions or you break all of those rules, regulations, and traditions in this world. It doesn't matter if you are a goody two-shoes or a dirty, rotten scoundrel in the eyes of this world. It doesn't matter where you fall on those different spectrums. It doesn't matter if it is just one of those items or a combination of those items within those different ranges either.

Also... if you break one part of the law, you break all of the law (See Deuteronomy 5:1-22).  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NKJV)

Can you really love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, strength? Can you truly love your neighbor as yourself?

If not, then you have broken all of the law.

And, if you break all the law...Then, you cannot truly do anything by yourself. You cannot really do anything on your own in this world.

You need a Savior. He's not just a part-time Savior either. He's a full-time Savior.

He's a Savior for every moment of every day.

Do you recognize and acknowledge your need for the Savior?

Have you confessed your need for Him?

That is truly all that matters then.

Recognize, acknowledge, confess your need for the one, true Savior of this world every moment of every day for the rest of your life here on earth as it is in heaven.

(See Isaiah 53; Matthew 6:10; John 3:16-17; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:8-10)


Copyright 2019 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Outward Appearances

Scripture Reference:

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, NIV)

Almost two years ago, I attended a holiday dinner at a couple's house where there was only one other invited guest. Throughout the evening, I was questioned about my living situation among other related personal questions. The stranger who also had been invited came across as very abrasive, intrusive, and offensive. Right off the bat, she seemed to think that it was her prerogative to ask me very personal questions about myself and my life. I felt very put on the spot and put upon especially by this woman. It felt like I had been invited to an inquisition and not informed of the real purpose up front. I did not realize it was going to be that kind of an evening for me. Otherwise, I probably would not have attended this dinner but I digress a little.

After the special event was over, I was thinking back over the unforgettable evening and the very rude woman. It made me more upset with her and myself. For one, I felt that she had violated me and my privacy. Looking back, I should have set boundaries with her up front. However, on the other hand, she should have known the unwritten rules. She did not seem to have the social etiquette that you would expect from most people though.

Unfortunately, that awful evening was just a reminder of the way people judge other people. I do not know whether her friend who invited me had told her a little about me. Based on the line of questioning, both of them had misjudged me. They based their judgments by outward appearances...things in the natural or physical world.

It was just another reminder how very important it is to renew our minds in God's word. (Romans 12:2) When we seek God and renew our mind in His word, He tells us and shows us what we need to know about a person or a situation. (Matthew 6:33) He gives us wisdom, knowledge, and discernment among other spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) Additionally, when we ask God for wisdom, He gives it to us. (James 1:5)

If those people had been seeking the Lord and studying His word, perhaps they would not have misjudged me. Then, I would not have had to endure an unnecessary inquisition at the couple's house.

Remember:

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, NIV)

Life Application:

People should not judge others by the outward appearance of people and their lives. People do not know how God is working in and through people and the temporary situations in their lives.


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Where is Your Treasure?

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, NKJV)

Where is your treasure? Where is your heart?

Are you more interested in people or possessions? Are you available for people in their time of need? Are you living superficially in this life? Do you want to have and keep all of the material things of this world? Which means more to you...people or things?

"but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:20, NKJV)

“...For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, NKJV)

First, God desires for us to love Him! (See Mark 12:30) Then, love one another! (See John 13:34-35) Do you love people? Are you showing love to them?

How do you love others? How do you show love to them? Well, one way is to imitate the Father (See Ephesians 5:1). Also, walk in love as Jesus Christ did and gave Himself for us (See Ephesians 5:2).

Are you walking in love? Are you imitating Jesus Christ? Jesus gave of Himself! He gave people His time and other resources. He taught them lessons. He listened to them. He shared with them. He endured hardships! He suffered for righteousness' sake! Ultimately, He laid down His life for everyone (See 1 John 3:16)!

Which means more to you...people or material possessions like money?

"No one can serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24, NIV)

If you had a choice of helping a person financially or otherwise, what would you do? Would you keep the money or other material possessions for yourself? Would you help the person? Which is more important to you? Which do you really love?

God does not bless people with His resources in order to be selfish, self-centered, greedy, or hoarders. He has freely given, so we should freely give too (See Proverbs 11:24). He also loves a cheerful giver (See 2 Corinthians 9:7).

Our Father asks us, "If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him—how can God's love reside in him?" (1 John 3:17, HCSB)

Later, His instruction, "Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth; that is how we will know we are of the truth, and will convince our hearts in His presence, because if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things." (1 John 3:18-20, HCSB)

What will you do the next time someone needs a helping hand? Will you deny their request? Will you walk away? On the other hand, will you show the love of the Father? Will you show the love of Jesus Christ?

Afterall, the righteous are never forsaken and God's children are never begging for bread. (See Psalm 37:25) For God feeds, clothes, and provides for all of our needs. (See Matthew 6:25-33) Therefore, should not we do the same? If we are really imitating Him, should not we also do for others? Let us actually show His love to others in obedience to Him and from our hearts.


Copyright 2010 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.