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Getting Back to the Right Family Tree
They are consistently the greatest influences that mold and shape every one of us.
Yet they are wildly inconsistent in form, ranging from small to large, structured to chaotic, predictable to erratic, close-knit to detached, tranquil to turbulent, controlling to indulgent, authoritarian to permissive, predictable to erratic, protective to dangerous, compassionate to cruel, warm to cold, and so on.
They are . . our families!
Somewhere in that list of traits you find your own family identity and the ways, for good or bad, that environment has profoundly affected your life.
They could have had it all
As important as family is to us, it’s an even bigger deal to God. He, too, wants to profoundly affect our lives, first and foremost through the concept of family. Children, sons and daughters, He calls us. Father and Brother, He calls Himself and Jesus Christ. He’s heavy on family identity because His whole reason for creating us was so that we can be in His eternal family!
So it’s no surprise that at the same time He created His first children, Adam and Eve, He also created family, first through the marriage institution (“a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”), then through the blessing that they should “be fruitful and multiply.”
What a head start! This beautiful couple had it all—their gorgeous Garden of Eden home, no fears, no struggles, no past problems to deal with and, best of all, a personal relationship with God. A great life that could get even better!
But they lost it all
But Adam and Eve still faced one big potential problem: their own thinking and the freedom to choose—“Do we follow God or not?” The threat came to them through a few seeds of thought planted in their minds, but those seeds would lead to life-and-death decisions.
The serpent targeted Eve’s thinking on several levels: You can’t trust God. You’re smart enough to know good and evil without God. There’s a better way than what He’s telling you. You don’t know what you’re missing out on!
It worked. She rejected God and ate of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” and Adam quickly followed.
Just like that, they lost it all—home, security, comfort and, worst of all, that familial closeness with their Father. From then on, all of us, their descendants, have eaten off their tree of choice, deciding for ourselves what is good, what is evil. This diet, predictably, has produced mixed fruit—some things have turned out good, some things evil.
So how did their family life turn out? Well, considering that one of their children murdered his brother, not so good. How painful that must have been for the whole family! How often must Adam and Eve have rued the day they chose to dismiss God.
Getting back to what we need
Don’t we all want, need, what only good family life can provide? Loving marriages, wise parenting, thriving relationships?
Because family is so important to God, so critical for society’s stability, and so vital in determining our happiness and success, Discern consistently features articles on God’s instructions for healthy marriages and families. As you’ll see in the following pages, family is this issue’s primary focus.
We can never get our families back to the utopia where Adam and Eve started. But we can get our families back to God—to knowing Him as our Father, to learning His principles of living, to getting back to the family tree we need: the tree of life!
Clyde Kilough Editor
The Disappearing Family
The family is being dramatically redefined today. But where did the human family come from? Is it really that important? If so, why?
By Doug Horchak
Iwas born in 1952 in a small town outside Detroit, Michigan, the youngest of three brothers. We were cared for by our mother— the homemaker, cook and caregiver to us kids. My dad was a blue-collar worker in a steel mill, a “fixer” around the house who took his sons fishing in the summer.
As was typical back then, we knew who our mother and father were. We knew that we were the Horchak family. We had an understanding of what a family was. It was a cycle of life that was familiar to many:
A man and woman grow to love and commit to each other in marriage. As they come together, they bring a small infant into the world. That baby is cared for and nurtured by the parents. The child grows up, seeing the role of his or her mother and father. In time, this child becomes a young adult and finds a mate that he or she grows to love and marries—and the cycle continues.
Fast-forward 70 years, and the landscape has drastically changed.
Today’s family
The once common model and cycle of the human family still exists but is being dismantled.
• The traditional marriage and family—with a man committed to a woman, and both caring for their children—are disappearing.
• The deliberate termination of the life of a human fetus is practiced by millions.
• People are confused about their sexual orientation, gender and personal identity.
• And many tell us this is all normal, good and natural! Thus, marriage has evolved and is considered an out-of-date institution by many. The entire definition of family is being changed. With such dramatic changes to an age-old institution occurring so rapidly, it is worth asking, How did the human family begin?
The origin of family
Anthropologists tell us that the family structure evolved over millions of years from prehominid beings. However, the Bible tells a very different story. It’s a story that involves belief in a Creator. Unfortunately, many today simply don’t believe in God. Yet believing that God created man is essential in order for us to fully understand how men and women were designed to interact and relate to each other.
As the Creator, God revealed this from the beginning. The book of beginnings, Genesis, reveals much about the family’s origin.
We read in Genesis 1:1 that “God created the heavens and the earth.” The account continues by giving an overview of the six days of creation. God set in motion the heavens, the terrestrial hydrology and environment of the planet and then He fashioned many animals.
But then in verse 26, the narrative takes a dramatic turn .
We see in the next few verses the Godhead addressing the pinnacle of His creation —unveiling the foundation and purpose of human life!
This unique focus is confirmed in verse 26: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”
God’s Word reveals an astounding truth about mankind’s beginnings, hinting at the Creator’s intent in creating humans.
Chapter 1 continues: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (verses 27-28).
In these three verses we find that God designed and put human beings on earth for a very special purpose “Image” and “likeness” refer to resemblance to God and to the abilities and potentials patterned after God’s.
In verse 27, we find the image and likeness of the Creator is fully expressed by two beings—male and female.
God designed mankind in His image as male and female. Science confirms that every male has an X and Y chromosome, and every female has two X chromosomes. It was God’s design.
A few years ago evolutionary anthropologist Anna Machin acknowledged the unique nature of humans, noting how males and females are genetically predisposed to different functions.
In her Aeon article “The Marvel of the Human Dad,” Dr. Machin wrote, “Fathers are so critical to the survival of our children and our species that evolution has not left their suitability for the role to chance. Like mothers, fathers have been shaped by evolution to be biologically, psychologically and behaviourally primed to parent. We can no longer say that mothering is instinctive yet fathering is learned” (January 2019).
“Irreversible reductions in testosterone and changes in oxytocin levels prepare a man to be a sensitive and responsive father, attuned to his child’s needs and primed to bond,” Dr. Machin noted. “The reward of chemical dopamine increases . . whenever he interacts with his child.”
The article highlighted the unique survival skills, risktaking and problem-solving skills and mental resilience that human fathers teach their children.
While many in society suggest that our male and female roles are simply cultural or media-driven stereotypes, Dr. Machin sees these differences as being driven by DNA and the result of evolution.
But the Bible teaches that men were created to father. God reveals He designed man and woman distinctly unique, and for a profoundly important purpose.
The necessity of the woman
In Genesis 2 we read that God planted a garden in Eden in which He put the man. God instructed Adam about the garden and specifically about a tree from which he was forbidden to eat—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Then God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (verse 18). This was not simply a reaction to solve Adam’s loneliness, but the Creator’s way of completing the pinnacle of His creation—human beings designed in His image!
In verses 21-23 we find God anesthetized Adam and performed divine surgery! He took bone and thus DNA from Adam and created the woman.
Verse 24 gives a directive from the Designer of human life for a man to be joined to his wife and become “one flesh” (pointing to a committed relationship in marriage). Adam and Eve were to have children and were to dress, keep and have dominion over all of God’s created order. This instruction was given to no other form of life on earth—and prefigured a larger purpose and plan!
God instructed these humans, created in His image, to live and interact with each other in a unique way that pointed to their purpose. A man and a woman were to begin yet another family by departing from their parents and becoming one flesh. It is a relationship designed with the prospect of ultimately expressing the image and likeness of the Creator God.
Marriage targeted
Not long after, we read in Genesis 3 how Satan (represented by the serpent) targeted the first family by
enticing Eve to ignore the teachings of her Father (God) and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Both Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s commands, leading to a distorted example of the functioning of marriage and family, which was to be the physical precursor of God’s future plan for mankind.
The final words in Genesis 3 show that from that time forward, God kept man from accessing the tree of life (verse 24). Adam, Eve and their descendants were on their own. They would now determine and define their own future.
Man’s departure from God and His plan was a pattern that would be repeated throughout history. Not only have humans determined their own definition of right and wrong, but they have departed from God’s design for the foundation of society—that of the human family.
Family prefigures God’s plan
While the Creator hinted at the special nature of His creation of man from the beginning, we see later in His Word that the human family was to physically prefigure God’s ultimate destiny for man—to become a part of His glorified, spiritual family!
Thus we begin to see why family is so important. It is the one relationship designed by the Almighty that typifies God’s eternal plan.
Throughout the Bible, we find many scriptures that point to His design. In John 3:1-8, Jesus explained to Nicodemus that a person must ultimately be “born again” to be in God’s family, the Kingdom of God. The author of Hebrews states that “bringing many sons to glory” was God’s intent (Hebrews 2:10).
Romans 8 describes in detail God’s design for humanity. In verses 14-17 Paul tells how converted people call God their “Father” and are joint heirs (in the same family) with Christ, inheriting an eternal future in that spiritual family!
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Revised Standard Version).
In verse 29 Jesus Christ is referred to as the “firstborn among many brethren.” He is our Elder Brother.
In fact, a full understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ involves learning how God’s design of human marriage
and family is a type of God’s plan for all of humanity. For more on this, see “ The Reason You Were Born.”
The mystery of God’s plan
In Ephesians 3:9, Paul discussed what he called the “mystery” of God. He acknowledged these precious truths, made available to the Church, have been hidden from the rest of mankind.
In Ephesians 5 Paul further revealed details of the purpose for human marriage and family and how it prefigures the relationship of Christ to the Church. This touches on the deeper meaning of how marriage—the God-given roles of a husband and a wife—relates to our becoming members of the family of God.
“For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:30-32).
The God family
The concept of God being a family is considered sacrilegious to some. In fact, many in the Christian
world embrace the doctrine of the Trinity—a teaching that has no biblical basis. This belief is contrary to what the Word of God has to say about our destiny and potential as human beings, the expectation that we will actually be born into the God family.
God has always wanted His family to grow!
From the very beginning, as we read in Genesis, God intended our lives as human beings to be, in effect, the prototype of glorified life existing within His family.
Men and women will be changed from mortal to immortal (1 Corinthians 15:50-53). What an incredible moment that will be! What a glorious purpose marriage and family prefigure.
Our modern culture has departed from God’s design in so many ways.
What our society practices today is much different from the Creator’s intent for a committed relationship of love between a man and a woman, a close bond between a husband and his wife and their children.
Yet there is hope for the human family and, more importantly, for the future of God’s spiritual family!
To understand more about God’s purpose for marriage and family, download our free booklet God’s Design for Marriage D
Learning From the Parable of the Rich Fool
Jesus
warns His followers about a certain mindset. So, what is it, and how can you avoid falling into it?
By Kendrick Diaz
Ever had a good problem?
Jesus once told a story of a guy who did. “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’” (Luke 12:16-17).
Imagine that—a harvest season so successful that your only concern is where to store it all. Heaping piles of produce everywhere, more than you know what to do with. Of course, that’s not exactly the kind of problem you would lose sleep over, but still, it’s one that calls for some serious logistical maneuvering.
So the rich man got to work planning.
“He said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.”
At first, that sounds like practical preparation—just a man solving a storage issue. But something deeper—and darker—was happening, as the very next verse shows.
“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’” (verses 18-19).
He was counting on his wealth to take care of him for years to come. But what he was trusting in was the wrong thing.
Misplaced priorities and mistaken success
To be clear, planning ahead isn’t sinful—it’s sensible. There’s nothing unbiblical about equipping yourself to navigate the shifting circumstances of life, avoiding headaches when you can. We have the freedom, the responsibility even, to plan for and think about our physical future.
The problem—the real tragedy—is when that’s the only future we care about.
That’s exactly where the rich man went wrong. When life handed him a windfall, all he saw was an opportunity to indulge himself—eat, drink and have a good time. He figured he was set, free to kick back and enjoy life without giving a second thought to what might come next.
But just when he thought he would finally cash in on his extraordinary success, reality hit him hard and fast.
“God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” (verse 20).
The whole illusion collapsed in a split second. All his plans—what he was going to do, the way he was going to feel, how his physical life was going to look—none of it would matter anymore. Everything he had worked for, everything he was preparing for, was suddenly meaningless. He wouldn’t even live to see the next morning.
It’s a sobering conclusion to the parable. And while we’re still taking it in, Jesus brings it home with a pointed warning:
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (verse 21, New International Version).
The wrong kind of investment
As followers of Jesus Christ, we should find it worthwhile to deeply contemplate the question God posed to the rich man: “Whose will those things be?”
It’s easy to brush it off as a simple warning against greed, but that misses the point. The question aims at something deeper—it challenges us to reflect on where our lives are headed and what we’re truly living for.
For some, it’s the dream house. For others, it’s the retirement account. For others, it’s influence and fame. We all have ambitions that are vying for our time and energy.
What is your main project, and in the end, will the investment pay off?
One vivid picture of how empty it is to focus on material things comes courtesy of the ancient pharaohs. They were entombed with all kinds of treasures and precious things they were convinced would follow them into the afterlife— but every glittering thing remained in this realm with their lifeless embalmed bodies.
Their once grand monuments eroded. And their legacies, as impressive as they were, have zero bearing on their eternal future.
Solomon eventually came to this realization—though it hit him much later than it should have.
Meditating on his own accomplishments as the wisest and richest king of Israel, he wrote, “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19, NIV).
But obviously the problem wasn’t unique to Solomon, the pharaohs or the character in Jesus’ parable. It’s a trap that’s been springing over and over, across centuries and across cultures. People devote their entire lives to things that are temporary and material, only to discover—often too late—that it was all insubstantial.
The result is always the same—a return that doesn’t truly satisfy.
Thankfully, there’s an alternative.
Eternal investments
King David had the right approach to life. In Psalm 39:6, he wisely pointed out, “Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them.”
David’s headspace couldn’t have been more different than the rich man’s. He saw that life was fleeting. He knew that chasing after more stuff wouldn’t lead to anywhere that mattered. And he didn’t just settle for understanding reality—he translated his awareness into a change in focus . Consider the next verse:
“What, then, can I count on, O Lord? In You my hope lies” (Tanakh 1985, emphasis added).
That’s the critical difference. Physical life eventually expires, and wealth ultimately disappoints us—but the psalmist recognized the one investment that truly matters: a relationship with God. That’s what counts in the end.
Instead of dedicating himself entirely to physical pursuits, like the foolish rich man, David chose to put his hope in something much weightier.
It’s almost as if he had already heard what Jesus would later say: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20; see The Sermon on the Mount).
We’re all familiar with how things in life naturally decay, fade and lose their value over time. But the reality is, not everything fades. Some things are eternally valuable.
Jesus didn’t spell them all out in the Sermon on the Mount, but He spoke about them often—“inheriting eternal life” (Matthew 19:2729), entering His “joy” (Matthew 25:21), and “inheriting the kingdom” prepared “from the foundation of the world” (verse 34). These are the goals worth giving our life to.
Are there still some physical responsibilities we need to handle? Yes—the real world doesn’t just pause. But those priorities should never come before the deeper pursuit of being rich toward God .
He wants a converted heart and mind, a faithful and obedient disciple who will always choose a future with Him over anything this physical world has to offer.
A spiritually rich man does what the physically rich man failed to do—he seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Focus on what endures
The message from the parable is clear: Don’t let your main goal be building bigger barns—instead, focus on building a deeper relationship with God. Don’t stress about growing possessions—choose to grow the qualities God wants to see in His children.
It’s not that God has it out for rich people. It’s not that having a lot of money automatically corrupts you. And Jesus wasn’t calling His followers to a life of extreme poverty and selfdenial. That was not His point.
What He was warning about was letting physical goals take center stage—living like they’re the ultimate source of security or the true measure of success.
This parable is a reminder of why that’s not a good idea. Yes, it’s wise to plan for our physical future—but not at the expense of forgetting the One who holds eternity in His hands.
God wants His followers to invest in the things that will truly last.
“The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). D
Is Every Day the Sabbath?
Some claim that the command to rest on the seventh-day Sabbath has been revoked and now every day is the Sabbath for Christians. Is this idea biblical?
The command to rest and treat the seventhday Sabbath as holy is clearly stated in the fourth of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11).
However, most mainstream Christians—even those who claim to uphold the 10 Commandments— don’t observe the Sabbath as the Fourth Commandment instructs. Their reasons vary.
Some believe that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday. Others argue that it was abolished at the cross. Another increasingly popular argument is that every day is now the Sabbath.
Did Jesus change the Sabbath from the seventh day to every day of the week?
What is the Sabbath?
By Erik Jones
Before we examine this question, let’s review what the Sabbath is and isn’t in the Old Testament.
We’re introduced to the Sabbath in Genesis 2. After laboring six days to form the heavens and the earth, God “rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done” (verse 2). The Hebrew word translated “rested” is sabat, so it’s like saying God sabbathed on the seventh day.
It continues: “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it” (verse 3).
To bless and sanctify means to set something apart as holy. Because of God’s blessing, the seventh day is to be treated as distinct and unique from the other days of the week.
Later, in the Fourth Commandment, God revealed how it is to be kept holy: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work” (Exodus 20:8-10).
The core command is to rest and set the Sabbath apart as holy—a special day devoted to
worshipping God and being physically and spiritually refreshed. God gives us six days to work and do all the other activities of life, but commands that the seventh day be dedicated to Him.
As Jesus later said, it is a day designed for man’s benefit (Mark 2:27).
Holiness not relegated to one day
Although the Sabbath is one specific day each week, God never intended it to be the only day His people focused on spiritual matters or lived holy lives.
While the Sabbath itself is to be kept holy because it is a holy day (Isaiah 58:13), God expects His people to “be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45) every day—24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Pursuing holiness is about personal character. God’s people are to be holy all the time—to love God and teach His ways to their children whenever they can (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
The Sabbath command provides one specific day each week for His people to focus entirely on Him and strengthen their commitment to live righteously every day. Doing this also builds the community of believers.
The Sabbath is also to be a special sign identifying who His people are (Exodus 31:13).
Sadly, throughout much of their history, Israel ignored God’s Sabbath, and the predictable result was a pattern of unholy living and a nation steeped in sin.
The Sabbath fulfilled in Christ?
So, what about the claim that the Sabbath has been transferred to every day of the week? Those who hold this view often argue that the Sabbath was fulfilled in Christ, and that instead of resting on a specific day, Christians now rest in Him every day of the week.
To defend this position, some cite Matthew 11, where Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (verse 28, emphasis added throughout).
By saying, “I will give you rest,” was Jesus saying that every day of the week was now the Sabbath?
Let’s examine the context. Jesus was commenting on the attitudes of the cities He had recently visited, which were unrepentant and clung to their sinful ways.
Immediately before making His statement on rest, Jesus thanked God for the small group who were repentant and following Him (verses 25-27). He then went on to make His statement about giving rest.
Jesus was not talking about the weekly Sabbath rest, but rest from sin and the burdens it brings. That kind of rest could be experienced only by those seeking His mercy and guidance.
This was not the first time God used rest to describe the relationship people can have with Him. On one occasion, when Moses asked God to lead him, God told Moses, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).
Later, God used rest to represent Israel being freed from enemies and from the burdens and stresses of war (Joshua 11:23; 23:1).
God has often used rest to represent the blessings His presence brings and the relationship we can have with Him. None of these promises to give rest abolished the weekly Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9-10).
The rest Christ provides is from sin’s burdens and penalties. Only through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is repentance and forgiveness
possible. By humbling ourselves and casting our cares on God, we can recognize the care He has for us (1 Peter 5:6-7). This is the rest Jesus was referring to in Matthew 11.
Interpreting His statement, “I will give you rest,” as a repudiation of the holiness God placed on the seventh day thousands of years earlier is not only out of context—it’s a significant leap in logic. In theological terms, this is eisegesis—reading one’s own ideas into the text rather than drawing out Christ’s original intent and meaning.
In another situation, when Pharisees were pushing their unbiblical and burdensome approach to Sabbath-keeping on Jesus and the disciples, Jesus answered them by stating, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
If His followers no longer needed to keep the Sabbath, He could have plainly said that what His disciples did or didn’t do on the Sabbath no longer mattered. He could have said that every day was now the Sabbath—but He didn’t. Instead, He emphasized God’s original intent for the Sabbath: it was a gift and a blessing “made for man” by God Himself.
Strangely and tragically, the master deceiver has somehow convinced millions that a day of rest and refreshment—given by God Himself—is a burden to escape from and argue against, rather
than a blessing to embrace and benefit from.
The seventh day and every day
God blessed and set apart the seventh day thousands of years ago as a gift for humanity. Rather than seeing it as a burden, Christians should view it as a blessing—a dedicated day to focus on God through Bible study, prayer, meditation and meaningful time with family and fellow believers. It is also a day to rest physically and mentally from the demands of our daily burdens.
Those who argue that every day is now the Sabbath sometimes create a straw man argument instead of dealing with the real issues, claiming that observing the Sabbath is relegating the pursuit of spiritual holiness to one day a week.
The Bible is consistent that God’s people are to pursue personal holiness every day of their lives, in how they live and interact with God. That was His expectation for ancient Israel, and it remains His expectation today.
The importance of daily righteous living does not conflict with observing the seventh-day Sabbath—it complements it.
God’s intent for the Sabbath
When God created the Sabbath and made it holy, He didn’t intend it to be the only day His people pursued
spiritual things. His intent was that the Sabbath be one day a week that His people could dedicate entirely to Him—which could strengthen their pursuit of holiness on the other six days.
The Sabbath is a 24-hour period (from Friday at sunset until Saturday at sunset) when God’s people rest from their regular work and activities to focus on and prioritize their relationship with Him. God blessed and made it holy—and there is not a single verse in the Bible that revokes that blessing or redefines it as every day of the week.
Humans have no authority to make unholy what God has made holy—or to declare holy what He has not.
The Sabbath is still part of the 10 Commandments—and Jesus said God’s law would not change by even “one jot or one tittle” until “heaven and earth pass away” (Matthew 5:18). Among the 10, it is the only command God specifically said to remember.
Don’t neglect the weekly gift God has given you. Honor the seventh-day Sabbath and let it draw you closer to Him and fellow believers, and strengthen you to live a righteous life every day of the week.
Find more answers to your questions about the Sabbath in our free booklet
The Sabbath: A Neglected Gift From God D
Grandparenting Challenge: Finding Opportunities to Influence Grandchildren
What are the obstacles grandparents face in teaching their children’s children? How can windows of opportunity be created?
By David Treybig
Grandchildren are one of life’s sweetest rewards for those who have endured the challenges of raising children. As the Bible affirms, “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged” (Proverbs 17:6, English Standard Version).
Watching grandchildren grow from tiny, helpless infants into independent adults with their own unique talents and abilities is one of life’s marvels. It’s often a beautiful reminder of watching our own children mature.
Yet God doesn’t intend this later stage of life to be merely observational. He instructs us to pass along our knowledge, values and spiritual experiences.
Before the ancient Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses told them, “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren” (Deuteronomy 4:9, emphasis added).
This command was given to those who had assembled at Mount Sinai and heard God speak the 10 Commandments. Moses reminded them, “Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice” (verses 11-12).
God expected His people not only to remember that profound experience but to pass it on to future generations. This command is echoed by Asaph in Psalm 78: “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done . . . that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children” (verses 4, 6, ESV).
God’s expectations remain relevant today. As grandparents, we are entrusted with the sacred task of transmitting truth, wisdom and faith to those who come after us.
Obstacles
Passing down life lessons, spiritual experience, cultural traditions and family history remains an important role for older generations. But doing so is not always easy. Barriers often arise that make it difficult to meaningfully connect with grandchildren.
Still, overcoming these challenges is vitally important, not only for grandchildren, but also for the well-being of grandparents. Research has shown that close relationships with grandchildren can help older adults feel less isolated and have better mental health.
Geographical distance
One of the most common barriers is physical separation. According to an AARP survey, over half of American grandparents have at least one grandchild who lives more than 200 miles away. To bridge the distance, plan regular visits and, if possible, celebrate holidays and religious
subject. For example, if you observe the seventh-day Sabbath and biblical holy days, but your children and grandchildren do not, this can lead to tension.
While you may long to share your spiritual understanding, it’s essential to recognize that parents have the primary responsibility for their children’s spiritual education (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). If your children ask you not to discuss certain beliefs with their children, you need to honor their wishes.
However, even if we are not able to share our understanding of some aspects of our faith, there are usually other biblical commands, such as not lying, not stealing, kindness and respect for others, that align with the parents’ values.
Seize the moment! It could be the gateway to a heartfelt and meaningful exchange.
holy days together. Video calls and texts can sustain the connection. Even small gestures— like calling to congratulate a grandchild’s achievement—can strengthen a relationship.
Different parenting styles
Having more years of experience, grandparents often have strong views on parenting. However, it’s important to remember that the primary responsibility for raising children rests with their parents. When caring for your grandchildren, honor and uphold the values of their parents. These values include discipline, food and entertainment. Supporting parental decisions helps maintain family harmony and keeps the doors of influence open.
Religious differences
Religious beliefs can be a particularly delicate
By recognizing these challenges and finding solutions to overcome them, grandparents can strengthen their relationships with grandchildren and leave a lasting, positive legacy.
Finding opportunities
Our challenge as grandparents is to recognize and seize those special moments when our words or actions can make a lasting impact on our grandchildren. These are opportunities to address the most important matters in life, offer guidance, share our faith and express love. Whether these opportunities are planned or spontaneous, these moments can have a powerful and lasting influence.
Here are some occasions where meaningful opportunities may arise:
Bedtime: If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to tuck a young grandchild in bed, you have been given a wonderful window of influence. During these precious minutes, you
can read a short book together, pray together or even help a little one learn how to pray.
Thanking God for the blessings and fun one has enjoyed during the day teaches gratitude. Praying for others who are sick or facing trials cultivates compassion. Asking God for help with the challenges of life promotes dependence upon and trust in God.
A simple good night hug and an “I love you” reassurance before pulling up the covers and turning off the lights can lay a foundation with young grandchildren for future conversations about more important values.
The time just before going to bed can also be an opportunity for important discussions with teens and young adults. When the day is over, some young people may become reflective about their challenges, worries, hopes and wishes. This is the time some are willing to open up and discuss the things on their minds.
While you may have been ready to head to bed earlier in the evening, don’t dismiss these opportune moments with a quick, “We can talk about this tomorrow.” The window of opportunity for deep discussion may not be open tomorrow.
Seize the moment! It could be the gateway to a heartfelt and meaningful exchange.
Car rides: Driving a grandchild to school, a sports practice, a music lesson or some similar type of activity can become more than simply a routine. It can be a relationship-building time.
Ask simple, open-ended questions like, “What are you looking forward to today?” or “What happened at school today?” Simple questions may lead to deeper conversations.
Many young people immediately get on their personal devices as they get in a car. However, you just might be able to break through the digital barrier if you begin a conversation as soon as your grandchild gets in the vehicle.
Meals out: Taking a grandchild out for a meal offers a unique opportunity for one-on-one time. Let your grandchild choose the place. The relaxed setting can open the door to more personal conversations. There’s a good chance both of you will enjoy and benefit from the occasion.
Holidays and holy days: These days often provide opportunities to recount family stories, traditions and values. Family gatherings foster a shared sense of identity and belonging.
The fun and festivities may not yield many opportunities for deep conversations, but these times together build bonds that can help communication flow more easily in the future.
Shared interests: Whether it’s playing catch, going to games, crafting, cooking or working on a hobby together, shared activities often prove to be fertile ground for connection and conversation.
I know of a grandfather who regularly takes his grandsons to see Major League Baseball games. These occasions often include times of travel, eating meals together and memories that will last forever.
Meaningful experiences often begin with simple, shared interests. The time spent together while pursuing these interests can provide wonderful opportunities for important conversations about character, perseverance and other life values.
Starting a meaningful discussion
When an opportunity arises to talk to your grandchild about the important things in life, don’t squander the occasion.
If you are unsure how to begin, start by asking a question or questions that gently lead to the topic you’d like to discuss. Or begin by telling your grandchild a story about yourself and how you learned a valuable lesson.
Above all, once you enter an important discussion, don’t be overly critical. A judgmental tone may shut down future opportunities for discussions.
Instead, acknowledge that we all have to learn and that in God’s sight we are all works in progress. Praise your grandchild for the progress he or she has made, and if your relationship is sound, you might offer a single thoughtful suggestion on how he or she can improve.
At this stage of life, our greatest role may be that of a trusted counselor—a loving guide who passes along timeless truths and encouragement.
For further thoughts regarding the role of grandparents, see “Leaving a Legacy for Your Grandchildren” and “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren .” D
Let This Mind Be in You
In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul encouraged members to “let this mind be in you,” referring to the mind of Christ. What did he mean?
By Bill Palmer
The passage is stunning. It appears in a letter full of warmth, written to a congregation with which the apostle Paul had a special relationship.
Paul’s direction for the church at Philippi includes the instruction for members to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). How do we do that?
The sentences that follow this directive make it even more striking. Paul explained how Jesus, before He had become human, willingly gave up His position with God the Father to humble Himself and die a horrifying death (verses 6-8).
How do these words apply to Christians?
Adopting a mindset of humility
It’s not too difficult to recognize the thrust of Paul’s statement. He was instructing the members in Philippi, and us today, to adopt the same humility Christ demonstrated.
However, the fact that Jesus was humble raises another question. What is true humility? It cannot be a matter of seeing yourself as having little value, because Jesus was perfect and sinless, and He knew His immense value.
What these words show is the willingness of the Son of God to take the form of a bondservant and to die a painful death to save humanity.
The essence of true humility has as much to do with how we view others as it does with how we view ourselves. It is about the willingness to sacrifice, or to give
up what we rightfully possess, on behalf of others.
This is an attitude all Christians must adopt, but there’s more to the story.
Diverse congregation at Philippi
Scholars believe the church at Philippi was particularly diverse. Greeks founded the city, which was later conquered by the Macedonians and then the Romans. In each case, new colonists arrived and blended into the population.
The cosmopolitan nature of the city is reflected in the original Christian converts—Lydia, a Jewish woman from Thyatira in Asia Minor (Acts 16:13-15), together with her family, and an unnamed jailer, possibly a Roman veteran (verses 27-34), with his household. Diversity often means people don’t always see eye to eye. Apparently, that had become an issue between two women in Philippi (Philippians 4:2).
Paul was careful to note that “these women . . . labored with me in the gospel” (verse 3). They were
not troublemakers, but leading members of the congregation.
Not a corrective letter
Paul wanted to see members of the congregation continue to work together, but this epistle was not primarily corrective. Instead, it is a warm message that reflects the apostle’s fondness for the church.
The church at Philippi cared enough for Paul to provide for his needs, even when other congregations had dropped the ball.
It was the Philippian congregation that supplied his needs while he worked with the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:8-9).
Even so, the Philippians were human and flawed. Though not as deeply divided as the congregation at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10-13), the Philippians showed some signs of division.
“Let this mind be in you” in perspective
Paul’s admonition to the Philippians to “let this mind be in
you” appears earlier in the letter than his personal appeal to Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2). Even so, their strife was likely in his mind as he wrote.
There were other issues in the church as well. Almost immediately after highlighting Christ’s willingness to sacrifice everything for our sakes, Paul directs the members of the congregation to “do all things without complaining and disputing” (Philippians 2:14).
The contrast is stark. Christ gave up so much, suffering unjustly on our behalf, and He did so without complaint.
When brought before the high priest, He remained silent. He was also mostly silent later when He appeared before the Roman governor Pilate. Jesus did not grumble or dispute, but refrained from arguing His case, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 26:6263; 27:11-13; Isaiah 53:7).
Understanding what Christ sacrificed
To come to a deeper understanding of what Paul meant by “let this mind be in you,” we must consider what it was that Christ gave up on our behalf. The crucifixion, as crucial as it is for our justification, was not His sole sacrifice, or even what He first forfeited.
Long before He laid down His life, the Word set aside His glory. Paul wrote that Christ “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” (Philippians 2:7).
The Mediterranean world at that time treasured individual freedom
such that their “concept of a free man led to contempt for any sort of subjection” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, p. 122). For Paul to identify Jesus as “taking the form of a bondservant” would have been shocking.
Barnes’ Notes on Philippians comments that Jesus Christ’s “consenting to become a man was the most remarkable of all possible acts of humiliation.” After all, the Word of God, who became Jesus, had been “in the form of God” (verse 6; John 1:1-3).
In prayer the night before His crucifixion, Jesus alluded to this glory He had temporarily relinquished: “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:5).
The horror of crucifixion
Later that night, after Jesus had gone to the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed again. In a series of prayers, He focused on another impending sacrifice—the horrifying death that lay before Him. He was so passionate that “His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).
He had undoubtedly seen victims of Roman crucifixions, and He knew that in a few hours He would die in that painful way. The agony of a crucifixion was so intense that the English word excruciating, to describe the highest level of pain, is derived from the word crucify.
Rome understood this. The empire did not allow its citizens
to be crucified. This form of execution was seen as a means of torture and disgrace “reserved for slaves and foreigners” ( Expositor’s, Vol. 11, p. 124).
In His prayers, Jesus asked the Father three times to “take this cup away from Me” (Mark 14:36, 39, 41), yet each time He added, “nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Even as He faced a terrifying death, there was no hint of grumbling or resentment.
The motivation of Christ
There is no doubt that the sacrifices Jesus made were monumental. His humility made it possible for us to be justified and to enter into a relationship with Him and the Father.
It was this purpose that drove Christ. He made this clear in a lesson for His 12 core disciples after James and John had asked Jesus to give them the privilege of sitting on His right and left sides when He assumed His position as King of Kings. What James and John had so audaciously requested were preeminent seats of power and honor. Their hearts were set on themselves.
In contrast, Jesus explained, true godly leadership means adopting the role of servant. Christ concluded by saying that “even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
How to “let this mind be in you”
Apart from Christ, no human is perfect, and no human has shared
the glory of God. How, then, can you be expected to “let this mind be in you”?
If you truly want to emulate Christ, then you will live your life to serve rather than to be served— just as He did. This is where humility comes in.
It would be false humility to exclaim that you have no talents, skills or resources to share with others. God has richly blessed us all, but in different ways. Part of humility is having a realistic assessment of our own gifts in preparation for sharing what we have to offer.
Another aspect of humility is having a godly view of other people. God sees all of us as valuable! As John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Then we must have a willingness to sacrifice on behalf of others who need what we have to offer. That can mean giving money or material things to others, but it can also mean giving our time and attention.
Of course, we must be responsible with our resources, not recklessly giving so much that our own families suffer.
Finally, we must continually reassess our mindset. Expositor’s points out that the underlying Greek indicates continuing action, so Paul’s statement could be rendered: “Keep thinking this among you, which [attitude] was also in Christ Jesus” (Vol. 11, p. 123).
Study more about the mind of Christ in our online article “Christ in Us: How Does He Live in You? ” D
With technological leaps, international conflicts and moral declines accelerating, are we reaching a point where we will not turn back? What’s ahead?
By Mike Bennett
AreWeat thePointof No Return?
Julius Caesar knew that crossing the Rubicon river with his army would be considered treason against the Roman Republic. There would be no going back. It would mean civil war.
In January of 49 B.C. he made his choice and began a war that would change the ancient world.
Today, many see our world rushing toward other points of no return. What does our future hold?
“Beyond the Rubicon: Navigating Humanity’s Point of No Return”
In her introduction to her group’s 1,000-page 2025 tech trends report, Future Today Strategy Group CEO Amy Webb wrote:
“In the past year, humanity crossed multiple points of no return. This didn’t happen
gradually, but in sudden, irreversible leaps that have fundamentally altered the trajectory of civilization. We’ve moved beyond our mental models, beyond biological constraints, beyond social norms—into territory we can neither fully explain nor comprehend. Just as the first telescopes revealed the vastness of space, today’s science and tech advances are revealing how much we don’t understand about our own potential.
“Yes, AI has made daily headlines, but it’s just one piece of a larger transformation.”
Amy Webb’s purpose wasn’t to scare those who access her team’s expertise. Still, some of the predictions are frightening.
“Let me be clear,” she continued. “The decisions we make in the next five years will determine the long-term fate of human civilization. This isn’t hyperbole—it’s the sobering conclusion drawn from our best available data. The convergence of tech
isn’t just changing how we work or live; it’s changing what it means to be human. We’re building systems that can reprogram biology, reshape matter at the atomic level, and process information in ways that defy classical physics.”
In our rush toward technological and scientific innovations, are we truly past the point of no return? If so, what are we hurtling toward?
A high-tech wonderland? The singularity? Robot overlords? Human extinction?
The world scene
In the wider world of nations, economies, politics and war, again humanity seems to be speeding toward an uncertain future. Many observers worry about the rapid dismantling of an international order that, however precariously, had prevented a third world war.
The return to a might-makes-right world could reignite even more of the grievances and territorial disputes that have fueled the destructive wars of the past. Now, however, the temptation to use weapons of mass destruction adds even more anxiety.
“Today, humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation,” said UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres.
Even short of that, the threat of new and expanding wars is increasing.
“If the norm against conquest continues to erode and countries no longer fear major reprisals for territorial aggression, threats that seem distant or far-fetched now could become real possibilities. Buffer states— those geographically located between rival countries—would be especially vulnerable to attack. Through the middle of the twentieth century, Poland was trampled and carved apart by wars between bigger powers” (“Conquest Is Back ,” Foreign Affairs, March 21, 2025).
What worries people around the world now?
Ipsos reported that in the 29 countries they surveyed, inflation is the top concern. Crime and violence came in a close second.
“All nine European countries in our survey have experienced some sort of rise in the proportion expressing worry about military
conflict between nations, with Poland (32%) being the most worried” (Ipsos.com, March 20, 2025).
Moral decline
Underlying these revolutionary technologies and the international conflicts is the human factor. Are the scientists and world leaders making wise choices—choices that will lead to good, not evil?
In a world increasingly unmoored from morality, the answer is frightening.
Public opinions of what is right and wrong have shifted dramatically. Even when rapid societal change has provoked a backlash, it hasn’t seemed to halt the downward spiral for long.
Consider just a few examples.
• Pornography:
“Since Barna’s 2015 study The Porn Phenomenon, the number of U.S. adults consuming pornography has continued to rise, with a 6-percentage point increase (from 55% in 2015 to 61% presently). There is also a notable uptick in the number of women accessing pornographic content (39% then vs. 44% now) . . .
“Just over half of practicing Christians report consuming porn with some level of frequency, including 22 percent who view it weekly (15%) or daily (7%)” (Barna.com , Oct. 17, 2024).
• Sex outside of marriage:
Pew Research Center says the total number of Americans living together without being married reached 18 million in 2016—up 29 percent in nine years. The 2011 National Health Statistics Reports show that of Americans in the 15-to-44 age group, 66 percent of women and 74 percent of men have had more than one sexual partner; 8.3 percent of the women had 15 partners or more, and 21.4 percent of the men claimed 15 or more partners.
• Acceptance of lying:
Ipsos Public Affairs conducted an online survey in 2016 that found “64% of men and women say that lying is sometimes justified.” The percentage giving that answer 10 years earlier was 42% (Ipsos.com).
This only scratches the surface. For a look at how all of God’s 10 Commandments are being broken in modern society, see “ Why Is God Angry With America? ”
Biblical points of no return
Sin has infected every human through every era. But the Bible shows there have been times when evil has been so overwhelming that God Himself has been compelled to intervene.
In Noah’s day, “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually . . The earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:5, 11).
Noah was the exception, and God used him to warn the people. But they didn’t listen, and they passed the point of no return. God was so grieved, He sent the Flood and used the ark to save Noah and his family and the animals.
Similar red lines were crossed by the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God came down to confirm the outcry against these depraved cities, and He was willing to spare Sodom if He found even 10 righteous people (Genesis 18:20-21, 32). But only Lot was found to be righteous, and God spared him and some of his family.
End-time prophecy
Much of Bible prophecy warns of another point of no return at the end of the age of man. Are we even now rushing toward Armageddon?
Again, human wickedness, violence and depravity pervade our planet. And again, God gives fair warning before He unleashes His wrath. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:11).
Some will heed that warning and believe the good news that Jesus Christ will return to set up the Kingdom of God on this earth.
But many will not. Even in the midst of the terrible plagues described as the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:9-11) and the great day of His wrath (Revelation 6:17), rebellion will continue.
“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not
worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.
“And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries [or drugs] or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21).
Learn more about these earth-shattering events and how they fit into God’s plan to save us by downloading our free booklet How to Understand Prophecy.
Is it too late?
There will come a time when it is too late, as the five foolish virgins in Christ’s parable found out (Matthew 25:10-13; see “Lessons From the Parable of the 10 Virgins ”).
But that is not what God wants. He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
God wants His human creation to return—to repent. This is an essential part of His plan to save us from ourselves.
In the context of the end-time Day of the Lord, Joel proclaimed, “So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:13).
God “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Though our world as a whole seems to be hurtling past the point of no return, individually we can turn back to God. It is not too late for you.
What does God want, and what help does He offer to us?
Study the biblical answers in our online article “How to Repent ” and free booklet Change Your Life. D
“IFumbling Through Parenthood: What Becoming a Dad Has Taught Me About God
Raising children can prompt us to give a little more thought to the way God is raising us.
By Jeremy Lallier
love you, buddy!”
If I wrote those words in a note to my 4-year-old son, they would be meaningless. Not because they aren’t true, not because I wouldn’t mean them, not because he wouldn’t believe them—but simply because he can’t read.
He would recognize the individual letters. He could point to each one and tell me its name. But he wouldn’t know what those specific letters in that specific combination were supposed to mean.
How could he? He hasn’t learned. Yet.
On the cusp of understanding
The written word is a gateway to all kinds of experiences and knowledge. What we read in the pages of a book can fill us with
curiosity or horror. It can inspire us, sober us, transport us to worlds that no longer exist (or perhaps never existed at all), impart knowledge and perspective, take us on a journey, equip us to try something new—all this and more.
And yet, if we can’t read—if we can’t put the letters together and decipher their meanings—then that whole world is closed off to us. We can hold a book in our hands, open the pages and look at their contents, and still be completely powerless to extract what’s inside.
My son is on the cusp of all that, and he doesn’t even know it. He can’t know it, because it’s the sort of thing that can only be understood through experience.
Oh, he understands that words exist and that it takes letters to make them—but there’s no way for him to truly anticipate the vast ocean that’s waiting for him. No collection of letters has ever changed his mind or taught him
something new or made him laugh or cry.
But they will. One day, they will.
This isn’t a parenting article
As a general rule, I don’t write articles about parenting. My wife and I are still very much in the thick of it with our three kids, and that doesn’t make me feel particularly qualified to offer advice.
Do we have ideas and
theories about parenting? Absolutely. Do we have strong opinions? You bet. Are we seeing some positive fruit from the choices we’re making? We think so! Do we still spend an inordinate amount of time scratching our heads and feeling woefully inadequate to the task? A thousand times yes.
Strong opinions don’t amount to a hill of beans. If the proof is in the pudding, let’s just say dessert is a long way from being served.
That’s why this isn’t a parenting article. It’s an article about something I learned while parenting. God created the family to be a spiritual microcosm of a bigger picture. We learn to relate to Him as “our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9), which means—for good or for ill—our human fathers play an outsize role in how we learn to see God.
But I’ve also discovered that becoming a father has changed how I see God.
A God who doesn’t have to guess
As my children grow, I find myself with opportunity after opportunity to wonder what things must be like on His side of the relationship. For starters, it’s given me a lot of appreciation for the reminder that
“your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Until Mary and I set out on this journey together, I didn’t realize how much of human parenthood is guesswork. Guesswork that does its best to incorporate the godly principles laid out for us in the Bible, sure— but still guesswork.
There’s a lot of hoping and praying we’re making the right choices as we seek to train up our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6).
But God doesn’t have to guess. He knows—in every instance, in every moment, without hesitation, the exact right thing to do for literally everyone on the face of this planet. My wife and I are trying to juggle three kids; God the Father is capable of giving His full and undivided attention to 8 billion without missing a beat. What’s more, He has a plan for inviting each of them into His family at just the right time and
in just the right way—He’s “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
He knows what each of us needs, when we need it and the most helpful way to provide it for us.
He’s never distracted or overwhelmed.
It took me just five minutes with my firstborn to realize that I am none of those things. And now, after six years of parenthood, I am more in awe than ever of the God who can do all of that without ever having to second-guess Himself.
What’s it like to know what’s ahead?
You may be wondering what all that has to do with my son’s inability to read.
Very little, dear reader. Very little. But I’m getting there.
Watching my son take the first steps toward learning to read has given me something else to wonder about God the Father:
What’s it like for Him to be watching us learn?
Kids don’t start out knowing the alphabet. That’s something they have to learn, letter by letter.
My wife has worked hard to help my son learn to recognize those letters by their sounds and their shapes. And now those letters are about to become the building blocks for something far bigger. One day soon, those letters will coalesce into words, and those words will coalesce into meanings, and those meanings will coalesce into thoughts and ideas and concepts, and his little world will explode outward into something more vast than he can possibly imagine.
He doesn’t know all that is ahead of him. But I do—and I can see a pretty clear pathway of how he’ll move from here to there.
It’s something I watched happen with his older sister, and it’s something I’ll watch happen with his younger brother too—and not just in reading, but in everything.
Crawling leads to walking leads to running and jumping. Babbling leads to syllables leads to words leads to sentences leads to conversations. Recognizing letters leads to recognizing words leads to reading entire chapters of a book in one sitting. Learning numbers leads to adding numbers leads to multiplying numbers.
Each of those steps is more than just head knowledge—it’s a new way to engage with life itself. As each of my kids takes those steps, I’m excited for how our relationship will change and deepen as those new concepts offer them new ways to interact with the world around them.
One day, I’ll be able to leave my son a note that says, “I love you, buddy!” and he’ll know exactly what it means.
The thoughts God thinks toward us
I wonder how often God feels that about me.
I wonder how often He looks at me and thinks about all the things I don’t know yet—all the things I don’t even know that I don’t know— and thinks about how things will change once I get there. How the relationship He and I have will change once I get there.
I can’t conceive of it (how could I?)—but God can. Just as I can look at my three children and get
excited about how learning and growing will transform their lives, I have to imagine God looks at me and feels a similar excitement. And again, not just at me, but at the billions and billions of human beings who have the potential to become part of His eternal family.
God has plans for us—big plans—and even though we can only see that future “in a mirror, dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12), we can be confident that our Father is expertly guiding us toward a future more incredible than we can fully grasp.
As He promised the Jewish captives in Babylon thousands of years ago, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
We’re all a bunch of kids leafing through books we can’t read yet— but we’re learning.
How exciting is that?
If you’re interested in taking a closer look at what God shows us “in a mirror, dimly,” be sure to spend some time with our seven-day Journey on “ The Plan of God.” D
Wonders of GOD’S Creation
When a flamingo needs a bite to eat, it sinks its head, upside down, into the water and swings its large, scoop-shaped beak back and forth. This lets the water flow through, while trapping the shrimp and algae it dines on with bristly, hairlike structures that act like a filter.
Its tongue moves back and forth like a piston, sucking water in through the filter as it pulls backward, and expelling it from the beak as it pushes forward.
Salt water is home to flamingos’ preferred dining delicacies, but like most animals (and humans!), they need to drink fresh water. So, God equipped the flamingo with a special gland in its head to filter out salt, which it expels out its nostrils.
As if that weren’t impressive enough, flamingos aren’t bothered by hot, cold or even super-high alkalinity in their water. Some flamingos, like the lesser flamingo of Tanzania, live safely in caustic lakes, where the tough skin of their legs protects them from incredibly high alkalinity levels, enough to melt the skin of most animals. And flamingos are even capable of drinking (nearly) boiling water from a geyser!
Pictured: American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
A Peek Inside the Beak
Text by James Capo and Jeremy Lallier
Photography by James Capo
Answers to Your Biblical Questions
Q:Does the Bible say that God knows your date of death from the moment you’re born or before you’re born even?
A:No, the Bible does not teach that the date one will die has been predetermined. God created us with the free will to make decisions, and those decisions have consequences. Some of those consequences can affect the very length of our lives.
God can certainly offer protection from consequences as He chooses in His mercy, but what would be the purpose of creating us with free will if He had already planned every thought, action or consequence before we ever made an individual choice?
Our article “ What Is Free Will? ” covers this topic in detail. You will find that it has an important connection with God’s purpose for creating mankind in the first place.
“ What Is Predestination? ” may also prove helpful. The Bible reveals that the timing of God’s plan to call all people in their own order has been predestined by God, but not who will choose or reject to walk the path of salvation. These are individual decisions we make when given the opportunity to understand what God expects of us.
Of course, God certainly has the power of life and death in His control. If He determines to give us more time to live and learn from life, that is His prerogative. Likewise, He may allow the untimely death of others to occur to accomplish a specific purpose. Read “ Why Do We Die? ” for some examples.
My question relates to your article “Colossians 2:16-17: Does It Abolish the Law of Clean and Unclean Meats?”
This article says these verses talk of the ascetic heretics that did not want the believers to enjoy the food and drink that God blessed and pronounced as good. On the surface this expectation seems to answer the question, but when we add verse 17 into the mix, then your answer no longer makes sense.
Verse 17 states that food and drink “are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” [New International Version]. Why is your article not explaining how food and drink are shadows of Christ? The context of verse 17 seems to suggest that old dietary laws, together with festivals, Sabbaths and New Moons, point to Christ, are fulfilled in Christ (being the reality). Please clarify.
Q: A:
Thank you for allowing us to clarify. We are not trying to look at only one aspect of a scripture and ignore another.
In Colossians 2:16 Paul addressed different things. ( This is not unusual for the way Paul wrote.) One is the issue of food and drink, and this is the aspect that was addressed in the article you read. Because some people think this verse proves that God’s laws regarding clean and unclean meats have been abolished, we specifically focused on that topic in that section of our website.
However, we also have a second article on Colossians 2:16-17 that addresses the larger topic of religious festivals and the Sabbath. It explains that the words food and drink are in the gerund form, so a more accurate translation would be “eating” and “drinking.” The biblical festivals included eating and drinking (not drunkenness)—literally feasting.
And God’s festivals are a “shadow of things to come”—they foreshadow actual events that are prophesied to come.
Some think that when Paul said the festivals are “a shadow of things to come,” it was a put-down. They think Paul was saying the festivals were not important.
But another way to look at these shadows is to see that they help us picture the objects of which they are shadows. For example, the Passover clearly represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and foreshadowed that event. Pentecost foreshadowed the coming of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the New Testament Church.
In the same way, the four fall festivals foreshadow events that have not yet taken place. (Although the NIV has “ were to come” in verse 17, most English translations make clear the shadows are “of things to come,” including a future aspect.)
For more, we point you to the article “Colossians 2:16-17: Did Paul Abolish the Law? ”
Q:Do we have to follow all Mosaic laws or just the four matters James and the elders decided to write to gentiles (Acts 15:19-20)?
A:Thank you for your question about what laws non-Israelites should keep. It is important to understand that the context of Acts 15 has nothing to do with the subject of keeping the Sabbath, observing God’s holy days or keeping the rest of the 10 Commandments.
The concerns addressed were about gentiles becoming Christians. For example, would they be required to undergo physical circumcision, as some Jewish converts believed ( Acts 15:1)? To decide this issue, Paul and Barnabas met with the other apostles and elders in Jerusalem for discussion (verses 2-6).
Believing that the physical rite of circumcision was superseded by the more important requirement of circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29), Paul and Barnabas did not require gentile males to be circumcised. Peter explained that what determines whether one is a Christian is receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:8), which happens through repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands (Acts 2:38; 19:5-6).
If Peter explained more about what the unbearable yoke of Acts 15:10 was, it is not recorded here. So, what was he talking about? The keeping of the Sabbath, the avoidance of unclean meats or circumcision? None of these were unbearable. They have all been faithfully practiced by the Jewish people for thousands of years.
Nor could he have been talking about the 10 Commandments. Many Christians today have been following these laws for decades and can affirm that they are, as the apostle Paul wrote, “holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12). They are not “burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
As our article “Galatians 5: What Does ‘Yoke of Bondage’ Mean? ” explains, some of the Jewish
people thought they could achieve salvation based upon their own efforts at law-keeping, and that was impossible.
As Paul explained, the only way to accomplish that would be to never sin, because when we sin, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). They had taken upon themselves a “yoke . . which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10). Peter said it made no sense to ask gentiles to also take on the same unbearable yoke. It is impossible to be saved by our own efforts.
Peter then reminded everyone of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. By paying the penalty of our sins, He made it possible for us to be forgiven and saved: “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they” (Acts 15:11). Christians, both of Jewish background and of gentile background, are saved the same way.
After much discussion , the apostle James rendered the decision recorded in Acts 15:19-20 : “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood .”
So it was decided that physical circumcision was not required for a gentile to become a Christian. But why the mention of idolatry, immorality, strangling and blood? These certainly do not encompass everything that a gentile or anyone must do to be a Christian.
Notice the following comment from our article “Acts 15: How Was the Law Changed? ”:
“As an aside, some question why reference was made to idolatry, sexual immorality, strangling and blood. These relate to deeply rooted religious customs practiced by the faiths out of which gentiles were being called into the Church. The Church leaders wanted gentiles to know that the ruling about circumcision did not mean that pagan rites were going to be allowed to come into the Church.”
For further study on this subject, you might find the following articles helpful:
• Acts of the Apostles .
• The New Covenant: What Is New About It?
• Clean and Unclean Animals: Does God Care What Meats We Eat?
If you have questions, submit them at LifeHopeandTruth.com/ask-a-question
Walk as He Walked
Jesus Rejected in Nazareth
After performing mighty works, Jesus made a visit to His hometown. Instead of being celebrated as a hometown hero, He received a very different reception.
By Erik Jones
In the last five articles in this “ Walk as He Walked ” series, we’ve examined some of the mighty works—particularly the miracles— Jesus performed while traveling throughout Galilee.
These works, in addition to His powerful teaching sessions, caused His fame and popularity to grow throughout the region.
Then Jesus again traveled back to “His own country” (Matthew 13:54). His previous visit had ended poorly (Luke 4:28-30).
Though His popularity was growing, He had already experienced opposition from certain religious leaders. However, one would think His hometown—the place where He was raised and where He had worked throughout His 20s— would now heartily welcome and accept Him.
That didn’t turn out to be the case.
Jesus rejected by His own people
Shortly after arriving back home, the Sabbath came and Jesus, as His custom was, taught in the local synagogue. The people there were
very surprised by His teaching, yet not in a positive way.
“And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!’” (Mark 6:2).
This shows that Jesus didn’t spend His teen and young adult years—the period before He began His public ministry—teaching or performing miracles, as some postbiblical writings suggest. To the people of Nazareth, His teachings and miracles seemed to come out of nowhere.
They were shocked that this Man who had grown up and worked among them was now doing these extraordinary works.
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” (verse 3). (Contrary to the idea that Mary remained perpetually a virgin, the Gospels reveal Joseph and Mary had at least six children after Jesus’ birth.)
The people of Nazareth didn’t remember Jesus as a preacher or miracle worker—they
knew Him as a carpenter and a member of a family. Matthew’s account shows they also referred to Him as “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55).
In essence, they were saying: You’re just Joseph’s kid. We saw you building houses for 10-plus years. You were just a normal person. We see your mom and your siblings around town. And now suddenly you’re a great preacher and miracle worker? People are even saying you might be the Messiah! Do you really expect us to believe that?
Instead of accepting Him in this new role and treating Him with respect and honor, “they were offended at Him” (Mark 6:3).
Since Jesus was sinless His entire life, nobody in that village would have had any stories of bad behavior from His past. If they had honestly contemplated their recollections of Him, they would have recognized this was a person who had never gotten in trouble, never caused mischief, never used bad language, never been dishonest and never treated anyone rudely or unkindly.
Knowing His character and reputation, they should have been the first people to believe
Him! However, that was not the case.
Those who rejected Him probably included people with whom He had close relationships and friendships. Jesus would have spent countless hours with many of them, both socially and professionally.
John records that this rejection extended even to His own brothers (technically halfbrothers). Despite having grown up witnessing their older sibling’s flawless character, “even His brothers did not believe in Him” (John 7:5).
Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be “despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Being sneered at and rejected by the very people He had known growing up was part of the sorrow and grief He experienced during His human life.
Jesus’ response: “A prophet is not without honor”
Jesus didn’t respond with frustration or try to provoke them by staying longer. Instead, He calmly highlighted a principle of human nature He was seeing at work: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4).
In other words, the people who are most familiar with a person are often the quickest to reject him. Jesus’ observation was similar in sentiment to the modern phrase: familiarity breeds contempt.
Jesus made the observation not only based on this experience in Nazareth, but on other similar situations He had witnessed during His time on earth or that were recorded in Scripture.
Many of the people God directly worked with were rejected by those closest to them, including Joseph (Genesis 37:10-11), Moses
In many of the other towns Jesus visited, He was welcomed by the people and attracted large crowds of interested onlookers. But in His hometown, He was met with skepticism, criticism and even sarcasm.
Jesus moved forward
Though undoubtedly saddened and disappointed by this experience, He didn’t allow it to discourage or deter Him. Instead, He moved forward, continuing the work He was sent to do.
He didn’t linger long in Nazareth, but still “laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5). In a display of His perfect character, He didn’t let the negative reception of the majority keep Him from showing mercy to those in need. He exemplified the principle Paul would later write about: “Repay no one evil for evil” (Romans 12:17).
Upon departing His hometown, Jesus moved on to the surrounding villages, “in a circuit, teaching” (Mark 6:6). There’s no evidence He ever visited Nazareth again.
Lessons from Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth
Consider three lessons we can learn from the rejection of Jesus in Nazareth.
1. Don’t use people’s past to put them into a box. Though they had no bad experience from the past to hold against Him, the people of Nazareth nevertheless refused to see Jesus as anything more than Joseph and Mary’s son, the carpenter. They blinded themselves from recognizing the remarkable Man in front of them, mentally boxing Him in as the boy and carpenter they had watched grow up.
This should remind us of the importance of respecting the process of growth, development and maturity in people’s lives—especially those we’ve known since their youth.
Unlike with Christ, when we watch people grow up, we’ll see their youthful mistakes and immaturity. But as they mature and take on new roles and responsibilities, we should be careful not to reject the adults they’ve become simply because of who they once were.
2. Let your example speak for you.
There’s no record of Jesus getting frustrated and trying to convince His kinsmen that He wasn’t just “the carpenter’s son.” He didn’t try to coerce them into respecting Him.
He simply lived out what Paul later taught a young pastor who wasn’t being taken seriously due to his age: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
If someone dismisses you because of your past or your age, don’t try to force their respect through words. Instead, focus on your example and conduct
That’s exactly what Jesus did.
In the face of rejection, He didn’t retaliate or demand recognition. Instead, He responded with calm dignity—showing kindness, extending mercy and continuing to do His work.
He let His actions speak louder than words.
3. Don’t let discouragement distract and get the best of you.
Being rejected and criticized by your people, people you deeply care about, can be very discouraging. Mistreatment might be easier to take when it comes from people you’d expect it from, but it really stings when it comes from those close to you.
That kind of discouragement can get us down and, if we’re not careful, breed bitterness and stagnation. Instead, Jesus set an incredible example of resolutely moving forward and not allowing the experience to get Him down. He acknowledged it for what it was, human nature at work, and moved forward.
It wasn’t a Nazareth problem—it was a human problem.
Sometimes the key to moving past mistreatment is to view it within the wider context of human nature. When we remember that people have been mistreating people in similar ways for thousands of years, it helps us not to take mistreatment against us too personally. It also helps us to show mercy.
Jesus didn’t allow bitterness to set in and distract Him because He recognized that people have been rejecting God’s servants for centuries.
We will all experience mistreatment from someone, sometimes even from someone close to us—a family member or a friend. When that happens to you, don’t allow it to distract or deeply unsettle you.
Instead, react as Jesus did—and with determination continue to . . . Walk as He walked. D
Bodyguards
In the early 1980s, my friend Dave and I taught English for three months in the Chiang Kham refugee camp in northern Thailand. We lived in a simple house with no running water, electricity or heat. It was winter, and the well water we used for bathing sat in large clay jars overnight, in 50-degree temperatures or less, so the water was shockingly cold.
The most unusual hot shower I’ve ever had
When the Thai army commandant responsible for the camp found we were roughing it, he offered us a hot shower. We accepted with pleasure.
But this was going to be the most unusual hot shower I’ve ever had. The commander assigned us a truck and four soldiers, armed with M-16s, to escort us. We drove east toward the Laotian border, where cross-border raids that caused destruction and chaos were a real threat.
We parked under the high jungle canopy, and the soldiers guided us to a hot spring nearby. Heated water bubbled from the ground and flowed a short distance, before tumbling over a vertical rocky face about 12 feet high. Voilà! A hot shower beckoned!
Jesus said, “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” It seems faithful Christians have not a guardian angel, but guardian angels, plural.
What the promise does and doesn’t mean
Psalm 91:11-12 states: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Satan tried to twist this passage in the account recorded in Matthew chapter 4, tempting Jesus to throw Himself from a great height. Jesus said we must not tempt or test God (verse 7).
We stripped to our swim trunks, took a bar of soap and stepped under the waterfall. It was our first hot shower in months—a unique delight.
While we exulted, the squad of soldiers formed a square around us facing outward. They were guarding us to prevent Laotian infiltrators from catching us unaware. It’s one of the few times in my life I have had an armed bodyguard, and we were thankful for it.
Spiritual bodyguards
The Bible shows that Christians have spiritual bodyguards to keep them safe so they can accomplish God’s will in their lives.
This promise doesn’t imply we can act foolishly or presumptuously because God’s angelic servants will protect us. Nor is it a promise that we will never be hurt. Pain is a part of life; we are to learn from it.
The promise is that the holy angels will protect Christians for the fulfillment of God’s plan for us. They’re invisible to our eyes, but they’re present and on perimeter guard at all times to fulfill the will of our Father in heaven.
It’s good to know we have spiritual bodyguards, and we should thank God for their protection.
