Spiritual Viewpoints

by Rick Smith

Family

The Chair and a Book

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VIEWPOINTS

Thoughts To Encourage Godly Living

March 26, 2002

 

THE CHAIR & A BOOK

I watched him work on the chair.  It’s an old brown one with a leather seat. This chair is special because John Henderson made it. John’s hobby was carpentry. John, and his wife Weezy (Elouise), were two of the best people I’ve ever known. They both have gone home, and I look forward to seeing them again in heaven.

This old chair sits in my house in the reading room. It was a gift from John. Upon this chair sits a black NIV Study Bible. Every morning around 5:30, another wonderful person picks the Bible up from this chair and reads. That would be Betty, my wife.

I have great memories of John and Weezy. John was a man who lived for God, and for his wife. He lived during Weezy’s sustained illness, helping her every step of the way. She died, and within days, John died from the cancer of which he never complained. He was too busy caring for Weezy to talk about his pain.

Everyday my wife picks up her Bible from this old brown chair. I’m so thankful for her. I know some of what John must have felt for Weezy. It’s wonderful being married to a Christian. How many husbands have their wives share what they learned from God’s word each day? I want to be a better man because I’m married to a better woman.

Proverbs says, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:10-12).

The chair and book remind me of something sacred – a friendship with a man who taught me how to love the woman who owns the Bible.

Godly friends and a Christian wife have given me a glimpse of heaven

Because of Calvary,

Rick

 

Getting In The Way Of Prayer

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“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (I Peter 3:7).

“It’s hard to be humble when you’re so good.” I know a few men that really think that way. They’re married to unhappy women. When a man treats his wife as though he is God’s gift to women ~ he isn’t. What kind of a lug-headed dimwit would treat the woman he loves like a slave? Do I see any hands?

Consideration is the first thing we must give our wives. Thoughtfulness, kindness, respect, tenderness, warmheartedness, compassion — all of these words illuminate consideration. Husbands need to be attentive to their wives’ needs. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Jesus died for the church — too many husbands have an “undying” love for their wives. The truth is that our wives don’t need us to die for them — they need us to live for them. When chivalry goes out the window, you know consideration went before it. When the husband never opens his wife’s car door, never vacuums the floor, never takes out the trash, never does something thoughtful that shows his love — he needn’t bother to pray because God won’t hear you.

When men wonder why their prayers aren’t being answered, it may be that they are hindering them. God says to be considerate and treat wives with respect. Do it or don’t bother praying. If there were no other reason to treat wives with consideration and respect, keeping prayers from stopping at the ceiling would be good enough. Actually, it’s not good enough. God commands men to treat their wives with holiness, in the form of consideration and respect, recognizing them as having a feminine quality deserving of such dignified treatment. He wants husbands to be aware that wives are heirs with us of God’s gracious gift of life. If husbands ignore God on this — He will ignore our prayers. There, I said it again.

Husbands, we can bring God glory by lifting our wives up to Him in prayer. We can love our wives by the considerate words we speak and by our respectful attitudes. “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22).

GRACE TEACHES US

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“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4). When reading these verses you can either throw your arms up in frustration ~ I can’t do that ~ or you can throw your arms up in praise ~ I’ve been called higher.

How do we overcome the temptations of impure thoughts and potty mouths when we are bombarded from every side? Parents must be selective with what their children watch on television or play on the laptop. Social media has become very unsocial when it comes to living a righteous life. Today children often know more about SpongeBob SquarePants than Jesus. So, what’s the answer to our spiritual dilemma?

The answer circles back to grace. The apostle Paul continues in Titus 2:11-14, “…and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” For the grace of God that brings salvation…teaches us to say ‘No’. God’s grace teaches us to change the channel or turn the TV off when our house is being trashed with ungrace! We must not allow the world to be like a leech draining the goodness out of lives.

Grace isn’t limp, sterile, or timid. Rather, it teaches us strength, courage, and the will to do right. Because Jesus gave himself for us and redeemed us from all wickedness we may turn to him in times of temptation. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). When grace motivates us we will feel God calling us higher. Begin by recognizing the need in your home, for your sake, and the children.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your grace!

Like Little Children

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It was at least fifteen years ago I sat in a circle with about 45 children from the Tree of Life Christian Elementary School, a ministry of our church. My daughter, Rachel, was the Principal and first grade teacher. At her request, I joined the children and teachers in prayer during our daily chapel time. Before I said the last prayer, each child had an opportunity to pray. I was amazed at the way children, from kindergarten through third grade, were in tune with God. Nearly all of them began their prayers with thanksgiving, “Thank you Lord for my teacher, my mommy and daddy, my goldfish, etc.” Other than asking the Lord to help them “be good”, there were very few requests for anything else, which is different from most adult prayers.

Sometimes I find myself teetering between superficial prayer and serious ones. If I’m in a hurry, I might do a quick “thank you” for a meal. I’m not saying that’s the thing to do, I’m just telling you how it is. During the daytime I pray with people in person, on the phone, or for them without their knowledge. But at times I’m so occupied with busy work that prayer takes a backseat. Finally, at night when my wife and I pray together, we have serious prayers.

Listening to the prayers of these school children reminded me of an occasion when Jesus scolded his disciples. “Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them” (Matthew 19:13). It seems the apostles didn’t have time for this prayer stuff either. But, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'” (v. 14). Find opportunity to listen to a child pray. Be sure to pray with your own children ~ teach them ~ or learn from them how to pray. Both they and you will be blessed!

Lord, Jesus, thank you for little children. I want to be like them. I want a heart that expresses my joy and thankfulness for being your child. I love you, Lord. Because of Jesus. Amen.

Martha

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To me the greatest joy of being a preacher is witnessing people as they open their hearts to heaven and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

December 25, 2016 was one of those Sundays that began with four teenagers being baptized at Victory Road Church of Christ. The same night around 9:30 pm we received a call that beckoned us back to the church building to witness one more baptism. Before going any further, let me tell you that my heart jumped within me full of joy. Martha Huskins, daughter of Allan and Charlene Huskins, was the one immersed into Christ. That’s why I’m writing now ~ I want my heart hitting the keyboard.

I so glad Martha knows both the “plan of salvation” and “the man of salvation”, that is, Jesus our Lord. If anything, when we are baptized into Christ, we are a trophy of His grace just like every human being that ever humbly accepted Jesus into their lives.

I stood by and watch Martha’s daddy, Allan, immerse his daughter into God’s forever family. I got to watch a daddy participate with God in bringing a new child into the world. Wow!

Martha is young, but insightful regarding spiritual things. She will start a new life in Christ and become a living letter of what young people can be when they surrender to the Lord instead of the world. Her mother, Charlene, and daddy, Allan Jr., have taught each of their three children well. Martha knows only Jesus can give her eternal life, real joy, and a constant companionship with God. The Holy Spirit will live in her heart and begin His process of growing this young lady into a godly woman. Between God, Martha’s parents, and two Christian brothers, Samuel and Allan III, she will shine for Jesus!

I sat back and enjoyed watching God working in the life of a beautiful family, and I know God has already influenced Martha through those who taught her: parents, grandma, grandpa, aunt, cousins, etc. You see, this family goes back generations with the Lord in the lead. I’ve been blessed to watch some of it happen for over 53 years: her parents, grandparents, Allan Sr. and Faye Huskins, Great Grandparents, Jack and Essie Whitehead, and Martha’s Great-Great Grandmother, Janie Whitehead.

You can begin, if you haven’t already, preparing future generations for accepting the Lord. But if you’ve not begun the journey ~ it’s time you do! The Lord is knocking on the door of your heart. Open the door and let Him come in.