DRAWING NEAR
October 26
Passing on a Godly Heritage
"From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are
able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15).
Planting and nurturing the seed of God's Word in a child's mind can
produce an abundant spiritual harvest.
Not long ago I met with a group of Christian leaders to consider
several candidates for a significant ministry position. During our
meeting it dawned on me that each candidate's father was a prominent
pastor. Each candidate had grown up in a family that daily taught and
exemplified biblical truth.
That illustrates the enormous impact a Christian heritage can have on
a person--whether he pursues the pastorate or not. And by no means is
it fathers only who influence their children toward righteousness.
Quite the contrary: A godly mother usually has far more opportunity
to do so.
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had four sons--all of whom followed his
example by becoming ministers. It's reported that at a family reunion
a friend asked one of the sons, "Which Morgan is the greatest
preacher?" "That's easy," the son replied, "Mother!"
Timothy knew the benefits of a spiritual heritage like that. His
mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois (2 Tim. 1:5) taught him the
sacred writings, which give the wisdom that leads to salvation (2
Tim. 3:15). Even as a child, Timothy was being equipped for the
ministry God would later call him to. The spiritual training he
received as a child--and the reservoir of biblical knowledge he
accumulated in those early years--were crucial elements in his adult
ministry.
If you are a parent, the most precious gift you can give your child
is a godly upbringing that will serve as the foundation for his or
her future ministries.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise God for those who have instructed you in the Word and
encouraged you in righteousness. If you are a parent, pray that your
children will exceed you in the faith. Be faithful to pray for the
young people around you and set a godly example for them to follow.
For Further Study:
Read 1 Samuel 1:1--2:10. What characteristics of a godly mother did
Hannah display?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
2 Timothy 1:5
5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which
dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am
persuaded is in you also.
2 Timothy 3:15
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus.
1 Samuel 1:1--2:10
1 Sam 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the
mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham,
the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of
the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no
children.
3 This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to
the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and
Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4 And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he
would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and
daughters.
5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah,
although the LORD had closed her womb.
6 And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable,
because the LORD had closed her womb.
7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the
LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.
8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep?
Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to
you than ten sons?"
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in
Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of
the tabernacle of the LORD.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and
wept in anguish.
11 Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will
indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me,
and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a
male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his
life, and no razor shall come upon his head."
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that
Eli watched her mouth.
13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice
was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine
away from you!"
15 And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of
sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink,
but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16 "Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the
abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now."
17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel
grant your petition which you have asked of Him."
18 And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So
the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the
LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew
Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived
and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have
asked for him from the LORD."
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the
LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until
the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before
the LORD and remain there forever."
23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you;
wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His
word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned
him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three
bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the
house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young.
25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the
woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.
27 "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition
which I asked of Him.
28 "Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives
he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
2:1 And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My
horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice
in Your salvation.
2 "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor
is there any rock like our God.
3 "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your
mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are
weighed.
4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are
girded with strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the
hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And
she who has many children has become feeble.
6 "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and
brings up.
7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash
heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of
glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He has set
the world upon them.
9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be
silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail.
10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From
heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of
the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of
His anointed."
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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