One of the most lovely statements in the Bible is that "the Lord is my shepherd", but we quickly forget that the shepherd has a rod and a staff, which he disciplines and chastens his sheep. If we forget the longsuffering of God and we go on our own way and pretend that He is not there, sooner or later, we pay. If you are a disobedient parent, you cannot protect yourself or your children from the consequences of disobedience in your own lives.

Other passages mentioned: Galatians 6:7; John 11:33-35; Luke 19:34-38; Hebrews 12:6; Psalm 23:1,4; Zechariah 9:9; John 19:15; Matthew 27:22-25.

When you and I are treated unfairly and unjustly, usually silence is not our strong point on occasions like that. However, the Lord Jesus Christ did not respond with even a single harsh word when being reviled and treated unjustly. When you confront injustice, unfairness and cruelty, the very wisest thing you can do is to commit your case to God, who is the righteous Judge. When you confront the cruelty and injustice of men in obedience to God, it may leave scars. Some of them may be physical and others may be emotional, but those scars can be a badge of honor. They can be a mark of your obedience to God and your faithfulness to Him, and in due time He will vindicate you. When you have been done wrong, be sure that you do right and leave the outcome to God, just as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself did.

Other passages: Acts 2:33-35; John 3:16.

When one is a Christian, they are a Christian forever. However, it is possible for a Christian to be separated from the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ by the troubles, disturbances and earthquakes in our lives. In the crisis of life, we are tempted to give up on Jesus, but instead that is the time to walk closer with Him. When you walk away from God, you are walking in dangerous territory, because Satan is there ready to attack. Never say, "I would never do that." Always say, "God help me, never to do that." Even after the earthquakes and aftershocks in our lives, Jesus is saying to you, "Serve Me."

Other passages: Luke 22:33-34; Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:49-51; John 18:10; Matthew 26:50-53; John 6:37; John 6:35; John 4:13.

In this passage we see three signs that the powers of darkness are at work. One of the frequent signs, that the powers of darkness are at work, is treachery and betrayal. Another sign, that Satan is involved in his characteristic activity, is when in disregard to the counsel of God, we act recklessly, rashly and foolishly. Insulting and demeaning behavior towards others is also a mark of the work of darkness. Other passages mentioned: Mark 14:44; John 13:27-30; Luke 22:31-32; John 8:12.

Even though rejection is never a pleasant experience, for a Christian (a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for the free gift of eternal life) rejection can be a badge of honor. We have opportunities in this day and time to share in the rejection of Jesus Christ and to identify ourselves with Him and with the rejection that men give to Him. We are called to bear the reproach of Jesus Christ. We can wear the reproach of Jesus Christ as a badge of honor because it leads us to rich reward. Other passages: Isaiah 53; Luke 6:22-23, 26.

Satan cannot upset the lives of believers unless he has God's permission. Before God allows us to fail, we can be sure that our Lord Jesus Christ has already prayed for us. God's purpose in allowing us to fail is that we might return to Him and be useful to Him like we could not have been useful before. Christian, the next time you are in the devil's den, remember you can't do it on your own, the victory can be yours through your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Other passages: Job 1-2; John 6:35, 37-39.

One of the most powerful themes in human experience is that of separation and reunion. Do you realize that whenever we pass through suffering that is caused by separation, no matter what that separation may be, Jesus knows what that is all about, has experienced it, and prays for us in that kind of suffering. The purpose of the Lord's Supper is not just to remember what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us, but to keep Him close to our hearts, to be moved each week by the magnificent sacrifice that Jesus has made for us.

Despite the fact, that we are all so full of failures, if we stick it out in the Christian life, if we hold fast the profession of faith and if we don't forsake the assembling of ourselves together, when Jesus has His reunion with His disciples, we will also have fellowship with Him and we will share in His reign and the morning star will be ours.

Other passages: Hebrews 4:15; Acts 16:31; Revelation 2:26-28; 2 Timothy 2:12.

A problem that has haunted the Christian church from almost the very beginning, is the problem of confusing religious reality with religious fantasy. One of the ways we can fall into a fantasy, is through our own sense of pride and our own sense of self-importance. Sometimes we are tempted to feel so important and so special and that we have such a special faith, that we believe that God is going to do some spectacular thing for us, which God has not promised in His word at all. When you leave the solid ground of the promises in God's word, it is easy to move into fantasy land and to believe all sorts of things that our own minds and other minds create, which have nothing to do with the promises in God's word. The Bible is the only guide we got. If we turn aside to imaginary ideas, mirages and fantasies, we are going to reap the consequences of that. We need to keep our heads in the Bible and reject the fantasies that exist all around us. Other passage mentioned Romans 13:1-2.

In our modern day and society, one of the things that people try to avoid the most is responsibility. If something goes wrong in their life, they don't like to accept responsibility for themselves. It is crucial that we accept our God given responsibilities. Salvation is absolutely free, but the minute you get saved, you are a vineyard keeper and have a responsibility to God. Accept the responsibilities that God has given to you, in order to avoid the moment in your life when you have been overtaken by disaster. When you accept the responsibilities that God has given to you, good things can begin to happen.

One of the reasons that we are often blind to the significance of the cross of Christ for our daily life and experience, is because we never ask Jesus for eyesight. One reason is that we don't open the Bible and we don't ask God to give us insight, to give us vision and to take away any blindness in our hearts. If your eyes are really open to the significance of the cross of Christ, it will inspire you to follow Him through your life and to glorify His name. This is what life is all about, following Jesus Christ and giving glory to God. If we do it right, then other people will see what God has done for us and they too will glorify God. Other passage: Acts 16:31.