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It is important that we live an honest life before God and man. There are
many instances in life when we are tempted to lie, cheat or steal. It is
in these moments that our true character shows itself. As children of the
Most High God, we are never to give in to the enemy's temptations of being
dishonest, taking something that isn't ours or simply doing something that
we know in our heart of hearts isn't right. God calls us the Children of
Light and as such we are to light a path before all men that they may see
our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. I pray that you will be
strengthened to resist the enemy's temptations if you are having trouble in
these areas of morals and integrity. (Acts 24:16) (Matt. 5:14-16) (James 4:7-8)
This is a good story that shows how doing the right thing in front of our
children helps to shape their character for the future. I pray this message
ministers to your heart to always do the right thing in the midst of
temptation and to keep your morals strong no matter how hard the enemy is
trying to lure you off track.
CATCH OF A LIFETIME
There was once an 11-year-old who went fishing every chance he got from the
dock at his family's cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire
lake.
On the day before bass season opened, he and his father were fishing early
in the evening, catching sunfish and perch with worms. Then he tied on a
small silver lure and practiced casting. The lure struck the water and
caused colored ripples in the sunset, then silver ripples as the moon rose
over the lake.
When his pole doubled over, he knew something huge was on the other end.
His father watched with admiration as the boy skillfully worked the fish
alongside the dock. Finally he very gingerly lifted the exhausted fish from
the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass.
The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish, gills playing back and
forth in the moonlight. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. It
was 10 p.m. -- two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish,
then at the boy. "You'll have to put it back, son," he said.
"Dad!" cried the boy. "There will be other fish," said his father. "Not as
big as this one," cried the boy. He looked around the lake. No other
fishermen or boats were anywhere around in the moonlight. He looked again
at his father.
Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he
caught the fish, the boy could tell by the clarity of his father's voice
that the decision was not negotiable. He slowly worked the hook out of the
lip of the huge bass, and lowered it into the black water.
The creature swished its powerful body and disappeared. The boy suspected
that he would never again see such a great fish.
That was 34 years ago. Today the boy is a successful architect in New York
City. His father's cabin is still there on the lake. He takes his own son
and daughters fishing from the same dock.
And he was right. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the
one he landed that night long ago. But he does see that same fish...again
and again...every time he comes up against a question of ethics. For, as
his father taught him, ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. It is
only the practice of ethics that is difficult.
Author Unknown
The Bible declares in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he
should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." We have a
responsibility as parents and guardians over our children and it is our job
to point them in the right direction. We each have the ability to teach
right from wrong and with the way morality is going these days, it is
imperative that we lead by example. (Proverbs 16:17) (Proverbs 28:7)
I encourage you to be an example and always try to do the right things in
open and in secret. Live a life of integrity and ask the Lord to help and
strengthen you to make the right decisions when temptations arise. God
promises that He will always make a way of escape when temptations come our
way, so let us show ourselves strong and determined to live righteously
before the Lord. (Matthew 6:1-4) (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 18:20-24 "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me. For I have
kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For
all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from
me. I was also upright before Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyesight."
Proverbs 11:3-6 "The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the
perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Riches profit not in the
day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness
of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own
wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but
transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness."
Proverbs 4:23-27 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put
far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look
straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be
established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot
from evil."
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: I TAUGHT MY CHILD…
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem154.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: THE WORD OF MY TESTIMONY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony57.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
