Do We Want More? (part 2)

more...Oliver TwistOliver is a young, orphan boy who, at the tender age of nine, lives each day with other orphans at the ‘workhouse.’  His daily routine is much like every boy in the orphanage.  He isn’t a trouble maker, but he does something no one else is willing to do.  After finishing his bowl of gruel (porridge), with a trembling hand, he returns to food line and utters the famous line, “Please Sir, I want some more…”

Charles Dickens authors this literally piece and many have adapted Oliver Twist to their own version of orphans and the homeless.  The story is an interesting one, but our focus is centered on the words of this fictitious nine-year old, “…I want some more.”  If we’re truthful with ourselves we would admit that each of us, in some form or fashion want more.  But as we’ve studied previous, what more do we want?

Let’s continue the study of the hymn written and composed by Philip Bliss in 1873.  Interestingly enough, this song was penned less than 35 years after Dickens wrote Oliver Twist.  As you might remember, we sing the word ‘more’ twenty-four (24) times during the course of song “More Holiness Give Me”.  Let’s continue our deeper examination of what more we could possibly be aspiring toward.

In verse two we sing (and seek); more gratitude, more trust, more pride and more hope .  More tears, more pain, more meekness and more praise.  One by one we consider what are we asking God to give us ‘more’ of:
girl praying
1) More gratitude give me…  Our prayers are often laced with thankfulness.  We’re thankful for the day, the food, the good night’s rest so why ask for more thankfulness?  Gratitude is synonymous with thankfulness but often we ramble out our prayer of thanks without processing why we have what we have.  God has given us EVERYTHING!  For that alone we should have gratitude.  Personally, I don’t get tired of hearing thank you from my children.  Do you suppose God is the same?

2) More trust in the Lord… David wrote in Psalm 20:7, “Some boast (trust) in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast (trust) in the name of the Lord, our God.”  With some much self-proclaimed wisdom, our culture and this present generation has come to trust in self.  So much has been accomplished and achieved during the last 50 years we have become masters in our own right.  What do we trust?  Who do we trust?  Would that we prayer for more trust in the Lord.  “…the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

3) More pride in His glory.  Each of us knows the swell of pride we feel when our team is victorious.  We take pride in knowing we have succeeded in this task or that accomplishment.  But more pride in HIS glory means I take pride in giving God glory.  We humble ourselves and take pride in knowing our God, He is Alive.

4) More hope in His word.  The word “hope” can mean to long for something, wish for it; or it can mean trust or confidence.  Our hope in God’s word is not to wish for it to be what it claims to be, but to put our trust and our confidence in His word.  You’ll remember we sang that we pray for more trust in the Lord (previous line), and now we turn our prayer to be confident (hope) in His word!

5) More tears for His sorrows.  Each week we gather and remember the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection.  With the Lord’s Supper we keep Jesus’ sacrifice every in our minds and hearts.  But be careful that this time doesn’t become routine.  Remember the words of Isaiah (chapter 53) when he prophesy’s about the Messiah saying, “…He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…” (KJV)  Do we weep when we consider His death?  We need more tears for His sorrows.Head bowed in prayer

6) More pain at His grief.  Again, looking to Isaiah 53 we are reminded of His grief.  As we sing this hymn we are asking that we feel the pain, as we shed the tears, for our Savior’s grief.  Undoubtedly you’ve said something like, “That breaks my heart!”  Simply an expression of pain for someone’s grief.  Does Jesus’ suffering (grief) break your heart?

7) More meekness in trial.  My mind immediately goes to the book of Matthew and the words of Jesus in the 5th chapter, “…whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  (vs. 39)  But we shouldn’t be surprised when we consider what Jesus said just a few sentences earlier (vs. 5), Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”  When someone slaps you down (trials), are you fighting mad…or meekly enduring?

8) More praise for relief.  In baseball there is a position known as the ‘relief pitcher.’  The man who take over for the ‘starting’ pitcher.  He may be there because the starter was injured or perhaps just exhausted.  Either way, there is a relief for the starter.  In the sport of baseball the relief pitcher isn’t always praised.  He may fail to ‘provide’ the relief he was called to deliver.  But in the case of Jesus, He is our answer to the injury and exhaustion we feel on a daily basis.  He is our relief, our salvation, and He never fails.  When we understand and accept Him in that way, we’ll know that we need to give Him more praise for our salvation…He is our relief…

We’ll continue this song in later weeks, but until that time take a look at the last verse of this song; there are still eight more…’mores’.

Five Non-Negotiable Duties of a Father

Bruces pictorial directory pixBeing the father of three young adults and writing an article for fathers may seem a little pretentious.  But by no means do I intend to come across self-promoting.  Realizing our youngest is 15, and our older two children are college students is humbling in its own right.  But perhaps there are a few small token ideas we fathers should consider together…

Let me propose to you that there are 5 Non-Negotiable Duties that fathers have toward their families and for their children.  Whether you have one or a dozen children, if you lose sight of these five principles for raising your family, you will surely struggle to fulfill your obligation as a father.  (Singing may be absent from this list, but you will find it’s influence is ever present.)

1) A father must cultivate a sense of family identity.  Hold up the family as not only important but a place each member is valued.  I remember growing up and being told, “Remember, you’re a Bruce.”  One youth minister, before taking the kids on mission trip, would remind the students with these words, “Remember whose you are.”  As a family we found honor in our name sake, and as God’s children we cherished the identity we share in His family.  Perhaps the connection (music-wise) is found in the spiritual song written by Isaac Watts in the early 1700’s; “I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, nor to defend His cause…”  When we cultivate a strong sense of family, our children will know they are safe and unashamed of who they are.  Solomon gave a commendation in Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth…”  Father’s, cultivate your families identity but teach them to honor Jesus, the name above all names.

2) A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife.  Without Mom and Dad's wedding day.docxhesitation we consider Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 5:25) as he writes, “Husbands, love your wives…”  Alone, these four words are scripture and suffice, but we are left with the question, ‘HOW do I love my wife?’  The next seven words answer the question, “…just as Christ also loved the church…”  But to the un-churched the question may remain, how did Christ love the church?  Complete the verse, “…and gave Himself up for her.”  We realize this means the ultimate sacrifice.  Christ died for us!  Husbands (Fathers) is your wife, your family, important enough to you that you are willing to sacrifice yourself for them?

3) A father must give his children the freedom to fail.  Look no further than Luke 15:11-32 when Jesus tells us the story of the ‘prodigal son’.  (Go to the text and read it again for a refresher.)  The father of two boys is very affluent and provides for his family.  But when his youngest decides to ‘move out’ and make his own way in life, his father doesn’t stop him.  The young man is about to experience some difficult times and his struggles will be crippling.  Certainly his father realizes this, but is still willing to give him his ‘freedom.’  Why would a loving father allow such a foolish mistake?  Why not tell him ‘no’ and look out for his son’s best interest?  The father, in Christ’s parable, is letting his son fail so he’ll learn what’s most important.  Never assume it’s easy to let your children struggle through difficult times.  But if they are to grow and learn and appreciate the blessings of life, they often have to fail.  But it’s then that I remember the old invitation song written by Charles Gabriel, “Patient, loving, and tenderly still the Father pleads; Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee…”  Fathers hurt when their children fail, but often in failure our children learn.  Our prayer is that they’ll learn and grow from their mistakes, then return home.

4) A father must guard his tongue and tone.  This can be hard for those who are ‘manly men.’  We’re rough and Your-Words-Have-Power-Use-Them-Wiselygruff and often bark out commands to the troops.  Fathers, we must be very careful to consider the example we’re setting.  You’ve heard the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  The way you raise your children will be the way in which they learn to treat themselves and eventually raise their families.  Discipline falls into this category too.  We are commanded to discipline our children, but unbridled punishment can be detrimental.  God’s word is our guide…Proverbs 13:24 “He who withhold his rod (discipline) hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”  Notice that when we fail to discipline (withhold the rod) we, in essence, are ‘hating’ our children.  However, if our discipline is rooted in love we’re following God’s word.  Solomon tells us again in the 16th chapter of Proverbs, verse 24…“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Often we reserve kind words for strangers and inject venom upon our family.  How about giving our family (our children) some of that ‘pleasant honeycomb.’

5) A father must build a relationship of trust with his children…built on God’s Word and not on human knowledge.  How much do you value God’s word in the presence of your children?  Do your children see you embrace the word of God and make Him your focus?  Or do we have a tendency to slide up next to the world and let culture dictate our choices?  Reading God’s word, and making God your priority is building a relationship on Him and His word.  Taking your children to the soccer game instead of worship on Sunday morning is not building a relationship on God’s Word, but on the world’s ways.

father and childrenPerhaps Solomon says it best in the first seven chapters of Proverbs as he writes the phrase, “My son…” seventeen times.  Would that we instruct our children over and over again about the glory of God and the admonition to live for Him.  “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.  Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute (reputation) in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart  and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3