The games children play (John 5:22-23), January 28, 2017

Today’s Podcast


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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. I love to watch children play games. They seldom care about the rules that come in the box. They just make up the rules as they go along and change them to suit themselves if it looks like new rules will benefit them. We’re a lot like that as adults sometimes, too. Perhaps we should consider Jesus words when we apply those rules to life, though..
  3. Scripture
    1. John 5:22-23
    2. Jesus: The Father does not exert His power to judge anyone. Instead, He has given the authority as Judge to the Son.  So all of creation will honor and worship the Son as they do the Father. If you do not honor the Son, then you dishonor the Father who sent Him.
  4. Devotional
    1. Children have a tendency to make up their own rules when they play games. Have you ever noticed that?
      1. Board games with grandkids
      2. Discard the rules quickly
      3. Make up rules that will help them win
      4. Change the rules in the middle of the game to suit them
    2. We try to do that in life
      1. Rules are given to us by God in His word
      2. We discard them quickly or don’t pay attention to them just like my grandkids with their board games
      3. Try to make up our own rules or change God’s rules to suit us
      4. Creates a problem
    3. Imagine baseball or football game where there is no referee or the referee changes the rules at a whim
      1. Create chaos on the field
      2. Rules provide order and direction and guidance in games and life
      3. In sports the referee is the judge for obedience to the rules
      4. In life, we set up courts with judges and juries to determine obedience to our civil laws
    4. God gives us some civil laws to live by, but His word is primarily focused on our spiritual well being
      1. Relationship with each other
      2. Relationship with Him
      3. We will be judged based on the spiritual rules He has established and given to us in His word
      4. Jesus, His Son, God in the flesh, has been appointed as our judge
      5. Since He is our judge, it pays to learn and obey His rules
      6. You wouldn’t play college football without reading and understanding the rules, why do we think it’s okay to go through life without doing the same in matters so much more important, things with eternal consequences
    5. It’s time we pick up that spiritual manual God has given us. Read it again and again. Get familiar with the things He expects us to do as we journey through this game of life. Then practice those things daily. He is the referee and will be our judge at the end of time. Knowing that, don’t you think it’s time to live by His rules instead of making them up as we go along?
  5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

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