Marching Forth!

One of the consequences of being an Australian citizen is voting is compulsory.  Those who choose not to vote in local or federal elections or a referendum are required to pay a fine which is currently capped at $55.  For followers of Jesus Christ, it should not be the threat of a fine that leads us to do our civic duty to vote, but submission to the government established by God as unto Him. 1 Peter 2:13-16 exhorts believers in the context of doing good works in the public sphere, " Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,  14  or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.  15  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- 16  as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God ."  While there are exceptions to this comma...

When one of my sons was young, he developed quite a dependance upon a pacifier (dummy) that continued after he was weaned.  At one time there was a pacifier in each corner of the cot, at the changing table, in the pram, and pretty much every room in the house, and he used them constantly.  My wife came up with a solution that worked brilliantly:  she cut the tips off of every one she found with scissors.  If my son scrounged up one she didn't know about, she altered it as well.  I remember him putting an altered pacifier in his mouth, and he immediately pulled it out and threw it to the floor in disgust.  The unfamiliar feeling was clearly unpleasant, the smooth surface replaced with rough edges and the nipple easily collapsed without an air pocket.  In literally a day the reliance upon the "binky" had been broken--first with my wife's wisdom and then with my son's agreement.  Because it was my son's choice, all was accomplished without a power st...

I have noticed in observing kids especially, when an objective standard is established by a recognised authority they are keen to see others comply.  It seems a great injustice that they would be obedient to the rule and others would ignore it.  Little pleasure is taken in the fact they are doing what they are told when others break the rule without consequences.  It is nigh impossible for some outwardly compliant children to remain silent about rulebreakers without complaining about them or dobbing them in.  It may be I know something about this from personal experience.  One child disobeys to express his own will, and telling on him is a way for the more compliant and legalistic to try to control him.  No motive is pure in this instance. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we grew out of our tendency to disobey, lie, gossip and meddle as we grew older?  Our old ways do not supernaturally vaporise after we come to Jesus Christ in faith.  For this reason ...

" Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Having forgiven our sins and purified us by the Gospel of grace, He is able to preserve us blameless until Christ returns.  A "life preserver" is intended to save a potential victim of drowning, and Jesus is faithful to save all who trust in Him.  As it is written in  Jude 1:24-25 , " Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, a nd to present you faultless  b efore the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,  25  to God our Savior, Who alone is wise,  b e glory and majesty,  d ominion and power,  b oth now and forever.  Amen ."   During study preparation I was intrigued by the concept of how God preserves His people and realised His manner of preservation is very different than ours. When we preserve things, we do so with the i...