Call of the Wild - Lesson 7 - The Others

Opening thoughts …

What can we learn from the animal kingdom?
As I said in other lessons the Lord made the animals before He made us.
We seem to change where the animals seem to be pretty consistent.

They don’t have a Bible.
Yet they seem to know how to take care of,
Protect and instruct their young.

Generation after generation.
Are humans as consistent?
It would appear each generation that follows should be better than the one before.

We should be wiser in business as we have all previous knowledge before us.
We should be better parents with that same acquired knowledge.
We should be better in all ways.

What do we have that is different than the animals?
I believe it is their instincts.
We are born with some instincts.
A baby knows to cry to call for its mother.
A baby knows how to suckle.

It appears animals have more instinct.
Mother birds will kick their young out of the nest when it is time.
Whether they can fly or not.
I’m sure there are many more examples.

Is it instinctive all those things they pass onto their young that are necessary for survival?
Or is it that they just didn’t forget to pass it on?

Your comments …





Scorpions

This isn’t scriptural advice as how we are to be like or not like scorpions,
But It leads us into this lesson.

Luke 11:11-13, ‘If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?’

Matthew 7:11 uses the words ‘good things’ instead of ‘the Holy Spirit.’
But Matthew didn’t use the word scorpion for this illustration.
Of course we know any good father or parent
Will not do the things mentioned above.

But do we truly give our children all we can?





We know the Lord loves our children more than we ever could.
I pray for the Lord to Love my children through me.
So I can see and feel some of that love.

Are we giving our children all we can?
Our children are actually the Lord’s.
Will He be pleased with the job we have done so far?

Your thoughts …





Leopards

We don’t have to answer this question out loud.
But are we the best parents we can be?
Are we the best husband or wife we can be?
Have we done everything right?

Most of us can say we are better than others.
Some can say we are better than our parents.
We brought some baggage into our adult lives.
Some things come naturally.
Couples have the same fights as other couples.
Parents have the same problems as other parents.

I believe we are here because we want to grow.
Yes we make mistakes but we are seeking the Lord and others for help.
Maybe some of us are hiding it.
That will only stunt our growth,
And make our family suffer,
Until we allow the Lord to totally work through us.

Jeremiah 13:23, ‘Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.’

So I don’t have to get better.
I can just stay like this, I now have an excuse.

Your thoughts …





I believe this shows that it is extremely difficult for us to change.
What is impossible to man is possible to God.
Does He want us to change?

Hosea 13:5-7, ‘I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:’

Do we forget the Lord at times?
Have we forgotten Him right now?
How much do we take for granted?

Is the Lord watching and waiting to strike us?





Oxen

History Lesson …

In Judea, as in modern Syria and Egypt,
the larger grains were beaten out by the feet of oxen, which, yoked together,
day after day trod round the wide open spaces which form the threshing-floors.
The animals were allowed freely to pick up a mouthful,
when they chose to do so: a wise as well as humane regulation,
introduced by the Law of Moses

Deuteronomy 25:4, ‘Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.’

I believe this verse is primarily speaking about our Pastor.
As we are not to hold him back (our Pastor) from doing the Lord’s work.

Might we be holding our spouse back or someone else from doing the Lord’s work?




1Corinthians 9:9-13, ‘For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.’

God takes care of the oxen.
God will take care of us when we are doing what His Word says.

Can you share with us your thoughts on this verse?




Let me come right out and say what I have been hinting at.
Fathers are you doing anything that is hindering your wife’s spirituality in the home.
Mothers are you doing anything that is hindering
your husband’s spirituality in the home.

I’m not talking about that thing your spouse is supposed to be doing and you are mad about.
I’m not talking about the reasons you’re not doing your job because he is not doing his.

Are all our words edifying and uplifting?
Men are you loving and showing affection to your wives
As they need, deserve and as God commends. Eph 5:25,33

Women are you respecting and submitting to your husbands
As they need, deserve and as God commands. Eph 5:22,33

I want us to think of these verses as they apply to us serving full time in our family ministry.

1Timothy 5:17-18, ‘Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.’

Please share what is on your heart …





Closing thoughts …

Have we learned anything from the animal kingdom?
Let’s give our children all we can in terms of spiritual things.
So the Lord will be pleased with the loved ones He loaned to us.

Let’s be the best parent’s and spouse we can be.
Let’s get rid of the baggage that is holding us back.
What is impossible to man is possible to God.

Don’t take the Lord for granted.
Don’t take your spouse for granted.
And certainly do not hold either one of them back.

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