BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD--THE GREAT NEED OF THE WORLD 11l) THE SHEPHERDING FATHER - WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND?

What is in your hand, father? A newspaper? The latest computer game? A top selling novel? Study books in order to gain your degree? Or, is it a firm grasp of God's Word?

The rod and staff of Psalm 23 have their New Testament fulfillment in the application of the Holy Scriptures as a powerful weapon against all evil spiritual attacks against our soul. Paul made mention of these spiritual weapons in 2 Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, used what was in His hand to defeat the devil's temptations. Matthew 4:1-11 tells us that He used the Scriptures to defeat the enemy.

It is interesting to note that the devil used the twisted word to bring about the fall of the first Adam, but because the second Adam had the rod and staff of the Word of God so firmly fixed in His "hand" and mouth that He quickly sent the devil packing.

Men, the family flock of sheep that God has entrusted into our care need to be aware that God's Word is a powerful rod and staff in our hands to deliver our marriage and our sons and daughters from the carnage and destruction of the present family break-down in our nation.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell