Men, our children need fathers who are always willing to believe that their children will succeed, will do well in life, will do the right thing for their God and their fellowman, and will make their parents proud of them. Putting it straight and to the point, every child needs parents who will always be willing, no matter what, to believe the best for their children.

What a blessing it is for every child to know, without a doubt, that his parents honestly believe in him or her. This assists children to grow up not willingly wanting to disappoint their parents. What a tragedy it is for children to grow up hearing their parents say, "You will never amount to anything," ":You are useless," "You are a failure," or "You don't have what it takes."

Leon Morris in his commentary on this Scripture says that "believing all things" points to the quality of love which is always ready to allow for circumstances and to see the best in others. The Moffat's translations says, "Always eager to believe the best." If children have parents who believe in them and do their best to provide for them, they should not have to go through so much trouble and failure.

This type of love must be role modeled in our homes first. How easy it is for us to write people off too quickly. Most children will have to learn from their mistakes, and some are slower than others. However, given some time to wise up, especially with a father figure who believes in the best for them despite their failures, this love will not fail in most cases. This love that believes all things and always hopes for the best does so because it knows that all things are possible with God.

Be encouraged.

COLIN CAMPBELL

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Men, there are too many of us who are somewhat tight-fisted when it comes to giving. This is not Christ like. I heard a testimony once from a daughter of missionaries who received a Christmas package from the USA. Part of it consisted of used tea bags! How disgusting!

The wise men that came from the Orient far brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Son of God. Our Lord and Savior gave His all for us, even to the shedding of His precious blood.

I believe one of the greatest evidences of our new birth in Christ is that we lose our stingy selfishness and become givers in thousands of different ways. It is possible to give with loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.

Our giving back to God cannot be separated from our giving to one another.

Be encouraged, Colin Campbell

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Men, we often stir ourselves with desires to be more godly and more and more filled with the Holy Spirit. We may give earnest endeavor through much prayer and study of the Scriptures and yet in the end fail to reach out desired end.

I am a strong believer in the doctrine of earnestly seeking God, coupled with fasting and prayer, and yet there must come a time in which the seeking heart must come to the place or believing that our heavenly Father has heard our prayers and will faithfully provide us with the answers in His own time and way.

All physical and natural endeavor, even though pointed toward spiritual attainments, must in the end cease from struggle and in childlike faith and trust yield to the truth that "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). The truth is that every aspect of our salvation is a free gift from God and can never be earned by our most earnest endeavors. This is not saying that there is no need to seek God for higher plains, but rather that this endeavor is only that God can get our attention away from ourselves and earthly things. When God gets our attention, and not that we need to forever try to get Luke 11:13 says, "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?"


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Men, I believe that one of the greatest deceptions in our lives is to think that all that is required of us is to be good men. No, a thousand times, no. This is not good enough. Now, please do not misunderstand me. I am not putting down the truth that men need to be good. What I am saying is that just being good as far as God is concerned is not good enough.

In all religions there are some very good people who love their wives and families and are prepared to lay down their lives for their country and friends. There are many good men who are hard workers and faithful in their convictions as to what the believe. Even some atheists can be good men in many ways.

Likewise, in Christianity there are many "just good men," born again, but that's it! That's the beginning and the end of it!

But, this is not all that God is looking for in us men. He wants men who are born of the Spirit, led by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, and filled with the Spirit. This indeed is real New Testament Christianity.

The old covenant written on stone lacked the power and fullness of the Spirit. All Christian men must shake the deadness of what is called "normal" in their church and learn what it means to experience the fullness of the Spirit.

Acts 6:3 says, "Look ye out among you seven men of honest report, FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND WISDOM, whom we may appoint over this business."

The fullness of the Holy Spirit is certainly not normal!

Be encouraged. Colin

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