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“By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.” —Hebrews 11:9 In the 1940s the top offenses committed by public school students were as follows: talking, making noises, running in the hallways, getting out of turn in line (that was a severe offense in the 1940s), wearing improper clothing to school, and not putting paper in the wastebasket. Today the top offenses of American public school students has changed.  They are now: rape, robbery, assault, arson, burglary, bombing, murder, and suicide. In just a couple of generations the behavior of our children has changed dramatically, even drastically.  And the question is why?  What has happened to this generation of young people that has so devastated our domesticated life and our families? I believe the number one cause of the change of behavior in young people today is the fragmentation and the fracturing of the family.  The very foundation of society is coming apart and “if the foundation be destroyed, (the Scripture says) what shall the righteous do?” So how can you as a parent today, like Jacob and Isaac and Joseph, pass the faith to your children? Bless your children, lay your hands upon them and point direct them as committed missionaries to this world.  And I’m not talking about a foreign missionary; I’m talking about a missionary of the Gospel of Christ in whatever calling of life.   DEVOTE YOURSELF UNRESERVEDLY TO THE PRIVILEGE AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING A PARENT.

Stolen Treasures

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jude 1:3–4

In July of 2018, Swedish crown jewels dating back to the early 1600s were stolen from Stragnas Cathedral. Crowns belonging to King Karl IX and Queen Kristina, who are buried there were among the items stolen. The thieves fled in a small boat after their daring noontime robbery of the cathedral, escaping through the extensive canal network in the region. The stolen objects were said to be impossible to evaluate for a price, being so rare and old, but certainly of great worth. More than six months later the suspects were finally identified and arrested. The missing jewels were recovered in a rubbish bin.

There are precious things given to us as children of God. The faith that has been delivered to us is beyond price. But we must be on guard against those who would steal it away. We can never assume that just because someone is smooth and polished, and opens a Bible before they speak that they can be trusted. We must judge every teaching and doctrine against the standard of the Word of God because the sad reality is that there are those who would steal the truth from us. Paul warned the leaders of the church at Ephesus, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29–30).

Today's Growth Principle: 

We must be on guard to prevent our precious heritage of faith from being stolen away.