Roots by the River

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:3-4) This sin, both kinds “looking and “talking”, is pandemic in the world and epidemic in the church. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and eve...

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31) “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:8) Wrath and anger and obscene speech have no place in a Christian’s life. I know a pastor who is guilty of anger with his child. I also know he does not discipline his children. The children are wild. “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” (I Timothy 3:4-5) “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not ...

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21) “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) Have you ever been exasperated or been provoked to anger by your father? If “yes” then that is saying that your father was in sin. Have you exasperated your children or provoked them to anger? Then you are in sin. This sin must be confessed and forsaken.

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.” (Ephesians 5:28-29, KJV) “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4, KJV) Notice the difference between your wife and your children. Your wife is to be nourished and cherished. Your children are to be nurtured and admonished. Both are to be nourished. Wives are to be cherished Children are to be admonished Wives are not to be admonished . Suppose my wife needs to be admonished . There is a way to admonish people. “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28) Admonishing is done with all wisdom , to present everyone perfect in Christ. Husbands do not do it with all wisdom and it does n...