August 5, 2010

Everyone has a story to tell; this is Micah's. For whatever reason, this grown man with children had stolen money from his mother. His mom had gotten mad (sounds normal), but, instead of handling the situation in a calm, mature fashion, she had cursed in his ears. (I bet they burned.) Though he confessed it to her, he didn't say he was sorry. There just didn't seem to be any repentance or remorse for what he had done.

What really blows my mind is his mom saying he was blessed by the Lord after what he'd done. When Micah gave the money to her, she gave it back to him, except for that which she kept for herself, telling him that she was going to dedicate it to the Lord for her son. "Oh," I think, "what a great Mom!" But then she gave the money to a silversmith to make a carved image to put in Micah's home.

Wow! What was going on here? Where are the biblical principals? God's Word tells us that idols of silver and gold are the works of human hands that can't speak, can't see, can't hear, and can't breathe, and the people who make them or trust in them will be like them (Psalm 135:15-18).

This home is spiritually bankrupt, evident of choices made, void of the presence of God. The son steals, the mother curses, and an idol is made because everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:17).

I remember reading about John Wesley, the leader of the spiritual awakening in the 1700's, whose godly mother's example in the home influenced everything he did and accomplished for the Lord. What a difference! Two different men. Two different mothers. Two different stories. We can never underestimate the power of a godly home.

1. What is the greatest blessing parents can give to their children?
2. What happens in a home when everyone does what is right in his own eyes?
   

About the Author Dixie Sherman Oh praise to the Lord because He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10 AMP)