Family Rules for ''Little Children'', Part 3

When you're looking for a hero to follow Jesus took your cues from his life studying his ways and learn his style. Watch how we handle difficult people and impossible situations and then go there, no matter how old you are or how long you been following God reading his word. All of us need to return to the basics from time to time today on Insight for living.

Chuck Swindoll invites us to join him in a familiar passage of Scripture found in verse John chapter 2 is here. The author outlines a clear-cut list of helpful guidelines successful Christian living. So let's pull up a classroom chair and take some notes on what Chuck Swindoll is called family rules, little children, you got your Bible open to first John chapter 2 verse one here comes six simple rules for family living. Don't ever mess with stuff and get you into trouble. This is the way John says it my little children, I'm writing these things to you so that you may not see verse one ends with it sliding on the first two when you follow, here's the second rule. Remember you have somebody always in your corner. That's what this is teaching. Remember you have somebody who was always in your corner, capitalize the word somebody writing this down and how he puts it on writing these things to you so that you won't get into trouble so that you will stay away from sin and if anyone sins, he goes right to the reality of the fact that most of us will fall into some kind of trouble will make a mess out of something so he says if anyone sins, it's 1/3 class condition, meaning maybe you will. And maybe you won't. But you have a choice.

If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous. It means if you will a divine defense attorney. That's a way to think of it. If anyone sends we have a divine defense attorney.

He has been called alongside meaning he is in our corner.

Best of all, he can stand before God not to declare your sense, but to declare your guilt and to say my death has acquitted him of the penalty we have an okay we have someone in our corner on the cross on our behalf, and now he stands in our deep saying I paid the price for it and you know what happens as a result, next verse big word. He himself is the propitiation just right in the margin of your Bible satisfaction. He is the satisfaction for our sins.

The father hears the plea and says I'm satisfied.

Case dismissed that wonderful the finished work of Christ satisfies the father's righteous demand third rule for little children behave yourself. Since you're a member of the family. How's that for a summary of verse three behave yourself because you are a since you are a member of the family. This hardly needs any comment. Our actions speak louder than our words.

By this we know that we have come to know him. If we keep his teachings, his command, the best proof that we know him, is a life of obedience. I think John may have had a sudden flashback to the Last Supper where Jesus drove home that point. If you love me you will do as I say, if you love me you will live like you're loving me if you love me you will love one another, just as I have loved you.

If you love me you will wash their feet. Just as I washed your he said to get all opposite and and leaving on their minds that the obedience is revealed in actions not by the way you ever had to dad do that to you. Remember son you're a member of the family.

Don't shame the family.

I still remember that you remember the Swindoll family.

I don't bring down the name of the family by doing something that would break your mom and dad's heart and that's ties in with behave yourself since you are a member of the family is the fourth no matter what you say. Your actions tell the real truth no matter what you say. Your actions tell the real truth verse four the one who says I've come to know him, but literally it should say it could read, but does not keep on keeping his commandments keeping his crews obeying his teaching is a liar. If you don't obey, even though you say you're obeying your phony. We have a word for it that we learn from the Scriptures hypocrite were saying one thing but were live in.

Another thing, it's easy to live a lie goes on all the time, especially among adults. The man who says I love my wife. I love my wife but he has women on the side that he is having sex with.

If he's involved in things that hurt his wife treating her brutally or unfairly without affection he doesn't love his wife. His words Uruguay's you're a liar husband to say I love my wife remain faithful to their wives treat them with dignity and respect and courtesy in kindness and when necessary with forgiveness. Otherwise, we love our wives we just say we look about a fellow says, I really love this team that I'm playing on but he doesn't show up at all the practices he doesn't pay attention when the showing films. He doesn't treat the coach with respect. He doesn't visit for other reasons, but it isn't out of a love for the key point is obvious.

Your actions really tell the truth, not word. Think of it this way, our actions prove the truth of our words is 1/5 rule to remember for family members. Always remember our obedience reveals how much we respect our father always remember our obedience reveals how much we respect our father see this fifth verse whoever keeps his word is the opposite of verse four.

Whoever keeps his word, in him the love of God has truly been brought to completion really been perfected by this we know that we are in him. How easy again to say look I love God, and then to follow it up with but doesn't really matter that much. What his word says those are triangles that will never be congruent for them to fit together as a part of the pattern are respect reveals itself in our obedience. I remember back when I first learned to drive. If I could go back to the dangerous part of my earlier years. First of all, my granddaddy was the first trip to risk that.

I think I was about 11 just able to see above the dashboard and below the steering wheel. You know, like most of the people in southern Florida you have ever been there with a friend who calls them Q-tips hello drive.

That's why I was driving like this. And so that Mike, my granddad says that's not what you learn how to drive this into the garage and on first thought was where is the garage he says now you want to go in between these two posts and often drop the right fender from the snow 39 Ford visa just backups on backup and try that again to move a little further to the lady didn't yell or scream my mother to visit, but my grandfather said just backups on my mother never really understood small children so we got a finger. When we got offender dangling on the right side and I backing up and I put it in in in first gear you know when you're learning to drive you mix up brake and accelerator.

I did that. There goes the left said I think I need a wider garage that the visa don't worry about on Monday November new vendors but I keep my new grandsons that strictness stay at it. I thought you the greatest man on the planet, we would adopt me because I know I'd go back to see my dad and finally my dad finished the job and he would teach me would sit in the seat.

I still remember now on older 15 and I'm driving along and he would sell want to remember son when you learn to drive your on always think of it as if I'm still sitting right here beside you. Don't forget that you understand that's on yes yes so we drive along. It's a turn right turn it into curbing accident occurred wasn't there yesterday. It's amazing how they move these curves finally alert. I passed my drivers license. Helen Keller was my teacher.

But that's another subject. Anyway I'm I'm behind the wheel and my dance is so good for you son product. Here the keys got the car all to yourself. You stay gone for two hours first thought was he's what's the record and going from Houston to Galveston. I can set a new one.

But it's interesting. I didn't do that. I backed out of the driveway like a 83-year-old woman for the reasons my dad was standing at our screened in porch watching me as I backed out and I turn and truth be told, I don't know that I drove over 40 miles an hour, or that I was even gone an hour and 1/2.

Why is it wasn't free to do that is free to do that. I was free to go forth, but I respected my father. When you have a respect for your heavenly father does an amazing thing to your personal life was with verse five's teaching. Always remember your obedience reveals how much you respect your father verse six the one who says he abides in him ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked H referring to Jesus when you're looking for a hero to follow. Choose Jesus, there's a ticket when you're looking for a hero to follow.

Choose Jesus put your feet in his footsteps in the snow.

Take your cues from his life studying his ways and learn his style. Watch how we handle difficult people and impossible situations and then go there.

In fact, there's nothing really wrong with that saying the kids for the longest time for on the wrist. What would Jesus do, what would he do if he were alone by himself in the house with the ability to get through the password on the computer and he's got all the Internet in front of them. What would Jesus do what would Jesus do with you know you're driving out of the church parking lot. Somebody yells at you, maybe even cusses you adhere, but I might as well make it real. So run out here in the church parking lot. I know what I would do in the flesh I drive a pickup being but you know if in a moment of restraint I think about what Jesus would do. It's amazing what it does to my tendency to retaliate. The one who says he abides in him ought himself to walk just like he walked now admittedly I've kept this very very simple. No big words. Nothing all that complicated, but see how you do this week class to see how you do when you're out of the sand pile and you're playing with your friends are in our case you're working with them. Don't ever mess with stuff that gets you into trouble when you follow-up.

Remember somebody is in your corner always behave yourself since you remember the family and no matter what you may say your actions reveal the whole truth. Remember, obedience announces how much you respect your father and if you're looking for a model choose Jesus, by the way, don't get gets so involved in life, you miss the wonder of it all. I close with Fulghum's words wonder, remember the little scene in the Styrofoam cup. The roots grow down and the plant grows up and nobody really knows how or why were all like that goldfish in hamsters and white mice.

Even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup. They all die, so do we. And then remember the Dick and Jane books and the first word you learn the biggest word of all look everything you need to know is in there somewhere golden room.

Love and basic sanitation ecology and politics, and equality insane living take any one of those items and extrapolated into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world.

And it holds true in clear and firm. Think what a better world, it would be if we all, the whole world had cookies and milk.

About 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap or if all governments had a basic policy to always put things back where they found, and to clean up their own messes and it's still true no matter how old you are when you go out into the world.

It's best to hold hands and stick together. Of all the things I regret growing up is that most of us become far too independent. We act like we don't need anybody looks until the doctor says I think your spouse needs to come with you when you come back to the office. We got the results of the CT scan or until a subpoena is served, and it has ugly words for legalese that say that wedding the marriage is over.

At those moments we go, what it I'm yes let's bow our heads together care how old you are chronologically. I don't care how mature you think you are psychologically here, even spiritually, you need these family rules. Truth be told we all need to clean up our own messes.

If you're making a mess in somebody else's playground. You need to clean that up and get back with you but if you're lying through your teeth about being faithful and you're not. You need confess that and get that straight. You're strutting around like you're the big deal does not change what God already knows. And if you've never met Jesus.

You can't possibly be a follower of his. So start there. Lord Jesus Christ, I understand today that I really have gone the wrong direction and messed with stuff I shouldn't be messing with. I made a mess of my life and in all of my wrong.com because I need somebody in my corner. Thank you for dying for me when I hold your hand.

The rest of my life if you will do that we can help you on the journey, but only you can make that decision. Do that now you not in such a hurry today.

You got time to stop by when the prayer room staff with very caring and compassionate people who understand grace and mercy and forgiveness that help you get back on your feet are father we pause right now to thank you for teaching us out of the kindergarten class as it were. Thank you for bringing us back to the basics and for writing it in such a way that people like us can get it pretty would make a difference in how we live with each other and how we live before you and now to him who is able to guard us from stumbling and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy to the only wise God RC glory and majesty, dominion and power. Now and everyone said amen.

Six very helpful guidelines coming from first John chapter 2 Chuck Swindoll has called these guidelines. Family rules for little children.

You're listening to Insight for living and please stay with us because Chuck will conclude this week of Bible teaching by relaying some personal concerns and to learn more about the ministry of insight for living.

Visit us online@insightworld.org. John doesn't water down his message. He's laser focused on getting Christians to understand the critical importance of confronting our sin. It seems counterintuitive to be addressing the subject when the whole world is focused on the deadly coronavirus but that's precisely the point. Sin is a deadly disease and nothing is more important than discovering the cure. Every day at Insight for living where it worked behind the scenes to develop practical resources to help you walk in the light and as we get started in this in-depth study of first John like to direct your attention to a wonderful resource written by our teacher. I'm referring to Swindoll's living insights New Testament commentary on first, second and third John including the book of Jude. This book would make a tremendous complement to our study as we venture into first John together this summer and you can purchase a hardbound copy right now by going to Insight.org/offer or call us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 Chuck thank you Dave. Many of us have relished the serendipity's afforded by self quarantine. The volume on our noisy lives has been silenced. It's forced us to be still. Families are exercising crazy habits like sitting at the table for an unhurried mealtime and then actually lingering and chatting with one another. After the meal is over. Even the jigsaw puzzle normally save for vacation times and maybe holidays has made a comeback in many households drawing families together for leisurely conversation about cars are parked in garages, rather than commuting bumper-to-bumper on the highways radio listening has actually gone up not down. Commuters are finding new ways to hear inside for living through our mobile app, the daily podcast and on our website. As a result, I felt the warmth of your presence as though we are actually sitting together in the same room during this pandemic. You've sent us letters and left comments on social media. You pray for Cynthia and me and for insight for living ministries. Many of you have given financially so we can continue the work God is called us to do you read about our field pastors in faraway lands.

When I think of all those significant things is like we've actually been together and that amazing here's the paradox God is using these days of isolation to actually draw us together under the banner of his purpose and his mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ around the entire world and for that reason, I come to you with boldness and I invite you to join us in obeying his great commission, June 30, is the crucial deadline on that day we close the books on another year of ministry. In doing so.

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