Friday, June 24, 2005
The Department of Homeland Security is a relatively new idea in America; a government body that coordinates our efforts to keep our country safe from forces that could hurt us. But "homeland security" is hardly a new idea. It's been the job of every parent since children were invented - the sacred assignment of guarding our family from the things that could hurt them. That job has never been more difficult.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Homeland Security for Your Home."
Not all the things that can hurt our children are from the outside. Some of them are from the darkness inside us; the selfishness, the anger, that critical or negative attitude, the hurting words, the praise never given, the affection not shown, the words left unsaid - and the words that should have been left unsaid. Those are some of the deadliest missiles that can hit a child's heart. And the same mom or dad who is in such a wonderful position to protect them from harm is the same mom or dad who is in a position to inflict so much hurt.
Your family needs its own Department of Homeland Security; something or someone who will keep your family safe and who can make you the mom or dad that your children so need you to be.
Jesus Christ wants to be that for you. He describes the unique security He offers in Isaiah 40:11, our word for today from the Word of God. "He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms" -- you can put the names of your children where it says "lambs" -- "and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads those that have young." That's you, Mom! That's you, Dad! The dark side of each of us may be the single greatest threat to the security of our personal homeland. The battle against that dark side will have to be won by someone stronger than we are - because most of us have tried to change, and there's still way too much dark stuff.
There are three wonderful miracles that Jesus does in the heart and life of a mom or dad who allows Him to be their shepherd; to decide the direction they go. First, He forgives you for every mistake, every sin, and everything you wish you'd done differently; every hurting thing you've ever done. That forgiveness is anything but cheap. It meant paying the price to remove the huge wall we've all built between us and God by our sins. And paying that price meant being separated from God on that awful cross - and Jesus was so you would never have to be separated from Him again. When you open your life to Jesus, He brings with Him the new beginning of being totally forgiven. Secondly, Jesus will change you, from the inside out. The Bible calls it becoming "a new creation in Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). If He had the power to conquer death, He surely has the power to conquer the darkness in you. And then, Jesus protects those who belong to Him, as a shepherd protects His sheep.
And right now, this Jesus is waiting for you to put your life in His hands. He's been waiting for a long time. I don't know how much longer He will wait, but I can tell you, Jesus is a Daddy's Savior. He's a Mommy's Savior. He wants to be your Savior. And He will be from the moment you tell Him, "Jesus, I'm not running things anymore. You are. You died for me!"
If that's what you want, you need to tell Him that today. And if you'd like to have in writing exactly how to be sure that you have begun your personal relationship with Jesus, let me send you my booklet about it called Yours For Life. Just let me know you want it.
There is no home that is more secure than a home where Jesus Christ lives, and He wants to live in your home because you have asked Him to live in you.