Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

A true biblical father is a man who seeks to have a vision for God's original mandate. The original mandate was given by God to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall.

Genesis 1:26-28 says, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion..."

a) GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS IS SACRED

The first thing we notice In this original mandate is that man was created for the express purpose of the manifestation of the likeness and image of God. It is important to note that God's likeness and image was not mentioned for the purpose of creating any other species in all the myriad of creations in heaven or in earth. This to me is amazing and it makes man's creation very special, and in a very real sense, sacred.

God, in His sovereignty, has honored and blessed mankind with the privilege of bearing and multiplying His likeness and image. This means that man in His creative potential is designed to reveal all of who God is--His love, His peace, His holiness, His mercy, His faithfulness, His power and the list is never ending. It is no wonder that the devil's mindset is to destroy man from the face of the earth for in doing so he potentially destroys God's likeness and image.

Be encouraged. Colin

There are many types of fathers--good ones and bad ones. Good fathers earnestly seek to find out all they can to improve themselves to be better fathers. Bad fathers fail their families because they refuse to take their fatherhood seriously enough to find out and practice the requirements and responsibilities they need for good fathering.

I believe that one of the greatest needs of this world is true biblical fatherhood. There are good fathers throughout the different nations of this world who love their children and work to provide for their needs as much as possible. For such men, the world is indebted. They reveal fatherhood because God has put this instinct in every man. Yet, fatherhood without understanding a true biblical base falls far short of what the world really needs for fatherhood.

It would be wise for us to remember that God is a Father, the originator and prototype of all true  fatherhood. Therefore, in order for men to be the best fathers possible, we must above all else turn to the Father of all fathers and learn from Him--for our children's sake and for the sake of the generations to come.

We will learn more of this biblical understanding in this series.

Be encouraged. Colin

The Scriptures make it very clear that without faith it is impossible to please God, and surely we want to please God (Hebrews 11:6) This Scripture relates to Enoch who walked with God and as a result did not see death. It appears that Enoch's walk with God was a faith walk. Enoch's first 65 years evidently did not amount to anything worth mentioning, but when he was 65 years, he had a son called Methuselah.

His reward for walking with God for the next 300 years of his life was that he did not die and was not buried for God took him straight to Himself. What a reward. Obviously they searched for him, for Hebrews 11:5 says that he "was not found because God had translated him."

It requires faith to walk with God and anything else will not please Him, full stop.

The name Enoch comes from a primitive root, "chanak" meaning "to narrow, to initiate or discipline." Perhaps Enoch's first 65 years were not narrow enough or without discipline. Something must have happened to Enoch following Methuselah's birth. Methuselah's name means "man of a dart, missile, or attack.

It often takes something like the birth of a child to make a man straighten up!

Be encouraged. Colin

Wouldn't it be great if our church services were full of testimonies of God's healing. Don't you think that more people would want to know about our great God? Our hospitals that are full of the sick and diseased are a testimony of our present day lack of faith.

David praised the Lord in Psalm 103:2-3, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases." How strange it is that we confess we have faith that if we repent of all our iniquities God will forgive us. But, when it comes to diseases and physical pain, we have so little faith to believe Him for the healing of our diseases.

Seeing God Himself links forgiveness of sin with healing our diseases, should not we do the same? There seems to be something wrong when we are so hasty to rush to the doctor or hospital after we have received prayer. Often we don't even wait a little while to see if we are feeling better, and if so, cancel the visit to get another prescription of drugs  with all their negative side effects.

I am not against doctors and drugs. At least, If we don't have faith in God to heal us, there is the alternative. Yet, would it not be more refreshing to tell all your friends how God healed you?

Be encouraged. Colin

Men of faith are men who believe in God. The world could do with many more of them for the world needs them, though they know it not.

Faith is a most challenging subject and deserves a lot more attention that we generally give to it. Faith is a virtue that is a responsibility for all Christians to manifest. Faith is only superseded by love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 it tell us, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

The opposite of faith is unbelief and we should at all times take a strong stand against it. Unbelief is a most crippling state of mind and spirit for it holds back so much blessing that God would have us experience. Not only does unbelief hold back personal blessing, but also blessings on our families and our fellow man who have a right to receive it through us.

We Christian men believe we have saving faith for our own personal salvation, and yet we often do not have faith to get many other people saved. There seems to be something wrong with this type of faith that only affects the individual, but falls far short of effecting others.

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

The extent to which this nation knows, loves, and obeys the truth, will be the extent of the freedom we will enjoy.

John 8:32 says, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."

Freedom! Oh what a blessed word. Men, we must never take it for granted. We are so blessed to enjoy freedom which others have sacrificed and paid for with their own blood on the battlefields, both here and abroad. Therefore our freedom should not be abused, lightly esteemed, or lightly given over without a big fight.

When we do not honor God for the freedom and grace He has so lavishly bestowed upon us we become cold in heart towards truth and like Israel of old, we will forget God and God Himself will raise up enemies against us, both from within and without. I believe we are beginning to see this happen before our eyes.

Within, we have a government hell-bent on taking our liberties away from us. Despite all our freedoms, there is ever increasing violence in our public schools as well as the work place. It seems to me that to the degree that we as a nation forget God, to the same degree we will see insanity, violence, and chaos arise from within our own society.

Without, we have many enemies that hate us and are ever ready to strike us severely. The answer is for us as a nation to repent and to come back to loving the truth.  

Be encouraged. Colin

We cannot be passionate lovers of God without being passionate lovers of His truth.

This nation desperately needs men who passionately love the truth.

Many may be believers, but how many are disciples?

Christianity has had a strong influence on North American culture ever since its birth as a nation. And yet, because of mediocrity and comfortable living, coupled with an abundance of material wealth, the love of many has waxed cold. Evangelistic fervency is barely simmering. Like the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:4 we have left our first love. Like the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-16 we are neither cold or hot. We have become lukewarm and in danger of being spewed out of the God's mouth!

Some may dispute such statements, branding them as too condemning. To them, the divorce rate in the church, the porn in the church, the increasing liberalism of the church, and the abortion in the church is nothing to get too upset about.

We would not have a second term, pro-communist, pro-homosexual, and pro-abortionist as our president if it wasn't for many so-called Christian liberals in our churches who voted him back in. When morals in leadership do not matter anymore, and when we are afraid to speak out from our pulpits in fear of losing our tax exempt status, it shows that we again need men in this country who are passionate lovers of the truth.

Be encouraged to be a passionate truth lover. Colin

Like Israel in the past the United States, more than most nations, has the privilege of having its foundations laid with truth and justice for all. However, truth must be not only acknowledged; it must be heralded.

Men, truth is of little value until someone puts arms, legs, tongue and pen to it. It is only when truth is lived and spoken that it has the power to break the false and scatter the darkness. Truth and lies cannot live together for they are opposites. Just as light cannot dwell with darkness, so spoken truth will oppose all darkness and falsehood.

When one person in a dark room stands up, speaks up, and declares that homosexuality, abortion, pornography and the likes are darkness and "living a lie," they turn on a small light of truth that scatters some of the darkness in that room, just as one match light scatters a small portion of darkness. When several people stand up and speak the same truth, the room is filled with more light and those who love their darkness will leave the room.

If I were to stand up in a church service and ask who will stand up if they believe what I am saying to be true, I think that most would stand up. However, if in that same church I asked for people to stand up if they would be prepared at every opportunity to speak the truth, how many would stand? This is where the rubber meets the road.

Men, truth is something that requires action. Without action, truth remains dormant.

Be encouraged. Colin

Isaiah 26:2 says, "Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which KEEPETH THE TRUTH may enter in."

Men, we must do all we can to find more effective ways to make the truth known. Whenever we face a lie, we must speak against it. Whenever we face the truth, we must speak up on its behalf.

Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). How tragic and selfish to know the truth and keep it to ourselves. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

(1) The people perish when the media holds back the truth, suppresses the truth, and publishes the opposite to the truth. They are a lying media.

(2) The people perish when the government forsakes the truth and governs through lies and falsehood.

The land languishes for the want of God-fearing, truth-loving leaders.

(1) The people perish when church leaders refuse to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help us, God!

(2) The people perish when the congregation of the church refuses to go outside its four walls to live the truth and witness to the truth.

Executive orders are being abused by our president. The Second Amendment is being seriously attacked. This is just the beginning.

Men, ARISE AND TAKE YOUR STAND!

Be encouraged. Colin

Much of government denies the truth. Most of the media opposes the truth. The great need of this hour is for men of truth, men who will not be silenced.

I have been reading a book called "Escape From Davao--The Forgotten Story of the Most Daring Prison Break of the Pacific War" by John D. Lukacs. It describes the extremely cruel treatment of American prisoners of war during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. Many thousands of Americans perished through starvation, daily brutal beatings, and denial of medical aid for the treatment of serious diseases, unbelievably inadequate and over-crowded accommodation, and virtually no sanitation.

The US Forces were sent to resist the Japanese invasion of the Pacific, but the government failed to provide them with the necessary equipment of planes and war machinery. These men fought like heroes with extremely poor support from the homeland. After surrendering to the Japanese some very brave men escaped from one of Japan's most notorious prison camps in order to tell the world and get help for their comrades. But, when they eventually got home, emaciated and nearly dead, their mouths were stopped from telling the truth to the American people because the US government feared the outrage it would cause politically.

Finally, after many months the truth came forth because some brave men would not be silenced.

Men, we must speak the truth before it is too late to speak it!

Be encouraged. Colin

The men who dare to be different will not be known to be different unless they speak up!

TRUTH FAILS FOR THE WANT OF THOSE TO SPEAK IT!

"Speak now, or forever hold your peace." These words are spoken in conservative wedding vows to those who have any reason why the couple should not be joined together in holy matrimony.

Those who dare to be different, who refuse to allow the people of "the box" to ruin our country and values that have stood the test of time, must speak up now! There is a time to speak up in a court room, for when the Judge has given sentence, it will be too late.

"Speak now, or forever hold your peace" is the clarion call for Christians in this hour. Soon it will be too late. We must all do our part. Yes, you have a voice. If you can use your voice for everyday things, you can use your to speak up for what is right--to your work associates, friends in the church, or outside the church.

We must publically deplore the attack on our nation's constitution. Our right to bear arms is being seriously attacked. Our right to freedom of speech is being attacked in order to shut down conservative opinion. What a sad day it will be when it is too late.

Ask God to give you an opportunity speak for truth today.

Be encouraged. Colin

The "box" of popular opinion is becoming more and more progressive with socialist agendas. Our political system is full of those who compromise our biblical and moral values in order to align us with the values of what's in the box.

It's only a matter of time when those who dare to be different, those who dare to think outside the box, will be demonized, ostracized, and persecuted in America. This is already happening verbally with inflammatory speeches given by those in the left wing box. They want capitalism to be so demonized that creative people with talents and gifts to build large companies, employ many people, and amass great wealth to be made to feel guilty of some great crime against the people in the box.

This is so hypocritical because while they criticize the wealthy business man, they of the box want to confiscate his wealth and strut around drunk with power they never earned. Shame on such hypocrisy.

We must stand up more than ever for the great freedoms we have long enjoyed for we are about to lose them.

Hebrews 13:13 says, "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

Be encouraged. Colin

The "box" represents the ways of human wisdom. People who think outside the box have taken time to think wisely about what is in the box. If what's in the box takes us away from the time-tested truths of God's Word and the godly foundations of our national constitution, it would be wise to get out of the box as quickly as possible.

Parents who homeschool have considered what's in the box of public education and they dare to be different. State schooling conforms to humanistic society and the box is getting dirtier by the day.

Parents who make the wise decision, based on Scripture, to have the children God wants them to have, dare to be different. They have considered what's in the box of popular opinion that believes that one or two children is enough. They understand that this box is full of selfish, non-sacrificial foolishness that will not build nations, but rather destroy nations.

Husbands and wives who fear God and want to keep their marriage together have to think outside the box of much marriage counseling. These days divorce is quite okay inside the box.

Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

God is looking for men who are not afraid to think outside the box, men who are wise enough to realize that thinking within the box is often the wrong way to think.

We have all heard the maxim, "When everyone is going east, go west, my son." Mankind is afflicted with a weakness to follow the crowd. It gives them comfort and security.

Communism swept through Eastern European in the 20th century and the shaking fists of working crowds joined in. Soon the shouting crowds became millions who believed an ideology that turned all Eastern Europe and much of Asia into being dumbed down and repressed by oppressive headstrong regimes. Crowds of Germans followed Hitler's drumbeat of aggression and world dominion, slaughtering millions of Jews and others whom he deemed as expendable.

The truth is that the further we stray from God's truth, the more open to deception we become. This is the grave danger we face in 21st century America.

More coming. Be encouraged. Colin

When Jesus shared about His father, He stated, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."

And again in Psalm 2:7-8, "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

Fathers need to be big-hearted toward their children. This does not mean we should spoil our children, catering to all their wants. Rather, every child should have a father who is frequently expressing His love to them. This is being big-hearted in expressing love.

Every child needs a father who not only expresses his love, but also confirms his love by meeting his child's needs. This is being big-hearted in deeds of love. Some men say it is not necessary to tell their children regularly that they love them. It should be sufficient to provide for them. Others say that all they need to do is to daily tell their children they love them and that should be enough. The above Scriptures include both, speaking love and giving love.

Fathers, our heavenly Father is not mean and tight-fisted toward His only beloved Son in whom He was and is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). This sets a standard of big-hearted love that applies to all of us who call ourselves fathers.

Be encouraged. Colin

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

Big-hearted men and women are the greatest influence for good in the nation. There is no natural resource greater than God-inspired big-heartedness. It can change the world.

Do people around you know you as a big-hearted man? If not, why not?

Big-heartedness is not necessarily something you are born with. I think it is rather something that's imbibed or received from big-hearted parents.

Big-heartedness is a great influence for good. If one grows up in a mean, tight-fisted environment, they will be influenced the same way. Whole nations can be small-minded, inhospitable, mean, and selfish because they have been influenced this way by negative parents and national leaders. What a tragedy.

On the other hand, entire nations can be known to be big-hearted and generous. Having come from a foreign country, I can say that this nation of USA is well-known for its big-hearted and generous spirit. Long may this attitude continue.

It is a fact that following a revival or awakening that whole areas, cities, and nations become big-hearted and generous. England, USA, and other European countries sent forth missionaries, opened orphanages, hospitals, and schools all over the world.

Be encouraged. Colin

IF YOU WANT TO BE BIG ABOUT SOMETHING IN LIFE, BE BIG-HEARTED!

Big-hearted men will be big-hearted in all their ways. They will be big-hearted towards their wife and family. To be big-hearted is not limited only to finance, although men with small hearts are usually tight with their money, whether they have a little or a lot.

There are many ways to show big-heartedness than just finance. Good attitudes are the most important virtues of big-heartedness for they bless people around you much more than cold cash. When there is not much (or even nothing) to smile about, a big-hearted man will still offer a loving and hopeful smile which makes all the difference in the world.

A big-hearted man will always encourage his wife. I think wives need encouragement most of all. Often their day by day toil at home can be exhausting and challenging as they deal with the immaturities of children and teenagers, as well as common health issues. To have a big-hearted husband who is BIG on encouragement can make their mothering career worthwhile.

Be encouraged. Colin

Jonah was dragged his feet when God told him to go to Nineveh and proclaim God's pending judgment. Jonah's heart was not big enough to rejoice when the king and the city repented. Jonah's heart was not enlarged with compassion for the poor sinful lost souls of Nineveh.

Unlike Abraham who interceded for wicked Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33) and Moses who interceded for Israel when God threatened to wipe them out (Exodus 32:1-35), Jonah's heart desperately needed to be enlarged.

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil" (Jonah 4:1-2).

How reticent and reluctant much of the church has been to go to places that are evil and lost to warn them to repent. Like Jonah, we have a lot to learn about God's love for fallen man. Indeed, our hearts desperately need enlargement. "Then said the Lord... And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand: and also much cattle?" (Jonah 4:10-11).

Men, there are right now multitudes of cities just like Nineveh in this world, cities who desperately need someone with a big enough heart to go and tell them of God's great love to save them before judgment falls and they perish.

Men, have you got your running shoes on?

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when that shalt ENLARGE my heart" (Psalm 119:32).

Be encouraged. Colin

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt ENLARGE my heart" (Psalm 119:32).

Men, the closer our hearts get to God, the bigger they will be. If we are tight, insular, and self-entered, we have not really discovered the love of God's great heart and need to pursue a closer relationship with Him.

Having a large heart will cause us to run to do His commandments. We will not drag our feet to go where He wants us to go.

Question: Am I running with enthusiasm to do His will?

Be encouraged. Colin

More tomorrow on this subject.

"And there were two thieves crucified with him" (Matthew 27:38).

"And he made his grave with the wicked" (Isaiah 53:9).

Big-hearted men are men who do not hold grudges towards those who have messed up and fallen in life. Honestly men, where would any of us be if God held grudges like some of us do towards each other's faults and failings? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we should be big-hearted towards sin, for that is compromise. But, we must be big-hearted towards sinners in order to lovingly draw them back to God.

May God save us from our self-righteous attitudes towards sinners which can hinder the loving heart of Christ who died to save them. Jesus Christ was willing enough to die between two thieves in order to save them. That was not a coincident. It was a statement in order to save them. Now, that is being big-hearted, is it not?

How far are we men willing to go to save thieves, adulterers, etc. Honestly men, condemning  sinners and criticizing drug addicts, alcoholics, and perverts might make us feel more godly, but is it really godly? Keeping our distance from them won't get them saved.

Big-hearted men are more than willing to give sinners a second chance, or even "seventy times seven" chances that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 18:22. We may not trust them, but we must forgive them, Big-heartedness will often necessitate that our shoes will get a little dirty in order to win the lost or restore the fallen back to God.

Be encouraged. Colin