Rules For Righteousness, Good Home
We gave thanks for the rain as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Wayne Johnson opened our service with prayer, and special prayers were requested for Rodney Allison, Katie, Viola Chaney, Norma, Debbie Taylor, John Adams and the McCullough family. Jeanette Easter and Frankie Garvin shared blessings.
Linda Abercrombie shared a note from Watered Gardens with a testimonial about spiritual help and God’s blessings. The devotion was “What Might Happen,” and she read I Peter 5:7: “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” She talked about shadow boxing and sparing with an imaginary partner. “With anxiety, we become a human punching bag and get battered by thoughts of ‘what if’ instead of ‘what is.’ Our anxiety signals us that we need to spend time with God. We should place our trust in Him for peace. I Peter gives us the directive to begin by praising God and then lift up our concerns. The anxiety will gradually be replaced with God’s peace.”
Becky Johnson and Karen Gardner led the congregation in singing “Sunlight” and “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” and Karen sang “Leave It There.” Tyrel Lett asked God’s blessing upon the offertory, and he and Wayne served as offering attendants.
Brother Mark Hall began God’s message for us, “Rules for Righteousness,” by reading Ephesians 5:2233 and 6:1-9 about family relationships. Brother Mark mentioned an old song by Bobby Baer, “Lord, I Wanna Go Home,” and told us that most of us want to be at home, it is our heaven on earth. Some don’t have a home they want to go to because it is hell on earth. And others live somewhere in between. “God intends for us to have a home, sweet home. His rules for righteous living are found in Ephesians.” First, it says: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” Brother Mark said the man needs to wear the pants in the family.
Second, it says: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Brother Mark said, “Don’t run down your wife. You are not much of a husband if you do. The most self-respecting men love their wives. You didn’t marry your mother, so don’t hold your wife to that standard. If you have a picture of the perfect husband and wife, tear up the picture and keep the person because no one can live up to that standard.”
Brother Mark told us the third rule for righteousness is found in Ephesians 6:1-3: “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Brother Mark said children should obey their parents because it is the right thing to do. “Children who don’t are in for a hard life. If they don’t obey their parents, they won’t obey anything else either.“
Fourth, Brother Mark referred to Ephesians 6:4: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Brother Mark said God holds fathers responsible for the upbringing of children. “Sarcasm, abandonment and fear should not be a part of raising children.”
Righteous living also includes rules about our jobs as it tells us in Ephesians 6:5-7. Brother Mark told us our job follows us home. “Our home life reflects our job and work. Workers should be worthy of hire.
“You should do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. And if you are the boss, everyone should want to come and work for you if you follow the golden rule and treat others as you wish to be treated. If you will give respect, most will want to deserve that respect.”
In closing, Brother Mark told us, “If you want God’s blessing in your home, you have to have God’s presence in your heart. There is nothing worse than a troubled home. It is no place you want to go. Rules for a good home are the rules for righteousness. Without God in your heart, you won’t be able to live by these rules. You can’t live by His rules without His presence in your heart to make your life easier and give you that abundant life. To have an abundant life, you must have an obedient heart. Do you have God’s presence in your heart? We want His blessings, but we have to let God be in control. Give the control to God for an easier, more abundant life.”
Our hymn of invitation was “Trust and Obey,” and Wayne Holly gave the benediction.
Our annual Community Thanksgiving dinner will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the fellowship hall at the church. Everyone is invited to come and share in fellowship and enjoy turkey, ham and all the traditional sides with desserts. We will also be at the SWC Trunk or Treat with “Autumn Blessings” and invite you to stop by. Mill Creek is located 3 ½ miles east of Noel just off Highway 90.