Jesus did not come to make bad people good.

This week's blog is not about a new parenting video, but rather it's about the reason why I make parenting videos.

Jesus did not come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people live.

This is exactly why I teach a heart-based approach to parenting. It's not about our kids' behavior (or ours for that matter). It's about the condition of our hearts. Jesus knew that behavior is only external but when you give your heart to something, behavior follows.

Since the beginning, Yahweh has wanted a family. He created a heavenly family in His heavenly hosts, and he created an earthly family in humanity. But very quickly, individuals in both parts of Yahweh's family rebelled against His original plan to make the entire earth like Eden. In some instances they even allied with each other to conspire against Yahweh. In doing so, they gave their hearts to something other than Yahweh.

But Yahweh still loved His family and in His wisdom created way to redeem all that had been lost ... to bring back to life what had been dead. Today represents the ultimate sacrifice of Yahweh taking the punishment we all deserve to give us a gift of life we don't deserve.

We stand every day with a choice to make: to accept the sacrifice Jesus Christ made and side with Yahweh and His plan to restore life and Eden OR we reject this plan and in doing so we make it clear to Yahweh that we don't desire to follow His plan and instead we prefer death.

Joshua 24:15 - Choose this day whom you will serve ... but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

My prayer for your family today is that you choose life.

In the old hymn Jesus Paid It All, the chorus goes:

Jesus paid it all.

All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain.

He washed it white as snow.

He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. – Matthew 28:6

None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. - 1 Corinthians 2:8

The dark spiritual powers and principalities that had rebelled against Yahweh long ago knew exactly who Jesus was when He walked the earth, and they knew why He was here ... to establish His kingdom. But what they did not know was how He was going to do it. So what did they try to do to stop Him? They did the very thing Yahweh needed them to do. They crucified Him, and in doing so they helped usher in their own defeat.

Easter Sunday is a day of victory! Because of it, the power of sin, death, and every dark spiritual power and principality has been defeated. They have lost their authority and instead all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus (Matthew 28).

With that said, these powers and principalities won't just admit defeat because to do so means the Kingdom of God spreads across the earth, Eden is restored, and their demise is permanent. So we are currently locked in a spiritual war between those who follow Jesus and seek to see His Kingdom come and those who work against it. There is no neutral space in this. Everyone must decide to either have believing loyalty to Yahweh or not. Choosing to not make a choice is a choice. Following Yahweh means receiving the gift of salvation that was paid for by Jesus Christ and giving your life over to Him.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." - John 14:6

Jesus is welcoming you into His Kingdom. Will you accept His invitation?

I pray that in all your ways (including your parenting) you ae drawn closer to Jesus each day.

He is risen!

All my best,

B.J.