For Ladies

Listen To The Message

Ginny Lallance

 

No matter if it is "Grandma," "Nana," "Grammy," or other names for grandmother, those voices of our grandchildren bring sunshine to our days. For some of you, they may be just down the street or around the corner. Ours live in Texas. Nothing brings as much joy to me as when I answer the phone and hear "Grandma." Our seven-year-old Alex left a message on the answering machine when he was five. He starts off with "Hi Grandma, it's me, Alex." Then he proceeds to recite the pledge of allegiance that he learned at school. He ends his message by saying "I love you and Grandpa and Mallee, too." (Mallee is our dog.) That sweet little voice is still on the machine.

Now you may wonder where I'm going with the above words. Just as Alex left a message, Christ also has left a message for us Christians. In fact, he left not just one but many. Even as a young person, Jesus was "about His Father's business" (Luke 2:49). What a message for our youth today. Our grandchildren need to hear that message, for many times they can be the ones to lead Mom and Dad to the Lord.

As Christ grew into adulthood, we find many messages He left for us - messages that teach, guide, and even admonish us. His messages cover many subjects. We'll "listen" to a few in this article.

Listen to Jesus' message in Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Then we hear another message, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11). With the second message we have to consider the first one, because, in order to glorify God, we must be careful of our thoughts and words. Christ tells us in Matthew 18:22 there is no limit to our forgiving others.

In Matthew 7:13-14, we listen to His message about two roads. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Throughout scriptures, He left us His message about salvation. A message from Mark 16:15-16, "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." That message we MUST listen to and do as did the apostles: tell others about the gospel and salvation.

There is another message in Matthew 6:19-21; Jesus is telling us where our treasures should be. Now for a beautiful message He left us in John 14:2-3. Close your eyes and in a gentle loving voice we hear "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."

Grandmothers, we must listen to and obey all the messages Christ left us by way of God's Word. When we do, our grandchildren will listen to His messages, too. That is my prayer for grandmothers everywhere! -Route 2 Box 177, Belington, WV 26250. mrmrsl@meernet.com

 

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