Sins of our fathers

I subscribe to the Napoleon Hill Yesterday and Today e-newsletter. There was a great perspective in a column in today's email I felt inspired to share. It was written by Eliezer A. Alperstein. He references how the bible says that the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generations. He says, "The curse we inherit from our parents is not the unpaid balance still owed from their sins. It is the curse they bestow upon us by the way they have taught us to think." We have a choice today to change our negative thought patterns to live the God life we were meant to.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Wiegand on February 11, 2011 at 3:16pm

Interesting quote. Perhaps you may agree that "Example" is the most important ingredient in influencing others. I encourage you to read: "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story"; written by Dr. Ben Carson, the gifted African American Johns Hopkins Hospital surgeon. He spends the better time of his life now devoted to helping kids by helping their parents become better parents. In our country right now some will argue the gap is widening between the have's and have-not's, yet I hear of encouraging signs in many school systems where parents in classrooms helping teachers help children learn, lead and grow to become all God made them to be. There is always hope! The curse each of us inherits is sin, disobedience to His commandments. It is the human element from our original parents, Adam and Eve. Yet, Christians know full-well in the prayer Our Lord taught us to pray to Our Father that: "Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven..." So, we know, without a shadow of a doubt, as Jesus taught us, that the Will of the Father has, is and always will be done in the Kingdom of Heaven, and those choosing to do God's Will here on earth (as best we can as sinful people) may be rewarded with returning Home to Heaven, where all of us came from, to love and worship Him forevermore. Therefore, through prayer and Christ-like example we actually can do The Father's Will here on earth. The free-will gift God gave us allows us to choose; to choose to be influenced by some curse of the past, a curse of our color, or background, or parents; or the choice of opportunity to become all that God made us to be. As for us and our house's, we will serve Our Lord, always avoiding the devil's curses; to do Our Father's Will through His Son's example. We all fail sometimes. Nevertheless, as Jesus taught us, a curse, or sin, only exist where the devil resides. Solomon resided in the Temple his entire life serving God! Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit to reside in us for our entire life, meaning the Temple of God lives within us. We have a choice Anna, and our choice to become better examples of Him for others is truly a Heavenly choice, Amen!

Permalink Reply by Joe Papa on February 12, 2011 at 9:39am

Very good Anna and thank you for sharing that. I had always wondered about that verse and it makes me feel better to know that my children "do not" have to suffer for my sins and that they can be their own person and make better choices than I have, and lead a life more comitted to God and His will for them.

Permalink Reply by Donna L. Harris on May 24, 2011 at 9:57pm

Agreed. I pray that I can help keep my son, Daniel, from the sins of my youth! But at least he's started with a much better environment than I did. He's growing up with Christian parents who love him and love each other.

Permalink Reply by Tom Wiegand on May 25, 2011 at 7:54am

Amen, Donna! It is not the sins of our past example, but the holiness of our today example that Jesus calls us to live henceforth. May you be encouraged to read John 15:1-8, contemplate and pray to Him the best way to share His Word here with your son. Living the example of Christ within a passage like this of His Word permits His Holy Spirit to penetrate the hearts of many as He draws all to Him. I pray your family experiences the peace of Christ more and more! You are awesome!