Roles within the Family, Part 2: Wives/mothers

     What a wonderful gift God has given us in wives/mothers. Their ability to nurture the naughty, mend the broken and provide for the masses is astonishing. They wield such power within the home that with a few short words tension can be elevated or peace can reside. It is paramount that the women within the home understand their power and also their God-ordained role, so that unity can be established and maintained. Allow me to show you a couple of examples, from the Bible, that could help us understand what role the wife/mother should and should not play within the home.

     Jezebel. I Kings 21:25 says, "But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up." Wives play a crucial role in stirring up their mate. It can be done for evil or for good. When your husband comes home from a rough day, sharing the troubles he faced with a co-worker, you can either stir him up to act more like the world or more like Christ. Which way do you stir him? Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." To do this, wives must be in God's Word so you can know how to stir your husband in the right direction. Do not be led by your flesh and stir your husband toward sin.

     Abigail. I Samuel 25. Abigail was married to a very rich, yet very ungodly(vs. 17 calls him a scoundrel, or son of satan) man named Nabal. When David and his men had come through they showed kindness to Nabal and his flocks. Now, David was in need of food and petitioned Nabal. His stern rejection aroused David's anger, which lead to David's desire to kill Nabal and all the males within his house. Upon hearing this, Abigail acted. Not on her own behalf, but on that of her husband. In verse 24, she states, "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!" Even though she was not to blame, she was willing to take the blame and punishment for her husband’s actions. May I encourage you to follow her lead? Many wives and mothers have no trouble speaking ill of their husband/father; tearing him down with the very lips that should be building him up. Maybe your husband is a "son of satan" and behaves wickedly all the day long. May your lips still desire to lift him up and your heart be willing to lay down your life for your mate. Compliment him in front of your children; praise him in front of your peers. In so doing, you will have gained your closest friend and your dearest ally.

     May you practice what Paul taught us in Ephesians 5. Wives are to submit to their husbands and respect them, not only when the task is easy, but even when the road is rough. Do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season you shall reap if you do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9

Covetousness will kill

Check out our new FAST here.  I encourage you to study along with us, as we learn to put away covetousness.

Roles within the Family, part 1: Children

     For a family to function correctly it must operate under the principles set up in God's Word.  There are roles that God has ordained each member to play and when they are acted out correctly... a masterpiece is produced.  When the roles are ignored or challenged, however, chaos and confusion arise.  My objective is to encourage all families to turn to God's Word and see what their God-ordained role is and how blessed their family can be when they submit to it.
     Children are so important; not only to their parents, family and friends, but to God.  Psalm 139:13-18 describes their beginning like this: "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.  My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."  Each child is a custom made individual, special in God's sight, and God has empowered each child to play a special role within their family.  As you will see, they wield the power to cause grief or joy, delight or displeasure.
     Proverbs 17:25 says, "A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him."  Proverbs 19:13a follows that up by saying, "A foolish son is the ruin of his father..."  Children who act as fools can and will cause major havoc on the home, but it doesn't have to be that way.  Proverbs 23:24 says that, "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him."  Proverbs 10:1a echoes that thought by saying, "A wise son makes a glad father..."  So, how does a child act wise and not as a fool?  Proverbs 13:1a tells us.  It says, "A wise son heeds his father's instruction."  Obedience is the key in separating the wise from the foolish.  It is imperative that every child in the home understand that God directs and desires every young person to follow Christ's lead (Luke 2:51) and obey.
     Two major reasons for obedience are given to children in the New Testament.  The first is found in Colossians 3:20.  It says, "Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."  It is key to understand that obedience not only pleases the parents, but also the heavenly Father.  It is from this platform, pleasing the Father, that all motivation should stem.  The second reason is found in Ephesians 6:1-3.  It says, "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."  In verse 1, Paul states that obedience is essential because it is "right," while also stating that obedience carries a blessing (that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth).
     If our desire is for a healthy, happy home let us begin by encouraging and instructing our children to obey the direction God has set.  May Christ richly bless your home as it falls in line with His will.  

Is Water Baptism Essential?

Yes(and No)!

When discussing baptism there are many issues that can arise: sprinkle or immerse, can it be done more than once, is it connected with salvation, can infants participate and is it essential to be practiced?  Today, I will focus my attention on two of those issues, leaving the others for another time.

Throughout the New Testament we see a pattern when it comes to salvation:
Matthew 3:2--Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
Matthew 4:17--Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:15--Repent, and believe in the gospel.
Mark 6:12--So they went out and preached that people should repent.
Acts 3:19--Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord

For salvation to occur in any individual, genuine, sincere repentance must be there.

We also see a pattern of what is to follow salvation: baptism (Matt. 3:6; 28:19; Luke 3:21; Acts 2:41; 8:12)
John the Baptist taught it, Jesus practiced it, and Peter, Paul and all the other disciples did it.  So, when asking is baptism essential the answer is clearly "yes."  Once a person humbles themselves and accepts the free gift of salvation, they are then instructed to obey the command to be baptized.  There are no other alternatives.  Many may site different reasons for not following through with baptism (fearful of, water, fearful of crowds, fearful of appearance, etc.), but any excuse is an act of disobedience to God's plan and will.  Baptism is the clearest external example of what has occurred inwardly to the saved individual. 

When asking if water baptism is essential, the answer is also clearly "no."  There are some doctrines that believe baptism is essential for salvation.  Verses such as Acts 2:38 (Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit) and Mark 16:16 (He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned) may be used to validate this point. 

When studying God's Word it is mandatory that we always compare scripture with scripture to make sure we have a balanced and correct view.  Let's compare Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16 with Ephesians 2:8-9.  It says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."  Clearly, Paul is stating that salvation is a gift, one that can not be purchased with any works, including baptism.  We must be very careful to understand this point: There is no work that you can do to earn salvation, none; it is a gift.

Let's also look at the example of the thief on the cross.(Luke 23:39-43)  Here, the thief acknowledges that Jesus is the King of kings and asks that Jesus remember him when He comes into His kingdom.  Jesus tells him, "today you will be with me in Paradise."  Jesus did not ask him to be baptized, that would have been impossible, but He saw a heart that truly acknowledged who He was and that this man desired to have fellowship with Him.  That is all it takes.

As I close, I strongly desire that each of you turn from your sin.  Repent and cry out to God for forgiveness.  Allow Him to wash and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.  Then submit to His will and be baptized, not as a part of your salvation, but from a desire to please the Savior who asked it of you.

May Christ richly bless you as you obey His every command.