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.
No comments:
Post a Comment