That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
Families are under attack all over the world. The devil has been targeting our families from the beginning of time (Gen 3:1-20). We see the divorce rate skyrocketing all over the place, and the children of the divorce are suffering from various spiritual and emotional scars, leading to major social issues in our times. And yet, the church cannot offer the fundamental solution and healing in the gospel.
God considers families very important. He created male and female in His own image and blessed them (Gen 1:27-28). He established the institution of family (Gen 2:22-24). Man and woman would become one. So they are no longer two, but one. God has joined them together (Mt 19:4-6).
To experience joy and happiness in the family, God commanded the wives to be willing to serve their husbands the same as the Lord and the husbands to love their wives the same as Christ loved the church and gave His life for it (Eph 5:22-25).
God also gave children to the family to be “fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28). He blessed them with a promise: “You must honor and respect your father and your mother. Do this so that you will have a full life in the land that the Lord your God gives you” (Ex 20:12).
God wants our children to develop into mature persons like Jesus, full of wisdom and God’s blessing (Lk 2:40). Thus, parents should make every effort to help their children grow physically, intellectually, spiritually, and socially (Lk 2:52).
The family is God’s vital instrument to carry the gospel to the world. That is why it is critical to build our families on the foundation of the Word. We should not follow the standards of the world: “It is better to be poor and respect the Lord than to be rich and have many troubles. It is better to eat a little where there is love than to eat a lot where there is hate” (Prov 15:16-17). Unity through the gospel and experiencing the power of the gospel should be of the utmost importance for our families.
God has unique plans for our families: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household”(Ac 16:31). God planned to save Noah’s family through the Ark, the Christ (Gen 7:1-13).
If you have unbelieving family members, do not be discouraged. Try to see them through the lens of the gospel and embrace them with God’s love. Never stop praying for them.
Do not compromise with the standards of the world. Confess your faith before the Lord and the people as Joshua has done: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Jos 24:15). God’s time for salvation will eventually come to your family.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for our families. Strengthen our love for one another and keep us as one so we can show the world the power of Your Son that can heal them and their families.In Jesus’ name, Amen.