Beloved in Christ,
In a church, families have great importance. Only when they are healthy in relationships and are holy God will be pleased. The Bible in Joshua 24:15, has recorded the commitment of Joshua with the following statement
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
Joshua’s family lived with such a commitment.
Parents should bring up their children for the Lord and for his kingdom purposes. Parents should lead and guide their children in the Ways of the Lord so that they will not miss out on the blessings of God. Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Let us see about different types of families that live in our society and also about ‘the family God blesses’.
A. Families that were called to inherit blessings, but reaped hardships.
B. For the sake of worldly pleasures some families traded their salvation / Savoir.
C. Insensitive families
D. Families that hate the children of God/Preachers/Men of God
E. Families that received curses because of having deceitful income/wages
F. Families that do not give tithes, offering unto God and rob God
G. Families that are dedicated towards God and his kingdom
A. Families that were called to inherit blessings, but instead reaped hardships.
Abraham the father of faith and his son Isaac were blessed by God. Jacob had inherited the blessings from his fathers. He was also called to inherit the promised land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey.
But he and his children had to suffer, severe famine prevailing in the land. Jacobs children sold Joseph as a slave, to Ishmaelite and lied to their father that he is dead. Thus their sin became an obstacle to their blessing. They did not realize that Joseph, the governor of Egypt was their brother. In the same way we are not able to approach God boldly, because of our sins, as the obstacle in our relationship with God.
God always leads his children in a miraculous manner. He always sets up a Saviour for his children at times of famine. He is the Almighty God who creates the difference between his people, Hebrews and others (Egyptians).
Elimelech’s family left Bethlehem to settle in Moab, during the period of famine, in spite of knowing that God is able to feed them. So, Naomi had to suffer the death of her husband and sons in the land of Moab. Finally she returned to Bethlehem after hearing that God provided food for His people at times of famine. Psalms 34:10, Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
B. For the sake of worldly pleasures some families traded their salvation / Saviour.
Some families deny God and His power to inherit worldly riches, government concessions, job promotions etc.
Jesus stated in Matthew 6:33, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Cornelius and his family sought God in spite of being a high rank official. King Ahab sold himself to do evil in the sight of God and invited God’s wrath, upon his family on.
1 Kings 21:20, 21 So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?”
And Elijah answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free.
C. Insensitive Families
Some families do not repent of their mistakes even if many opportunities are given by God and are surrounded by darkness. God expects them to repent and surrender to His Ways.
Lot did not leave the city in spite of realizing the evil deeds of Sodom & Gomorrah. Gomorrah Lot went back to prosperous Sodom, again even after being freed from his captivity, by Abraham. We are children belonging to the kingdom of God and should shut out the worldly pleasures.
Lot did not obey God fully and go to the place shown by God. Lot did not go uphill but preferred the plains. God expects His children to boldly go to place directed by Him.
If we suffer with Him one day, we will reign with Him.
Moses obeyed God fully and saw the glory of God. God’s will is different. Obtaining His will is different. Balam worked against God’s will, and hence the angel of God prevented him with a sword we should be careful in not working against God’s will.
D. Families that hate God’s children
Families which are not in fellowship with God’s children, hate our Savior. We should not detest the Saints who give Godly advice. King Ahab and Jezebel sought ways to put an end to Prophet Elijah, because of his zeal for God. Thus heaped God’s wrath on their family. They brought about famine and destruction on the entire land of Israel.
According to 1 Kings 18:18 “I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
Do not hate God’s children when they bring the Word of God. It is like hating God. God is seeking for people like Priscilla and Aquila who were waiting to give their lives for Saint Paul.
E. Families which heap curses upon themselves due to deceitful income
Achan belonged to the tribe of Judah – which means Praise. He coveted illegal treasures not belonging to him. He heaped curses on his head and family on account of greed.
Joshua 7:21 – 25 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.
They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD.
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.
“Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.
There are people who do not lead a Godly life in their homes, but sing praises to God in the church.
The curses in our family should depart.
How your lives is more important than how much you earn. How much you have surrendered to God is more important than how much you give to God.
F. Families who do not give Tithes and Offering to God
Ananya and his wife did not give the entire money to God, but kept a portion of their money. As a family they incurred the wrath of God.
We should give not only our money but also our talent, skills and time to God.
Husband and wife should unite with God to remove the evil things from the family.
G. Families that are dedicated to God and His Kingdom
Joshua decided that, “as for me and my family we will serve the Lord”
Joshua 24:15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Likewise God will use families that have dedicated their lives to God. Jeremiah brought the children of Rehab to the temple and drunk. They refused to do so due to the commandment given by their father. Hence God blessed their family. We should take good decisions and implement it in our family.
We have to guard our dedication to God by the grace of God.
Beloved how do we live today in the Lord.
How is our family life?
Let us analyze our lives and serve God.
Let us as a family fear God and worship God.
