Families Reconciled in the Lord

For Parents.

Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6:4.

For Children.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Eph. 6:1-3.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 



It is said that blood is thicker than water. What exactly does that mean, anyway? For many it means that we are to stand by and support the lifestyles and actions of family no matter how dysfunctional it gets. For some it might even mean lying for a family member in order to keep them from being incarcerated. Key words in Martin Luther's admonition to obey your parents are the words "in the Lord." God always is the highest authority in our lives. He is our heavenly Father. If He says not to do something, don't do it. If He calls you to do something then just do it. Parents should never provoke or encourage their children to do something that is wrong in the eyes of our Father in heaven.

 

Family is an awesome gift from God. Families make mistakes. They hurt one another. If the family would turn to the Lord they could and would find a way out of the messes that they have wandered into. In turning to the way of the Lord we can find forgiveness and reconciliation. Family is a very good thing. However, we also know that there are times when parents can become so dysfunctional; provoking their children to wrath, encouraging them to do hurtful things to themselves and others; encouraging them to not follow in the ways of the Lord. What is a child to do?

 

Sometimes, even though the parents have done all they could to bring up their children in the way of the Lord, children will turn against their parents, as well. What is a parent to do?

 

For the parents and children who find themselves in these situations and alone without family, don't stop praying for each other that you might all be reconciled in the Lord. Remember, too, that you are a child of God. There is a blood that is thicker than blood and that is the blood of Christ that was shed for you. Our heavenly Father is always with you to support and encourage you in the way that you should go.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ephesians 2:11-22 Reconciled Family of God

Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV
We who were once not of the household of God are now members of his household; fellow citizens with all of God's people in His Kingdom. He came to bring peace. That is, he came to bring reconciliation between all who would follow him. But, there are those who want no part in our Father's house and in the end; even as the wall between God's children is torn down, sometimes a wall between God's children and those who reject Him is built up and peace in the world is not found. There are and will be many persecuted and attacked for being members of God's family. There are those who would reject our Father's house; those whose desires are only for themselves in this world resulting in great heartache and turmoil within households of this world.

It is a very sad thing when members of a household do not get along. Families break up and go there separate ways.  But, it is not so with the household of God. Jesus came to unite his Father's family; to reconcile all who would believe with God and with one another.

Sadly, the reality is that Jesus told us that he came not to bring peace to the world, but that family members would turn against one another. (Matt 10:34-36; Luke 12:49-53) We see this all too often and sometimes I think that there is not an earthly household that is not touched by this division. I see the evidence of this as families sit on separate sides of the aisle funerals and weddings. Some cannot even attend worship together even if they are on opposite sides of the room.

God did not send his Son so that His own household would be separated by dissensions and divisions. Rather, His household is united by the blood of Christ. Jesus did promise us peace. He promised that the world would not know peace. He promised his followers a peace that transcends any peace that might momentarily be found in this world. His peace is found in being a child of God and knowing that no matter what happens in this world we are still God's children; citizens of His Kingdom.

There is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ shed for you. This is the blood that reconciles us to the family of God no matter who we are.

God's Peace be with - Pr. J

Luke 5:27-32 The Sick Sinners And Jesus

Luke 5:27-32 NIV
I have heard more times than I care to count that someone will not go to church with a bunch of hypocrites. The reality is that those who say this really don't know what the church is. The church is a bunch of sinners who have been made saints by faith in the blood of Christ that was shed for all people. We are people who have been called to repentance and receive God's Word of grace. We repent and then we fall back, again. Over and over again, day after day, we ask for forgiveness. We ask for healing and wholeness in God's sight. Christians are not so different than non-Christians; except that we know that we are not healthy and that we need Jesus to make us whole. So over and over again, we come to Him, with penitent hearts. Over and over, again, day after day, we give Him thanks for forgiving our sins.

The church on earth is indeed full of sinners. The righteous stay home; while, we sinners seek the LORD. We, who live this double life as both saint and sinner, will fall over and over again; but, no matter how often we fall, we trust in the mercy of God and know that Jesus will pick us back up again. By the shedding of His blood we have been forgiven our sins. We have been reconciled to God. We have been made whole. Saints and sinners; that is who we, the children of God, are.

God Peace - Pr. J

Micah 7 - Blood Thicker Than Blood

Micah warns that no shall be trusted - all will conspire against the followers of God - even one's family. Throughout my life, I have gone through many changes. At first, I naively trusted everyone. Then, I trusted no one. Finally, as I came to have a closer relationship with God, I was able, once again, to have trust in others. Not that I placed my trust in others, but that I placed my trust in God so that I was once again able to help others. I knew and know that no matter what others might do against me, God is with me for the good.

Sadly, I witness over and over again how true Micah's reminder and warning is.
"For a son dishonors his father,
    a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
    a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear me." (Micah 7:6-7 NIV)

Greed, envy, jealousy; these all affect family relationships. Pride in self is a killer of families. Even among family members, one will put their own desires before another; before the good of family. When I worked at the youth correctional facility, I would warn the young men to please not move home when they were released. Many of their problems came from parents who put their own lives (often addictions) before the children. To move back home because of family blood ties would spell "prison sentence" for them in the end, as I knew that many of their family members would continue to lead them in lives of crime for the sake of their own desires. As the spiritual counselor, as well as the substance abuse counselor, I would remind them: "There is a blood that is thicker than blood and that is the blood of Christ shed for you."  

In Him we can trust.

God's Peace - Pr. J