2013-11-15
Good Morning Dear Ones,
We are still working our way to finding the answer for this overarching question: We all want unconditional love, but are we willing to give it? Last week, the Holy Spirit led me to begin discussing nuclear families and how our covenant bonds impact them. The traditional definition of a nuclear family, which agrees with God’s, has been a father, mother, and their children. However, we live in a changing world-one that is increasingly attempting to redefine its social structure. God created us to belong to a family and told us, in PS 127: 3-5, “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.” It must be understood that at the time this was written, Judaism was far more patriarchal than it is now. While sons are mentioned here, God values daughters equally-only has different expectations for them. The words “in the gate” used in (5) referred to those in the government or the courts. Many children were taken as a sign of Covenant Partner’s favor, and thus had weight in the courts of ancient times. And there is also the physical and other means of protection of a family that comes from it’s older sons. The emphasis here is that children are a gift from God, not just a sign of virility and fertility.
It would not be proper to neglect the impact of our society’s increasing incidence of fornication, adultery, and homosexuality/lesbianism on the nuclear family, as God defines it. Let me begin by saying that God intended that marriage should be a life-long sacrament. GN 2: 24, “And for this reason [man’s need for companionship], a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” There was no talk of adding anything about “until they decide to split up” to this verse. However, God realized that there should be two reasons to allow a divorce in time- adultery or refusal to believe in the Lord by one partner. Jesus was asked by the Pharisees, in MT 19: 7, “Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Christ’s answer, in (8-9), was, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” 1 COR 7: 15, But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.” Other than these two cases, there is nothing in the Scriptures that supports the divorce rate of 52% of all marriages in theUS that we have now. The trend toward allowing same-sex couples to marry is spreading. This lifestyle is one God has been very clear about; He detests it. And yet some of these couples are adopting or having children with surrogates and are raising them. The net impact on our society of this practice is yet to be seen.
Perhaps the saddest consequences of breakdown of the family unit that we see in our society are the many children born out of wedlock who are not given the chance to grow up in emotionally-balanced, spiritually nourished, intellectually fulfilled, physically cared-for homes. Over 79 % of uncommitted relationships in this country don’t last. Often these relationships are formed for ungodly reasons in ungodly ways-one night stands and the like. This isn’t even mentioning the children in blended families who don’t received the much-needed succor from their step-parents. That is another tragedy. Some blended families do well with step-children, even better than the natural parents would have done. But others end up in disaster for the unwanted step-children-things like neglect, abuse, drug-use, etc. Self-centered adults whose responsibility it is to provide what these children need are not on the job. Satan has established a stronghold in them by their own foolish choices.
We were all created to belong to our Covenant Partner and to each other. That was always God’s will, still is, and always will be [EPH 4: 3-6; HE 13: 8]. In the course of relationships I’ve observed and tried to counsel over the years, I have seen a tremendous contrast between those in whom there is genuine faith in our Covenant Partner and those where such faith is absent. By far, those with faith in Him have a greater chance of being committed, lasting, filled with good parenting, and satisfying to all parties in them. Our children are the greatest hope against society’s failure, and it appears that all too many of them are being wasted in Satan’s strongholds. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians applies to all of us. EPH 3: 14-17, “For this reason [we can approach God with freedom and confidence] I kneel before the Father, from Whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” And to continue with (18-19), “And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
PRAYER: O Lord, You deserve a far better response to the love You have shown mankind than what we have given. Because of Your love, You made the promise never to abandon us [PS 9: 9-10]. We are so honored even when we least deserve it. We approach Your mighty throne today with heads bowed, repentance for our sins, and a desire to find reconciliation with You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. He is our own personal Savior, and we acknowledge our faith in Him and the wonderful blessings You make available to us. LK 12: 8-9 are Christ’s words on willingness to acknowledge faith in God. “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges Me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angles of God. But whoever disowns Me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.” Our words are not enough; they must be followed by godly decisions and actions. This is a matter of head, heart, and hands. When a person has an active prayer life and studies Scriptures daily, he is giving Himself the chance to know God better and to make godly choices. You, our loving Covenant Partner, tell us, in CO 3: 9-10, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of God.” This is the explanation for the wonderful work You do in sanctifying us, preparing us for that day when, in Your sight, we are ready to return to You for a blissful eternity. We have that great promise, because of our faith in Your Son. 2 COR 4: 14, “…We know that the One Who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with You to Himself.” We are grateful for all the hope and blessings You give us and offer You our utmost and heartfelt love, praise, and thanks, in Christ’s holy/mighty name. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: Since we are created to belong to God and a family, we must understand what that means. God provided us a way to never feel alone and abandoned by Him. He is always with us, caring for us, and loving us [1 PET 5: 7; PS 146:5]. In this last message of the “Our Covenant Bond” segment of the “Our Covenant” messages, we will discuss the overarching question that has been asked in the beginning of it. The term reconciliation between God and mankind was raised in these messages. It’s important to us, and Jesus Christ is an integral part of it. He died on the cross, so that those who would repent and embrace faith in Him could be saved [JN 3: 16: RO 3: 24-25]. This kind of forgiveness is very different than that which the traditional Jews get at Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement-their holiest day of the year). Instead of being for one year, the forgiveness that comes from faith in Jesus Christ is indeed an expression of unconditional love. It is for eternity. We must pray PS 119: 133, “Order my steps in Your word: and don’t let my iniquity have dominion over me.” Then, with faith in Christ, we receive infinite forgiveness. CO 1: 13-14, “For He rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Consider this message one to bring us comfort and the knowledge that we belong to Him. Praise be to the Lord, Who loves us more than any human can! Thanks be to our Source of eternal forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation from Whom we overcome the original sin!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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