PART 34 : FAMILY

Ephesians 6: 1–4 “Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. “Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.” Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.” (The Message)

Comment:

The word ‘family’ is a highly emotive word. For some it will bring back a flood of fond memories we cherish, for others it will bring back a torrent of destructive memories we want to forget. Into this backdrop Paul still earth’s how we treat others is out of how we treat Jesus.

To navigate our love for Jesus worked out in our love for our family we need to remember…

…our heavenly family: When we centre our lives on Jesus we find ourselves part of an eternal family that is founded on love. A family that has always existed of Father, Son and Spirit who we now get to be part of. We get to live understanding that we are unconditionally loved, accepted and valued as part of this family. That we have a perfect Father who is after our best, an older brother who is continually seeking to protect and provide for us and the Spirit who is continually working within us to lead us into experiencing the reality of this new family. Whatever ‘family’ experience we have had this is now the reality of the family we get to enjoy, live in and reveal!

PAUSE…we are part of a heavenly family

With this backdrop we then get to workout our love for Jesus in our love for our families as…

…parents…we get to reveal the perfect heavenly Father to our children. Our goal isn’t to exasperate our children, which Dad’s (I am one) can be pretty good at doing, but rather to lovingly lead them to Jesus and the heavenly family He invites all to be part of.

…adult children…which my guess most of us are. We are no longer under the direct care of our parents however we need to continue to honour our parents as we live out the honour we now know in our heavenly family. The honour we often can show our parents is through both what we do and don’t say about them and in our time poor society the time we we give to them.

For some I understand that our earthly parents have been more destructive than constructive and for us the most honouring thing we can do is forgive, which doesn’t mean we have to continually put ourselves in the way of their destructive behaviour.

…as children…for a few, may still be under our parents guidance. If that is you, it means trusting that they are after leading us to Jesus and to follow their guidance which is after your best to lovingly lead you to your heavenly family.

PAUSE…our love for Jesus is earthed in our love for our families.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. How can I live more in light of the heavenly family I am part of?

2. How can I honour my parents more?

3. How can I honour my heavenly Father more?

4. As a parent where am I leading my children?