Family: Spirit Is Thicker Than Blood: Mark 3:31-35; 4:1-3; Romans 8:16, 29; 12:10; I Peter 3:8; [Galatians 6:10]
Jesus had half brothers and sisters because while Joseph was their father, God was Jesus’ Father. Mary was the mother of all of them. Knowing we have brothers and sisters in the family of God, we quickly learn that spirit is thicker than blood! When members of our earthly families get born again, they become brethren on another level. Mothers become mothers/sisters, fathers are fathers/brothers, brothers are brothers/brothers, etc. We have one Father, and by His spirit we are the children of God. With God’s spirit and a renewed mind to walk according to the truth, we are to be kindly affectioned toward each other. We are to do good until all, especially those who are of the household of faith.
Marriage: Proverbs 31:12; I Peter 3:1-7; [Ephesians 5:25-29; Matthew 8:19]
Marriage only works when we do it God’s way. A wife is to do good to her husband and not evil all the days of her life. Wives are to be in subjection to their husbands. God is the head of the man and the man is the head of the wife. If a husband is not living the Word and loving his wife as Christ loved the church, it is not up to the woman to retaliate and make him miserable. By her behavior, she is to win him back to the truth and to reverence her husband. Men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Men need to understand their wives are mirrors of themselves. When something is lacking in her, it is a reflection of how she is being treated. The wife is the “weaker vessel.” The man is responsible to praise and honor his wife. In a marriage, a husband and wife are prayer partners. The Word teaches us if two agree, the prayer is answered. Burdens are halved when shared and blessings are doubled.
The Sabbath: In the Old Testament, part of the law was to keep holy the Sabbath. This was a day that God designed for His people to set aside their labors to enjoy their God. Too many people are in hot pursuit of the almighty dollar at the expense of their pursuit of the Almighty God. Jesus Christ fulfilled the sacrificial aspects of the law, not the heart. The importance of the Sabbath is still in effect.
Fellowship, Witness, Give!: Hebrews 10:23-25
In the church we have children from drug-addicted parents who are themselves on drugs; divorced families, who are divorced. These young people need to be taught and shown what is right and to do this, we must turn things around. Some say we do not need to go to churches and home fellowships. God’s Word contradicts that. We should take time to fellowship with one another and speak the Word. We honor God with our tithes and offerings. We should take time to pray for our families, brethren in Christ, community and government. We get so busy during the day — Can we not find at least 30 minutes for God?
Bitterness: Ephesians 4:31, 32; Romans 12:19, 21; I Peter 2:21; Proverbs 24:29
Bitterness is a heavy weight that burdens down the best of us. If someone has hurt us in some way, there is an understandable anger, but it must not be allowed to fester. Nursing one’s anger causes a downward spiral from anger to resentment, to bitterness, to hate and a vicious desire for revenge, which all are broken fellowship with God, or sin. The way to avoid this negative pattern is forgiveness. The process of forgiveness is ongoing. God’s Word teaches us that vengeance is God’s; He will repay. We do not need to punish another but rather are to overcome evil with good. Loving forgiveness is a way of life to a Christian.
