02/21/2018
What shape is your home in? I am not talking about the condition of the physical house you live in, but rather the spiritual roof you and your family live under. Are you providing a sound structure of faith that will shelter and protect you and your family for generations to come? As parents we must first look after our own faith and salvation, but then we must provide an example and instruction for our children. What shape is your spiritual house in today?
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."”
Joshua 24:15 ESV
So many households have no spiritual direction, much less a spiritual leader. Sadly, this is the state of spirituality in the United States, and the world. When census forms are filled in and the question of faith is reached, people pause to think... “what should I check?” Is there a clear cut, ready and waiting, answer on your tongue? Do you place a bold check beside the Word Christian, or do you have to think about it?
For many households there is no clear answer that reflects the active, healthy, and robust nature of that family’s faith. In fact, many, many, of those who fill out forms write Christian after a long pause in which they look back and try to determine what they are.... “Well, grandpa was a Quaker, and mom said she was Baptist... now what did Dad say he was?” And then finally they reach the point where they realize that they don’t have a practiced belief but they think they believe in God, and they have heard of Jesus, so they check Christian rather than the truth; which is none.
Is this the sad state of faith in your home? Do you depend on history, or family stories to determine your religion? At some point in the past was faith in God determined to be a birthright, and not a personal commitment and choice? I hope not, but if that is true then it is time to come to the realization that if you are depending on your parent or grandparent’s belief and faith for your salvation then you have nothing. To fill in the religion space we must actually have one. In the case of Christians that is an active and committed belief in Jesus Christ as our savior, and the God of Abraham as our God.
So if you are convicted by this thought, and you look at your children and realize that although you have provided for them physically, you have fed them nothing spiritually, then it is time to do something about it. It is time to search yourself... to actually meet Jesus Christ face to face, and then to take the spiritual reins of your household. For this to happen you must do more that determine the name of the lost religion or belief of your ancient family, you must meet Jesus, go to church, engage in faith, and provide for the salvation of yourself, your spouse, and your children. If you are checking the box next to Christian then at some point a parental ancestor passed on his belief, but it seems that the baton was dropped, and the race abandoned. Pick it up again.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 ESV
The Bible tells us that it is the parent’s obligation to teach their children of faith. If your family has a past legacy of Christianity then that was being done, but somewhere along the way, out of inattention, loss of belief, the allure of the worldly, or some other reason, that was lost, and it is time to find it again. Look around you today. Are children being shot and killed in your city, your neighborhood... on your street? Are you afraid that the morality of your kids is being taught by a gang or someone other than yourself? Is there no hope in your life, and no direction you can give them? Then it is time to search for Jesus and make Him the Lord of YOUR life so that you can teach your children what your forefathers once knew... God is good, and the blood of Jesus Christ has provided for our forgiveness of sin, and indeed, our salvation. A life of faith is wholesome, and full of peace, joy, and hope.
Once we have come to this realization for ourselves we are tasked with the more difficult job of leading our family, and this involves example, teaching, and discipline. You were probably right there with me until I said the word discipline. This has almost become a dirty word in society today. We are alright as long as it is self-discipline, but resist all other forms with a vengeance. If you want to see the fallacy of this reasoning, just look outside at the kids roaming the streets, or in our homes where children are mesmerized by video games or the internet almost every waking hour. Look at the anger in business meetings, or the inability to have discourse in our capitals. There was no obedience or discipline provided that taught the tenets of faith, morality, harmony, or caring for one another.... and there is a hunger for it! People and children want everyone else to love them, but they must be taught how to love others, and this requires obedience and discipline. How much do you love your children; enough to discipline them?
“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”
Proverbs 13:24 ESV
I don’t understand how many Christian families today have come to the conclusion that discipline is wrong. Self-control is learned, and an adherence to the teachings of our faith are as well. When Jesus said love thy neighbor, that was met immediately with resistance. He was asked to define neighbor... who is my neighbor. When we resist instruction then discipline is necessary. The Bible is full of it, and if we are honest with ourselves... so is the world. Two boys standing face to face on the playground... one of them is going to learn a lesson the other is intent on teaching him one. If you don’t believe that then just ask them, or listen to the dialogue. Discipline is a fact of life, and it can be applied lovingly in a Christian home, or violently on the streets of our city.
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11 ESV
The bible tells us that discipline is a teaching tool. It should be applied out of love, and bound by love. It is not hateful or angry, but rendered out of concern, love, and in regret or sorrow. What good parent wants to hurt their child in any way? Yet, there are punishments that instruct... loss of privileges, restrictions, and yes, on occasion, a swift swat on the rear end.
So we have covered a lot of ground in these few paragraphs... we have spoken of our need for a personal faith in Jesus Christ, we have talked about our obligation as believers to pass our faith to our household, we have considered what happens when there is a spiritual void in our kids, what role that the world will take in filling it, and we have covered the subjects of instruction and discipline. Now it is time to decide how you will check the box next to religion on your census form... are you firm in who you are and what you believe, or do you need to begin the process of reacquainting yourself with Jesus Christ? What will be the fate of your family? Will the next generation be able to check the box of faith boldly... or at least say to themselves... “well mom and dad taught me about Jesus.” Are you prepared to lead your household?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for drawing me to you. Thank you for providing me an example of faith in your Son Jesus. Thank you for teaching me, and yes... disciplining me when I have been disobedient. Holy Father, help me to instruct my family regarding your Word, worshipping you, and in the gospel of Jesus. Help me Merciful Father to save my children from a world that would devour them, and bring them such sadness and grief. Your mercy abounds Holy Father, and your grace pours over us like oil... call each of us to a closer walk with you. Let your Holy Spirit comfort us, instruct us, and lead us to the confession that you are the one true God, and that your Son Jesus Christ is our Savior, and Redeemer. Then Father, out of my own faith and belief, allow me to bring my family to you; not in the past faith of our forefathers, but the living faith we must find in you. The faith in Jesus and you that is just as alive today, as it was to a Peter, Paul, and before them Abraham and Moses... the faith our forefathers held as treasure, and spoke to their children. Give my words power and strength in my children’s ears, that they might take root in their hearts, and allow me to discipline them with love when that is necessary. The world is a wicked and cruel place Father, but hold my family close, and protect them. Allow me to say as Joshua, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Rich Forbes