Family

Put God first

Abraham and Sarah

Abraham and Sarah are both a great example of following God as a family, not because it took forever to start a family but because of the journey to have a son.

Abraham is called by God and is told these things in Genesis 12:1-3

Genesis 12:1–3 NIV

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

That sounds like a great family, a really awesome and respectable house hold.

However if you know the story, Abraham and Sarah do not immediately have a kid. Their family legacy does not start until years later, so much so I was looking later and the author of genesis does a service to Abraham and just stops telling you how old he is until he dies.

The key piece in their story is not that God and Abraham made a commitment for Abraham and Sarah to have this awesome big family. The whole blessing is for Abram or Abraham to be developed.

That is what god shows through Genesis and Abraham’s story all the way up to the moment at the altar with Issac.

It’s not about the families faithfulness right now, it’s actually about yours.

A faithful family starts with a faithful follower

This went for Sarah too, as she was even tested through the journey as she waited for a son to be born.

Parents, I must tell you that if you want your family to follow Christ, you must follow Christ first. your kids are looking to you for guidance and wisdom and they will see if you live out the calling of God in your own life.

Choose to work through life with God and your family will follow;

The biggest family relationship is not your physical proximity but rather spiritual, thats is why I must urge you to continue to develop spiritual habits in your life, especially in your family.

This goes for any type of living situation, and the more I speak on this I want that to be stretched because some of you do not have a family that you live with, rather there is other complex and unique circumstances that you find yourself in.

You have a family that might not biological or one that is not nuclear but your family is still your family, it’s the close connection to people that you desire to be around.

Put Family First

Timothy Verse on denying family

And as we look more at a family relationship you must know that you can take these same principles and apply them to your close family like relationships.

When it comes to family there is one thing that I need to stress, it’s the idea that family comes first,

listen to these harsh works the apostle Paul says;

1 Timothy 5:8 NIV

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

We need to understand that family comes first, and this idea in western culture is starting to get lost, we need to reclaim that idea that family comes first. Our job is not as important, nor is the things we would much rather do then take care of our family.

I am taking the word provide in the verse loosely, as to provide can mean so much more then financially providing.

Remember that you only get this life once, and that those around you also only get this life once.

If we are to call ourselves followers of Christ then we are to know that we are serving others with a selfless life, that is the heart of this hard verse.

it’s not to say just throw your family some cash once and a while, but Paul is trying to suggest that if you follow Christ then you know it’s a death to self and alive in Christ. A large task to overcome, being selfless and serving to others, but why not start in your family.

Because even the non-believers support their own family, those who do not know Jesus, know all about how family is important. They are self-less when it comes to the family relationships they have, so warning is don’t stoop down to a place where you are not even serving and self-less to your family, but if you choose to be a Christian then you are to start with your family places.

If you want to be self-less, show your family

if you want to be gracious, show your family

if you want to be a prayer warrior, start at home

if you want to be a devoted reader of the word, open up that bible with your family.

Parents or even faith leaders at the home, my call to you is ask yourself who you want to be in Christ and start at home. To not use your house and your family as just a safe haven but us it as a training ground and practice the disciplines and spiritual practices that you are called to.

not that you are to do these around the safe place that is the people you love, but rather you are to do them for the people you love!

That is the providing that Paul refers to, provide for them not just the physical or emotional needs but give them the spiritual bread that they hunger for.

Put them in the Church

This leading to bring them to church, now I know cliche answer but a needed one and let me tell you why.

Ephesians 2:19 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

As a church we are essentially one family, a greater family then the ones your hold personally. However we still gather for meals, chat with each other, grow together and share life.

And it’s in that sharing life that I want to dig into;

We are not strangers in a sanctuary learning and preparing for a test that is in meeting Jesus. However we have a bunch of study buddies.

If we are committing to each other as a church as we follow Jesus, my suggestion is that we share the loads as families.

Here is what I mean,

If you have a family may it be traditional or untraditional you can only do so much. Running or even being in a family is taxing, and it requires endurance and strength. To the point that you cannot do it alone, not even with a partner or even extend families.

You probably have heard the quote it takes a village to raise a child

well let me tell you that your Church is vital in your family relationships. Espeically as you bring them to Jesus.

From the nursery to young adults there is discipleshiping relationships that are avalible for use outside of the family;

However again leaders of faith in families you need to push your family out to go and have these times. Encourage them to be discipled or mentored by someone in the church.

Timothy being a young person of faith

Our young people shock me with what they know or how they follow Jesus.

When I hear their testimonies,

When I see them serve,

When I see them explain their faith.

it’s wild.

1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Put it into Pratice

Lead your kids in the physical ways of following Jesus

You must not just tell them these things but you need to practically live them out.