Saturday, May 05, 2012

The Meaning and Purpose of Family

Psalm 78:5-7 "For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel , Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know , even the children yet to be born , That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments." (NASB) Here are some observations from that passage: 1. The context of the Family is the created state of man, ordained by God for passing knowledge and wisdom to the next generation. In fact, God commanded the fathers to teach the children. 2. Teaching the next generation in the family required a conscious act, it didn't just happen. The subject material was also very specific - the works and commandments of God so that they may be kept. 3. The keeping of the commandments of God require a deliberate and positive act. Deuteronomy 4:10 talks more about a) assembling before God to learn about Him, and b) teaching the children. Again, a conscious and deliberate act. Recently, I read a commentary that talked about how the modern and historical methods of trying to deal with problems is to attack and disable or eliminate the bad so that what may be left is the good. Unfortunately, the treatise went on to correctly point out, it is a mistake to think that way. Something good needs to be consciously and deliberately created, and so it is with family. The command here deals specifically with fathers and their actions. Who will take responsibility for teaching your children the truth about the Lord and how to follow Christ? As a father of three, my response must be "I will!" If I don't there are plenty of other influences in society that my kids will turn to like gangs, drugs, sex, or whatever takes them away from the Lord. That is what will happen if I don't make that conscious and deliberately active choice. Brothers and sisters, let us take the command of God seriously to teach our children. If we do not, someone else will, and then God help them.

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