What about your household?
Over the years, my family has begun an annual tradition of sending first school day photos. I see other first day photos of children shared on Instagram. Thus, while my family tradition is special to me, it’s not uncommon. However, in our group text representing a large family, this year’s sharing of first day school photos was graced by a text sent by my mother (the maternal grandmother of the family). Mom wrote—
“I pray today for all my grandchildren . . . . I am praying for a good transition . . . We have some Christian teachers. May our children be blessed to have them. I pray that my children shine bright as they let their lights shine as children for God. Give them boldness; protect them today . . . .”
“Hear, O Israel!
(Deuteronomy 6: 4 NASB)
The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”
Then a few messages later, this additional text from mom—
“I am blessed beyond measure to have them as on-going members of the heritage that I have been blessed with. May we all pray and keep before them that heritage they have been blessed with. We must be as the children of Israel; Deuteronomy 6: 5-9.”
The Bible records a statement of faith that Israel was commanded to teach their children. This statement of faith must remain ours, even still today.
“You shall love the LORD your God
(Deuteronomy 6: 5-9 NASB)
with all your heart and
with all your soul and
with all your might.
These words, which I am commanding you today,
shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and
[you] shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and
when you walk by the way and
when you lie down and
when you rise up.
You shall bind them
as a sign on your hand and
they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
You shall write them
on the doorposts of your house and
on your gates.”
The foundation of the church is found in One—in Father God, in Jesus Christ & in Holy Spirit.
“The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6: 4b NASB)
By water & through the Word made flesh, Jesus sought the church to be His holy bride. With the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross, he purchased His bride, giving His life for her (the church). What is left but to lift our prayer of praise to the LORD: “Thank You, God, for sending Your Only Son to sacrifice His life for us (for you and for me). He reigns now and forevermore as LORD. One God now and forever.”
Through our salvation, we become the bride of Christ & the body of the church. Through the church, we become a family, one made of brothers and sisters, the family of God. However, ‘the household’ did not always experience joy when someone gave his heart to Jesus. Sometimes ‘the household’ did not approve but even disowned the person for his faith. Jesus spoke of this when He said—
“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!
(The Gospel According to Luke 12: 49-53 NASB)
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth?
I tell you, no, but rather division;
for from now on five members in one household will be divided,
three against two and two against three.
They will be divided,
father against son and son against father,
mother against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
The message of Jesus does bring inner peace to the one who accepts Jesus as his Savior!
However, this does not always bring peace to an entire family, to ‘the household,’ to the heritage of people. Let us recall how in Jesus’ day, when a man married his wife, then the new couple moved into the same house where the parents and grandparents resided. ‘The household’ included blood relatives & relatives that came to the family through marriage, and it even included the family’s servants. All became ‘the household;’ thus, the household expanded in number.
Yes, several generations lived under one roof.
- IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN OVERLY LARGE DWELLING!
- IT WAS AN OVERLY LARGE GROUP OF FAMILY MEMBERS—‘THE HOUSEHOLD’!
So, when a person chose to follow the Way (the name denoting when one was a follower of Jesus), then some ‘households’ disowned those individuals. When that occurred, then the early church of that day became ‘the family’ for the one who had been disowned by his family.
- What about your ‘household’? Where does your family stand in regard to the question?
- What about you? Where do you stand in regard to the question?
WHAT HAVE WE DONE WITH JESUS?
Do you choose to follow Jesus? OR Do you NOT choose to follow Jesus?
In closing, I must state that even though I have been born into a heritage of faith, one my mother speaks and writes about often, still that does not deter from the truth.
EACH PERSON MUST DECIDE INDIVIDUALLY WHAT HE WILL DO WITH JESUS.
AS FOR ME, I CHOOSE JESUS!
As I wrote this morning, the melody “I Believe You” by Megan Woods played. Pause to listen, asking yourself the most important question—Ever!
“You shall love the LORD your God
(Deuteronomy 6: 5 NASB)
with all your heart and
with all your soul and
with all your might.”