Family is God’s idea.

When you have an idea there are often different factors that come into play. For example, if you want to bake a cake, you have to find the ingredients, access the necessary apparatus, and have a good recipe to follow. Different, but necessary things that come together to make an edible cake.

When God created the earth and then populated it with humans he brought together the perfect elements to make a family. You can read about it in Genesis 1:26-31. God created earth to be a home and families are His way of populating that home. He wanted humans to thrive and multiply and be caretakers of this amazing planet.

Our Second Chance

Unfortunately, because the first family chose to disobey God (Genesis 3) life became a lot more hostile for humankind. Animosity and selfishness grew between people and it was harder to work together and be in unity as God intended.

Even though this was (and still is) the case, the family was given a second chance through a man called Jesus.

Jesus came to show people that to love one another is our highest purpose and ultimately brings the highest reward. In order to prove to humankind that this was the only way, He came from Heaven – leaving perfection – to this hostile and neglected earth, where he became a pure example of selflessness and love. He took the eternal judgement of every wrongdoing onto himself, and died for all (John 3:16). Because of this great act, all people can now go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness for every hurt we have caused, because only He has the power to give that forgiveness – and He gives it freely.

The family now has the opportunity to have a new head – Jesus. If we make Him the example, we learn to love, respect, and support one another and this mobilizes God’s original plan – that we would all live and thrive together in a beautiful home with Him.

Our Responsibility

It’s not an easy task though. You see, some people don’t want to follow the example of Jesus. This is because He is not a dictator who bends people to His will and wants. Although being in His plan is the best choice, it’s not mandatory.

Unlike before The Fall when everyone was united and with God, we as a family must work even harder to that higher calling of projecting the love of Jesus. It can be really difficult, but in it we have the opportunity to grow MORE patient, MORE kind, and MORE generous. It’s a big task, but it’s not impossible, if we make Jesus our example, we can still work towards God's plan. We can support causes that promote strong families, make choices that lead our loved ones to Jesus, and be there to support families that have been broken. There is so much to be done!

Be Wary

God is good, but there is also an enemy who is actively working at tearing down the family plan. We must come to the Lord daily and pray that He give us the strength to make choices that will build up and not tear down. Each individual has the choice to listen to Jesus, or not. Remember that your choices affect your family, and they also affect God’s plan.

Remember the bigger picture – God wants us to be in unity. It is promised in the Bible that this fallen world will end and that God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:10-13) – THAT is where we want to go and we want everyone else with us too.

The Body of Christ

Now, you have your own biological family, but there is also a bigger family – The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). 

All the members in the body of Christ are people who have made the decision to make Jesus the example in their lives. It is SO important that we respect, love, and graciously admonish one another. As members of this family we are examples to the greater population, many of whom do not know Jesus. It is our responsibility to show His love to one another and everyone else as well. If people see that we are divided, jealous, undermining one another, and out for our own gain, yet calling ourselves followers of Christ – we are misrepresenting God's plan. We MUST support one another, pray for one another, and encourage one another. In whatever sphere of life we are in, if we call ourselves Christians, we MUST represent Him in our actions. If people see hypocrisy they will not want to come to Christ. We can’t let that happen.

Christian Education and the Family

You are probably reading this because at some point, you decided to look into what Christian education is about. Well it’s simple really. Christian education is about teaching children what being part of God’s family really means. Its purpose is to show people who are beginning their lives that they have a place where they belong, that they have something to work towards, and that with Jesus at the helm, they have the power to make the right choices. Christian education is about telling students and young people the truth about God’s bigger picture. Knowing this truth gives students a strong foundation and identity and enables them to move forward into their futures with confidence and purpose.

Finally.

Just like the illustration of the cake at the beginning, each person is unique and gifted in their own way, and by working together we can be part of a great plan, and a wonderful family.

Please take some time today to pray for strength in individual family units and also for the Body of Christ as a whole. We are in this together!