Category: 1st Marriage

‘As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” ‘ Ephesians 5:31(NLT)  

‘In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” ‘ Ephesians 5:28-31(NLT)  

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”—Ephesians 5:31 (NKJV)     

By Darren Bennett

I have five amazing kids and a beautiful wife, but I can honestly say that marriage and family are works in progress. You never actually perfect it; instead, my goal is to work at it daily. 

One of the reminders I use to help me illustrate Christ-like love for my wife is very rudimentary, but it has kept me out of the dog house. Fellas, take note! 

What man wakes up in the morning and only puts on one shoe, shaves only half his face, combs only half his hair, and brushes only his bottom row of teeth? This odd question serves as a framework for how I view my wife according to the Bible. 

Let’s look at our key verse in context. Ephesians 5:28-31 (NKJV) states: “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Here’s the kicker: If husbands become “one flesh” with their wives, according to verse 31, then what they do for themselves they must be willing to do for her! Verses 28 and 29 illuminate my point. 

As I shared in the opening, we don’t typically neglect half of our body. We don’t put on one shoe or shave half of our face. In the same vein, I cannot neglect my wife. For example, if I go to the store and purchase something for myself, I am conscious of the fact that I am one flesh with my Christine, thus I always purchase something for her of equal or greater value! Guys, I must tell you that the application of this concept in every facet of our relationship has not only kept me far from the doghouse, but it has also allowed us to experience a deeper friendship and bond as we intentionally put each other first!

Husbands have a responsibility to lead in a selfless manner. Life is no longer to be lived as if we are still in the bachelor pad, consumed with our own interest. When we say, “I do,” we’re making a promise to love as Jesus loves and serve as Jesus served. “I do” translates into “we!” It’s two becoming one. 

DIG: Ask yourself, have I been living in my marriage as if it’s only about me and not we?

DISCOVER: What are some ways you might be neglecting your spouse? What are some ways you can celebrate how you’ve become one with your spouse?

DISPLAY: Continue to love your spouse in a selfless way and be a great example of Christ’s love for the Church.

from Family Matters

‘“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. ‘ Deuteronomy 4:9(NLT)  

‘Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? ‘ Deuteronomy 4:6-7(NLT)  

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”—Deuteronomy 4:9 (NLT)    

By Danny Saavedra

Kids are perceptive. They observe and absorb so much . . . way more than we give them credit for. For some reason, we underestimate them and their ability to recognize, process, and understand what’s going on around them. What’s so astonishing to me about our constant underestimating of kids is that we were once there ourselves. 

In context, Deuteronomy 4 finds Moses urging the people of Israel to obey the Lord and His commands and decrees. Moses says, “Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him?” (Deuteronomy 4:6–7 NLT). And he warns them of the dangers of forgetting what they’ve seen, of what the Lord had done in Egypt, and more recently, what He’d done at Baal-peor. 

The dangers of forgetting are clear. When you forget what you’ve seen, it becomes easy to make the same mistakes. We forget just how perceptive and aware we were as kids, and how many of our parent’s habits—good and bad—we picked up, and yet we’re always surprised when our kids emulate things we do. For instance, my five-year-old son has begun biting his nails, which he learned from me. I never thought he was looking or noticing—and truth be told a lot of times I bite my nails without even realizing I’m doing it—but I was still a little unnerved when I noticed how often he does it. 

Had I not forgotten how much I noticed everything my parents did and picked up a few bad habits along the way, had I been more aware of my behavior and my habits, had I been more intentional about passing along good, godly, beneficial habits to my son, this likely wouldn’t be an issue. 

I think for us, the lesson is clear: Don’t forget what you’ve seen. Don’t forget what you’ve experienced, learned, and have seen and heard from the Lord. Don’t forget all He’s done. Don’t forget to live these things out, because your kids are watching. Your grandkids are watching. They’re picking up on things, even if you don’t think they are. Be intentional about what you’re passing along! 

DIG: What did you pick up from your parents? What habits, mannerisms, philosophies, or character traits did you develop from observing them as a kid? What did they instill in you, whether intentional or not, during these all-important formative years?

DISCOVER: How are you remembering what you’ve seen? What steps are you taking to ensure you never forget that which you have seen and learned regarding Jesus? How are you ensuring you remember His example? How are you intentionally passing this on?

DISPLAY: Over the next week, try to be aware of what you’re doing in front of your kids, or people whom you have influence over. Try to step back from time to time to see what you’re doing and how they’re absorbing it.

from Family Matters

‘But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’ Isaiah 43:1(NLT)  

‘But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord , your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’” Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth? “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord . “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the Lord , and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord . “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”
The Lord’s Promise of Victory
This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon, forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of. I am the Lord , your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King. I am the Lord , who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick. “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.’ Isaiah 43:1-21(NLT)  

 “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.”—Isaiah 43:1 (NKJV)   

By Lauren Chastain

So many problems in marriage and family stem from fear. 

Maybe your spouse is incredibly late from work. He is not answering his phone. You hear sirens in your neighborhood, and you start to panic. Why isn’t he answering the phone? Is this the end? How will I live without him? What about the children? He is your one true love. And then moments later, he walks in the door and the love and fear you felt so intensely quickly morphs into anger. “You never answer your phone. You always come home late. You don’t care about me.”

Or maybe your son comes home with a terrible grade. Why didn’t he study harder? Why didn’t I know he had a test? He’s never going to make it into college. Everyone will know I am a horrible parent. Quickly, fear turns to anger, and the lecturing begins. 

Many times, we fear greatly because we love deeply. But instead of feeling valued and loved, our family member feels worthless and unloved. That is why we need this verse in Isaiah so desperately for our marriages and families. 

“Fear not.” Sounds easy . . . but it is one of the most difficult tasks we will ever strive to accomplish. Thankfully, the answer to how we do that is in the rest of the verse. Isaiah 43:1 tells us we are the creation of a mighty God. He made us. He formed us. Our redemption lies in Him alone and not in any other accomplishment. He has called us by name, and we are His. We have nothing to fear. 

Knowing those truths will empower us to walk through whatever happens. Whatever the future holds, we are His. We are redeemed. Not only that, but our spouses and children are also His creation. And He loves them even more than we do. Yes, they are entrusted to our care, but ultimately they are responsible to God. Their redemption does not depend on us. God is the Redeemer, the Creator, and Sustainer of all. Rest in that today. Let go of your fears and be free to love your family with the power of the Holy Spirit, because there is no fear in love. 

DIG: Ask the Lord to reveal ways you revert to anger when you are feeling fear of rejection or loss. 

DISCOVER: Read Isaiah 43:1–21 to see how the Lord cares for and protects us with His mighty power.

DISPLAY: Confess areas of weakness to your spouse or a trusted friend. Ask for prayer to see a breakthrough.

from Family Matters

‘But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.’ 1 Timothy 5:8(NLT)  

‘Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God. Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone. Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others. I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone. Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often. Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.’ 1 Timothy 5:1-25(NLT)  

‘So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Living by the Spirit’s Power
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.’ Galatians 5:1-26(NLT)  

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith . . .”—1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT)  

By Daniel Saavedra

“Talk is cheap!” We say it when someone makes lofty promises, like “I’ll never do that again,” or “I will be there on time,” or “I will lower your taxes.” It’s usually said to someone who is known for not being true to his or her word. 

In 1 Timothy 5, Paul gives Timothy some instructions on how to interact with, care for, and support various groups within the church. He explains how we should treat and support widows and how we should address older men and women—as well as younger men and women. And then, he makes this bold statement: “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith.” 

There are a lot of truly noble, valorous, and compassionate causes we can take up and people we can help; people we SHOULD help, that we’re instructed by the Lord to help . . . but what does it say about us if we’re taking care of widows but forsaking our parents, rejecting our siblings, or neglecting our spouse and children? This is what it says about us: “Such people are worse than unbelievers” (1 Timothy 5:8 NLT). 

This warning was necessary as the circles of believers continued to widen during the early days of the church, and it’s still relevant for us today. Then, just like now, people tried to convince themselves that the hopes and promises of Christianity could be had simply by calling themselves a Christian . . . completely devoid of real devotion to Christ, without any practice of actual discipleship and self-denial, separate from any life change or heart transformation. As we established earlier, talk is cheap!

You see, for Paul, faith was not just a far-off intellectual understanding but a complete way of life. It permeated everything he did, said, thought, and understood. And thus, faith that is factually stated but practically denied is no faith at all. When we neglect those closest to us—people who the Lord bonded us to in name, blood, and by covenant vows—we are denying the faith, rejecting the heart of God, and are worse than pagans. 

Why am I sharing this with you? I want to implore you, friends, to take care of your own! Be present, invest in them, show mercy, grace, compassion, humility, selflessness, and true, genuine care. Consider the example of Jesus on the cross. Just before dying, He confirmed His mother would be in good hands. Love your family well. Otherwise, you may want to ask yourself what kind of faith you subscribe to.

DIG: Read 1 Timothy 5 and Galatians 5. 

DISCOVER: How is your relationship with your immediate family? Are you loving them well? Are you honoring them and putting their needs above your own? Are you devoting enough attention and care to them?

DISPLAY: Connect with your family today. Send an encouraging text, call them up and see how you can serve them this week, or if possible, visit them and bring by their favorite food and a game! Allow your faith to express itself in love!

from Family Matters

‘And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ‘ Deuteronomy 6:6-7(NLT)  

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”—Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV)

By Lisa Tchvidijian

My husband and I had three children in our first three years of marriage, and as a young mother, this passage of Scripture felt overwhelming. How was I supposed to teach my children all the words that were commanded when I could barely get them fed and bathed each day? 

In addition, the verses say I was to be teaching my children from morning to night! Really? How?

Then one day my husband explained something to me that made these verses a lot easier to swallow. They aren’t about time or the quantity. They’re about consistency. My husband calls it the drip. Just little bits of God’s Word every day. A verse, a song, words of affirmation, God’s creation, God’s perspective, or even just God’s love. Jesus is the Word of God. He is what I need to drip into my children every day.

The chores, the discipline, the education, and the activities can consume family life, and we can quickly forget how powerful the Word of God is in the lives of our children. It is the foundation for the rest of their lives. It impacts every decision, every choice, and every relationship they will ever have. Our children will never be perfect. They are sinners just like their parents. But as parents, we need to give them a moral compass for life. We need to teach them that the wisdom of God will always win against the wisdom of the world. As parents, our job is to point our kids to God, reminding them daily how much they are loved and what an amazing plan God has for their lives.

My three littles ones are now adults with families of their own. I sat in my son’s house recently and listened as he put his daughter to bed. I heard him singing the same songs I sang to him. I heard him pray with her as I had prayed with him. I heard him say, “Jesus put angels around your bed,” just as I had said to him every night when I walked out of his bedroom. And as I listened, I realized that all those drips of God that I had poured into him were now being poured into my precious granddaughter. How could I ask for anything more?

DIG: Think about new and creative ways you can drip God’s Word into the children who God has brought into your life.

DISCOVER: Drip the Word of God into a child’s life.

DISPLAY: Encourage a friend to drip God’s Word into a child as well.

from Family Matters

‘But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children’ Psalms 103:17(NLT)

‘I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. ‘ 2 Timothy 1:5(NLT)  

‘We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord , about his power and his mighty wonders.’ Psalms 78:4(NLT)  

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.”—Psalm 103:17 (NKJV)

By Lisa Supp

A television program I like to watch chronicles strange inheritances. One episode featured a man who inherited a bug museum. The man’s grandfather willed it to him, and now it’s worth millions. The grandson’s financial future is reasonably secure.

But the monetary value wasn’t what stood out to me, although it was interesting. What grabbed my attention most was the legacy of the museum. A man named Sam started visiting the museum as a child. His passion for all things creepy-crawly started at that museum and later inspired him to pursue a career as an entomologist and high school biology teacher. Now, sixty years later, Sam takes students to the museum each year to see rare insects. I imagine the founder, James May, never envisioned the legacy nor the financial wealth he would leave behind. 

Although most of us won’t be bequeathing Borneo beetles or billions of dollars to our loved ones, we have something of much greater value to pass on: our fear of God. Then, as today’s verse promises, God will establish the security of our descendants. 

The future of the next generation begins in the home, but not just with parents. When I was growing up, my grandmother’s faith and intimate love for God showed me that I could have a personal relationship with Him. My nana’s kindness and my grandpa’s generous nature were instrumental in how their grandchildren live out their faith. The influence of grandparents is taught in the Bible when the apostle Paul commended Timothy’s faith, “which first dwelt in his grandmother, Lois” (2 Timothy 1:5). 

Scripture shows other examples of familial influence: Abraham and Lot, Naomi and Ruth, and Barnabas and Mark, to name a few. You might be that uncle, mother-in-law, or cousin who has supernatural access to God along with a natural access to those who may not know Him. 

We live in a complicated culture, and young people are given confusing messages. But those of us who know and fear the Lord and live according to His Word can come alongside others to offer guidance, order, and hope. We are living epistles designed “to tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done” (Psalm 78:4 ESV). We have a legacy that neither moth nor rust can destroy. And if all we leave our children is something a lawyer settles when we die, we haven’t left them anything of value at all. 

DIG: Today’s verse talks about fearing God. What does that mean? Is it different for the believer than the non-believer?

DISCOVER: Consider how you love, serve, and walk with the Lord. Does your life reveal an attitude of reverence?

DISPLAY: With all that God has done in your life, what do you want your legacy to be? What does the Lord want it to be? Ask Him to help you discover that and then do it!

from Family Matters

‘You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. ‘ 2 Timothy 3:15(NLT)  

‘I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. ‘ 2 Timothy 1:5(NLT)  

‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’ Proverbs 22:6(NLT)  

‘Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ‘ Ephesians 3:20(NLT)  

“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”—2 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV)

By Pastor Dan Hickling

We tend to think of Timothy in terms of his post-Paul experiences. This is natural because, after all, that’s when Timothy comes into the picture biblically. But lets take a moment and camp on what Paul writes to Timothy in today’s passage. 

The apostle makes it a point of emphasis that Timothy had been taught God’s Word as a child. When Timothy encounters Paul in Lystra and is drawn into the drama of all that God would do, he was already a disciple. Timothy wasn’t created in a vacuum. A foundation of faith had already been established in him when the call came to join Paul, who reveals in the beginning of this same letter how that foundation had gotten there: ”When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV).

We see that Timothy’s grandmother and mother were filled with faith in Christ, so much so, that their reputations had made their way to Paul. They were undoubtedly the ones responsible for filling Timothy’s young heart and mind with the knowledge of God’s Word. 

In all those formative years of raising a single boy in the faith, they probably didn’t realize they were equipping a mighty man of God to carry the gospel into hostile territory. How could they know how Timothy’s life would unfold? But they were faithful to their charge to train their child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6), and God used their faithfulness in ways they could never have imagined.

This needs to guide our perspective on parenting, today. If God has given us the privilege of parenthood, then we need to embrace the reality that there might be a Timothy in the making under our own roof! We are responsible to establish a foundation of faith in our children’s lives. What the Lord does beyond that is really up to Him. But whatever He does, we know that His ability always exceeds our imagination. If you aren’t sure, consider this: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

DIG: How had Timothy been prepared for the moment he was called to join Paul?

DISCOVER: What does this demonstrate about faithfulness in parenting? What have you been entrusted with and what might God do with it? 

DISPLAY: Commit to praying for your child(ren) every day this upcoming month, by name. Pray specifically the Lord would give you the wisdom, strength, patience, and keen insight into how to train up your child(ren)—even if they’re already older. Pray the Lord would accomplish in them all He has planned and that they would grow to honor Him with their lives and their hearts.

from Family Matters

‘You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.’ Psalms 139:13-14(NLT)  

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”—Psalm 139:13–14 (NIV) 

By Daniel Saavedra

Has anyone ever told you you’re unique? If so, did you believe it? Well, if you didn’t, you should have, because you are unique. I am unique. 

As much as we’re all the same, created in the image and likeness of God (each with a brain, heart, the same bone structure and organs, two eyes, a nose, a mouth, two ears, two arms and legs, etc.), we are also incredibly unique and special. This is seen clearly here in today’s verse. God created you and me in our innermost being; He knit us together carefully, made us wonderfully and perfectly. He made us with our specific personality traits, gifts, talents, and passions. 

 Inasmuch as He created us as special and unique people, He wants us to walk in this. He wants us to be the individual He knit us together to be. Sadly, we are deceived into trying to be something or someone we’re not . . . into dressing like everyone else, talking like everyone else, and doing what everyone else is doing. We’re pressured into “fitting in” and following the crowd, following the trends and fads. We are stripped of our uniqueness, of that which is wonderful about us in favor of uniformity and consensus. 

This is not what God wants for us. He wants us to live and operate in our uniqueness, to operate in the gifts and talents He gave us to bring glory to His name. 

I think of my kids. They’re so unique, so wild, talented, creative, fun, funny, kind, and enthusiastic in their own ways. Instead of trying to fit them into the box of what I want them to become or how I think they should be, I should encourage them to pursue that which God created them to accomplish and to be the people God is calling them to be. Instead of stamping out the uniqueness of their personalities in favor of mindless consensus, I should help them develop and explore how to best glorify the Lord and serve others through that uniqueness. And I should instill in them a sense of satisfaction and confidence in who God made them to be.

Today, let’s commit to fostering a church culture where we encourage people to be the beautiful, unique individuals the Lord fashioned them to be, and where we encourage ourselves to be unique and diverse, allowing us to fit together perfectly as the body of Christ!

DIG: What makes you unique?

DISCOVER: Do you ever feel like hiding your uniqueness so you can blend in with the crowd? Why have you felt this way? What about this seems appealing? 

DISPLAY: Celebrate your individuality, as well as the individuality of others! Tell five people why you appreciate and love something unique about them!

from Family Matters

‘And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord ’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.’ Hebrews 12:5(NLT)  

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.’”—Hebrews 12:5 (NKJV)

By Lauren Chastain  

When I was a kid, I thought my parents were too strict. For example, my sister and I were only allowed to listen to Christian music. That all changed the day we persuaded our mom to buy the New Kids on the Block Christmas album. Truth be told, it was all downhill from there. But I digress . . . 

Even though my parents loosened the reins on music, every area of our lives was still held to a high biblical standard. Sometimes I looked at friends and wished my parents were like theirs. It looked like those kids were having so much fun doing whatever they wanted with no consequences. One day, feeling particularly jealous, I had a conversation with one of those friends. 

“You are so lucky!” I whined. “Your parents don’t care what you do!” “Yeah,” she answered despondently. “They really don’t care.”

I sat there stunned and saddened. My envy turned to pity as my heart broke.

In Hebrews Chapter 12, the author compares the actions of our heavenly father to those of earthly parents. It assumes that we as parents will discipline our children and hold them to a godly standard because we love them. In doing so, we are not only providing a healthy and productive environment for our children, we are also pointing them to God. My parents’ biblical discipline enabled me to readily understand the very heart of God. 

In Christian circles, we often sing about the refining fire of God, asking the Lord to make us more like Him. But then, when the heat gets turned up, we can often forget that we asked for it and question why the Lord isn’t saving us from our circumstances. We want to be holy . . . without the heat. We want to be devoted . . . without the discipline. So many raise their fist to God and ask, “How could You?” 

Our Father God displays for us the perfect parenting style. This is not an authoritarian aristocracy, demanding perfection for the sake of appearances. It is a loving relationship with the rules and roles clearly defined to guide and protect with love as the ultimate motivator. 

DIG: Think of some ways you struggle with the idea of discipline.

DISCOVER: Read the rest of Hebrews 12 to understand the peace that comes from discipline.

DISPLAY: Spend some time discussing what you’ve learned about discipline with a friend or journal about it.

from Family Matters

‘Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.’ Ephesians 6:4(NLT)  

‘For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.’ Ephesians 5:22-33(NLT)  

‘Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.’ Ephesians 6:1-9(NLT)  

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”—Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)

By Pastor Dan Hickling

The Book of Ephesians contains some of the most instructive guidance on how to do relationships in God’s Word. Paul goes on a “relational spree” as he hits on the proper relationship between husbands and wives, children and parents, and employees and employers (Ephesians 5:22–6:9). 

A theme is also woven throughout this passage that binds everything together: accountability—specifically accountability to God, Himself (Ephesians 5:21). We are ultimately accountable to our Heavenly Father when it comes to how we conduct our earthly relationships.

This sense of accountability is so powerful when we apply it to the relationship between earthly fathers and their children, because fathers are to reflect the Father. In the passage above, we see that fathers are given a negative and then a positive command with regard to how they relate to their children.

The negative: Fathers are commanded against provoking their children to wrath. What does that mean? A child inherently admires and looks up to their father. They want the acceptance of their dad. But a father’s influence can be used negatively. If dads knowingly or unknowingly establish a bar of acceptance that their child feels like they’re failing to clear it, their admiration will turn into frustration, resentment, and even wrath. 

Dads need to beware of this! What children do might not always be acceptable, but who they are should be, for that’s our Heavenly Father’s heart towards us! Earthly fathers need to prevent anything from suggesting to their child that they aren’t always accepted for who they are. 

The Positive: Beyond this, dads are also to use their influence in a positive way by bringing them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. In other words, earthly fathers are to invest time and attention into their children’s lives by teaching them about their Heavenly Father.

Teaching a child life-skills, like how to play with others, kick a ball, read a book, ride a bike, interact with adults, and write a paper are all important. But a dad’s primary duty is to make sure their child knows what they need to know about God. This is the greatest need a child will ever have and the greatest thing a dad can provide.

Dads are accountable to reflect the Father to their children in both what they don’t do and in what they do.

DIG: What should a father not do and do? Why?

DISCOVER: How have you seen these principles play out in your own experience? 

DISPLAY: Dads, today let’s commit—and recommit every single day—to being the kinds of parents the Lord has called us to be. Let’s endeavor to train our children up in the ways of God and make them feel loved and accepted every step of the way. Children, pray for your parents today. Whether they have been obedient to God in this area or not, lift them up and ask the Lord to do a work in them.

from Family Matters