For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9
Winter 2005 Volume 6, Issue 1 |
The Christian Home It is hard to pick up family roots and move, especially when you don't know where you are going. This was the case with Abraham and Sarah. Imagine having to leave family and friends, that you had been with all your life. How many of us today would be willing to move and not know where we were moving to. When God told Abraham to leave his hometown and go to a place that he would lead him, Sarah also went, not knowing where God was going to lead them. We are not told that Sarah tried to talk him out of going. She simply packed up and went with Abraham. Sarah was a wonderful example of a devoted wife. In our modern society, devotion has taken a back seat to careers, recreational pursuits, and the personal vanity of selfish women. Many are no longer devoted to their families and their God-given role as wives and mothers. One of the most beautiful examples of pure devotion is found in the words of Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi, “for where ever you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge: your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). When wives are willing to obey God, and be submissive to their husbands, they make it easier for the man to conduct himself with the love that he should have to be the leader in the home. The apostle Peter said, “Wives be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior” (1 Peter 3:1-2). Notice here, that we are to be submissive whether our husbands are Christians or not. If our husbands are not Christians, our behavior can make a difference and could bring them to the Lord. We must always respect the responsibility that God has given to the husband in the home. A wife, who nags and is demanding, soon finds out that it only makes her life with her husband an unhappy one. Proverbs 21:19 says, “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.” A wife may indeed get what she wants, but she will not have a happy life and her family will not be happy either. Proverbs 14:1 says, “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” Irene Shephard |
Things To Teach Our Children We know that behavior is learned early in life. When we give our children consistent love and attention, there is a greater chance they will learn the best way to deal with any problem that may come their way. Set rules for them to follow and stick to it. Children need to learn that they can not break rules of the home without consequences. Pampering your children instead of teaching them, will only cause them to be spoiled. The child will become confused when rules are not enforced, and they will try to do whatever they want. When they learn to obey the rules of the home, it will also help them to obey the laws of God. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Obeying the Lord is the most important lesson for children to learn. Children will break the rules until they learn better. When they do, handle it with love. Remember, extreme anger will only show that the parent is out of control. Ephesians 6:4 tells us, “...provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” | ||
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