I came across a coffee mug in New Jersey with an interesting phrase emblazoned on its side: “Investing in Families; Building Legacies”. This simple, yet poignant phrase caused me to reflect on the word, families.
Most believers do not understand the value of a family. I am not referring to the political catch phrase “family values” which is so easily bantered around today. I am referring to the family as the foundation of the Christian Body. There are numerous references in the scriptures to the family unit and how closely it resembles the Body of Christ. The very basis whether a person qualifies for leadership in the House of the Lord is whether they can rule their household (family) righteously or not.
Unfortunately, the value of the family, many times, is not viewed through spiritual eyes. The scriptures that guide parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord and children to honor their parents are often ignored or mishandled. Lost is the attitude that love covers a multitude of sins and all of this to everyone’s own spiritual peril. What is ultimately at stake is much more than the family; it is the legacy of the family. The very future of the family is the legacy and that affects the generations that are still to come.
I can’t help but wonder how many people were lost eternally as a result of an evil king from the previous generation. We can read the records of evil kings and of such losses of children and adults in 2 Chronicles. We must care (invest) in families if we are to build solid legacies for our descendants. The very breath of the spiritual family is the Holy Spirit himself. Recognizing this fact would lead us in the scriptures to how He operates to build such a legacy and the devices of evil kings towards the destruction of the legacy.
Let us first consider the promotion or the investment in the Family of God:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galations 5: 22-26 NIV)
For the sake of the legacy we must exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our daily walk and works within the Family of God. There is one fruit (singular) listed here which has 9 different elements. To be absent in one of these elements is to say that the Fruit of the Holy Spirit is absent. Removing chicken from chicken soup means that you do not have chicken soup! You may have a broth but it is not chicken soup. All 9 portions must be present to have the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit. Are they evident in your Family of God? This is important to consider because it not only affects your family, but also your legacy.
Similarly, let us also examine the destruction and derailment of the family legacy.
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galations 5: 16 – 21) NIV
An interesting point in this passage is that the phrase “acts of the sinful nature” is in the plural form. There is one Fruit of the Holy Spirit but the sinful nature can be expressed in 9 different ways. Anyone of these sinful acts that are present and allowed to flourish in the Family will derail and destroy the legacy. I am reminded how Jesus warns us of the Pharisee’s leaven. It doesn’t take very much to spoil the entire batch. Are they evident in your Family of God? If so, then the family has been polluted and the object of destruction is the legacy or the next generation of God’s children. It may not seem as significant at the time but a destructive result has been set in motion. Seemingly, insignificant acts that may cause discord (lack of peace), dissensions (strong disagreements) or factions (people taking sides) are very dangerous and must be guarded against. These acts (not the people) must be rooted out for the good of the Family.
If we as the Family of God are to be the incarnate Christ on the earth today and for the future than we must be aware of and on guard as to what is allowed to either fester or to flourish in our families.
Remember that coffee mug, found of all places in New Jersey, which reads:
“Investing in Families; Building Legacies”.
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5 comments:
It is interesting that in the modern Church the opposite occurs in terms of Investing in Families. The emphasis is in the Pastor and not in the Family. We tend to forget that Jesus is THE HEAD and that successfulness, or lack of it, has to do with SUBMITTING to Him. We use business plans and consider a local church in terms of that plan. Does it have X number of members? What is the budget? How many members tithe? And we could continue on. Although in all fairness and to quote Ecclesiastes “there is a time for everything under the sun”, I feel that more times than not we forget the real meaning of being a Christian. We forget, as you rightly point out in this post, the fruit of the Spirit and grab the “acts of the sinful nature” and pass it as “Christian values.” I have heard preaching that states that we can not forget what a “brother” has done to us. We can “pardon” but we can not forget. WHAT??? Jesus said that we are to forgive, implying forget, 70 times 70! So how come a preacher can say that we are not to forget when we forgive? It does not compute for me. So the bottom line is: Do I follow Christ or follow the teachings of man? If I want to be with Christ in eternity it follows that I must follow Christ! Believe it or not I feel we are in a certain way worst that at the beginning of the church. We have all this knowledge and should realize that we need to follow the teaching of our Lord and Savior, yet we do exactly the opposite. We need to continue to emphasize that Jesus is the head of the family and we must submit to Him!
Angel,
Yes you are right in that we need to separate man's teachings (traditions of men) from the teachings of Jesus.
Thanks for your comments.
Manny, does the idea of the 'reign of sons" interact in any way with the idea of Manifest Sons or Manifest Sons of Destiny? Jim Henderson
Jim,
Absolutely not. I do remember when that was going on. It was a very hierarchical setting with certain people having special privileges and attracting followers to themselves.
Wouldn't it be nice if there were people with hearts to serve and see others get closer to Father God and NOT draw them to themselves? No secret or hidden agendas?
But I don't see where your question is coming from in reference to this blog entry?
Thanks for your comment.
I was just reading this passage yesterday and felt instructed to meditate on it. Now I know why. I am reminded of the importance of what and how I do what I do on a daily basis. How is affects my children's future. To leave a legacy of true love and obedience to Father is my desire.
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