I'd Say The Family Is Worth Fighting For.
You know that's right. God deeply loves the family because He designed it. He wasn't confused when he did that. He that is most wholesome thought it up. Before He established governments, schools, or nations, He established the family, and He cares about your home (see Genesis 2:18-25).
Go read that book again. God created a man and from his rib He created a woman.. and then came the children.
The family is God's first classroom, first mission field, and first place where faith is to be lived and passed from one generation to the next (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 78:4-7).
What did Jesus leave behind when he ascended? The church and the families.
What do wayward worldly people today think is worth quickly ditching? God, churches and families.
Because the family is so precious to God, it is a primary target of Satan. The enemy really knows that strong, Christ-centered homes produce strong churches, strong communities, and future generations who know and love the Lord.
Weak homes, however, often leave behind wounded hearts, brokenness, and spiritual casualties.
So the family is worth fighting for. Not with clenched fists, but with folded hands. Not through pride, but through humble repentance. Not by human strength, but by the grace and power of Jesus Christ.
"The family is the nursery of the church." — Charles H. Spurgeon
What Are Six Ways Satan Seeks to Destroy the Family?
A. He Weakens the Father's Godly Leadership in the Home
Satan loves a leadership vacuum. When a husband neglects his God-given responsibility to lovingly hear, lead, protect, and serve his family, everyone feels the loss. Biblical leadership is never harsh or self-centered. It is Christlike, sacrificial, humble, and filled with understanding (Ephesians 5:25-29; Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7).
A father who walks closely with Christ becomes a blessing to his wife and children. His greatest sermon is not preached from a platform but lived around the dinner table.
A man's greatest legacy is not what he leaves to his family per se, but what he leaves invested into his family.
B. He Attacks the Marriage Covenant
The enemy knows that if he can fracture the marriage, he can wound the entire household. Small offenses become deep bitterness. Selfishness replaces servant-hearted love. Unforgiveness hardens the heart. Harsh words slowly tear down what years of love have built.
Yet God's grace is stronger than resentment. Where there is genuine repentance, forgiveness, humility, and daily dependence upon Christ, marriages can flourish again.
"Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Mark 10:9)
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
Isn't it interesting how Mr. Lucifer does his best to try to get young couples together physically (sexually in fornication sin) too early before marriage and then works opposite of that to get them apart physically (in distracted neglect or adultery sin).
C. He Replaces God's Truth with the World's Fake News Lies
Every home is being discipled by something or someone when you think about it.
"The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, but the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded." Prov. 13:13
If God's Word is neglected, the culture will gladly fill the vacuum. Television, social media, entertainment, celebrities, and popular opinion become substitute teachers. Soon the family's thinking begins to reflect the world instead of Christ.
God calls us to build our homes upon His unchanging truth -- build on the Rock, not on the shifting sand so to speak.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17)
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2)
D. He Keeps Families Too Busy for God
Not every distraction is sinful, but many distractions become spiritually dangerous.
Families can become so busy making a living that they forget how to live. Calendars become full while hearts become empty. Sports, entertainment, careers, hobbies, endless screens, and constant activity quietly replace family worship, prayer, meaningful conversations, church fellowship, and time in God's Word.
The greatest things are often crowded out by merely good things.
Like Mary, every family must choose "the good portion" that cannot be taken away (Luke 10:38-42).
E. He Normalizes Sin
Sin rarely arrives looking dangerous.
It usually enters dressed as entertainment, convenience, tolerance, or harmless fun. What once troubled the conscience gradually becomes accepted. What was once resisted is eventually defended.
The eyes, ears, and mind shape the heart.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)
F. He Divides What God Calls to Be United
One careless sentence. One unresolved hurt. One proud heart. One unwillingness to forgive.
That is often all Satan needs to widen a crack into a canyon.
But the gospel always moves people toward reconciliation. Humility heals. Grace restores. Forgiveness rebuilds bridges that anger burned down.
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3)
"A soft answer turns away wrath.." (Proverbs 15:1)
Our Greatest Defense Is The Lord
Call upon him while you can. Satan is also powerful, but he is not near as powerful or sovereign like Jesus. Christ has already conquered him through His death on the cross and physical resurrection.
A family that regularly prays together, studies God's Word together, worships together, serves together, and quickly forgives one another becomes increasingly different than most families.. it's difficult for the enemy to divide them.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
Do you have a family of two? Just you and your wife.. make it a family of three with Jesus as Lord. That's big enough.
A bundle of sticks tied together is difficult to break. Separate the sticks one by one, and each snaps with little effort. Satan's strategy has always been division. God's strategy has always been unity centered in Christ.
Here's A Challenge For You
The strongest homes are not perfect homes. A flawed man with a flawed woman, and often times flawed children come along. They are homes where Jesus is welcomed every day as Lord.. by each one prayerfully. Won by One.
Fight for your marriage.
Fight for your children.
Fight for family worship.
Fight for purity.
Fight for unity.
Fight on your knees, and stop fighting God or fighting your spouse.. even with attitude or words.
The family is worth fighting for because it belongs to God. Fallen angels hate the familirs knowing God created families.
"The Christian family ought to be a little church." — Jonathan Edwards
"The home is the chief school of human virtues." — William Ellery Channing
May every Christian home be able to say with joyful conviction:
"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
No comments:
Post a Comment