What Is A Christian Family For
Philosophy View Of Families
1. A group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit.
2. All the descendants of a common ancestor.
3. A group of related things.
Biblical View Of Families
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.
Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.
Does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth.
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 KJV
Have you ever wondered why our God blessed us by calling you to himself? Did you realise that when he gave his promise to Abraham, he had all the families of the earth in mind even those yet to come? God called Abraham and blessed him in order that he might become a blessing to others. God promised him all the families of the earth will be blessed through him.
“And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Genesis 12:3 KJV
I want to imagine that this is one of the most important verses in the whole of scripture. One reason it is important is that our families whether you are Jew or Gentile you can be a part of this blessing promised to Abraham. The concept of family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical and in a theological sense. The church, the universal body of believers, is called the family of God. When we receive God's Spirit at salvation, we are adopted into his family. The concept of family was introduced in the very beginning, as we see in Genesis 1:28
"God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Genesis 1:28 KJV
The blessing has to do with a spiritual inheritance. It speaks of a promised Saviour, Forgiveness, of our sins and a home in heaven for people of all races, colours and creeds. According to Hebrews 11:9-10 reminds Abraham that the promised land of Canaan was not the ultimate promised land of heaven and he lived in Canaan like a foreigner living in a tent, he did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:9-10 NIV
If we belong to the Lord, we have not been blessed just to be blessed. We have been blessed to be a blessing to others. The same applies to our families. God wants us to have not only your families in mind but all the families of the world. This is what Christian families are for.
God is the one that gave Abraham everything his heart desired Children, Fame, Honour and Status. Those things were given to him in order that his descendants would continue what God had begun in his promise to Abraham. They were to pass on the blessing to the future generations. We ordinary people in our family are saved to serve the extraordinary purposes of God.
We must use whatever material, substance, social standing, influence, and honour that God has given us for the good of others. Our primary parenting responsibility is to pass on the vision and understanding of this to our children. Yet our own family must never become an end in itself. We need to reach outside our own circle and invite others to share the spiritual heritage. This way everyone benefits.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 12:2-3 KJV
My little reminder is that a family that pray together stay together, whatever we do as Christians let us stick together.
MAY THE LORD GRANT YOU WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE AS YOU READ.