{"id":3444,"date":"2015-08-25T00:00:48","date_gmt":"2015-08-25T07:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3444"},"modified":"2015-08-27T07:26:02","modified_gmt":"2015-08-27T14:26:02","slug":"825-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/08\/25\/825-family\/","title":{"rendered":"8\/25: Family (\u8bd7102:18-28 \u6797\u524d24:1-25:28 \u4ee3\u4e0b24:1-25:28 )"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u8bd7102:18-28 \u00a0\u6797\u524d24:1-25:28 \u4ee3\u4e0b24:1-25:28<\/h2>\n

Family<\/h2>\n
\n

A busy father was looking for a way to entertain his young daughter. He found a map of the world in a magazine and cut it into pieces. He gave the pieces to his child and suggested she try to piece the map back together.<\/p>\n

After a very short time she said she had finished. He was very surprised by how quickly she had done it. He asked her how she had managed to do it so fast. She replied, \u2018I noticed when you took the page out of the magazine that on the back of the map of the world there was a picture of a man and a woman. I thought that if I could put the man and the woman back together, I could put the world back together<\/em>.\u2019<\/p>\n

Marriage and family life are hugely important. They are part of God\u2019s natural order, and are a vital part of the fabric of society. Pope John Paul II once wrote that family is the \u2018foundation\u2019 of society and \u2018nourishes\u2019 society continually.<\/p>\n

Nicky and Sila Lee have invested their lives in strengthening marriages and family life. Their courses and books such as The Marriage Book<\/a> and The Parenting Book<\/a> have had a profound impact on thousands of people in our own local church and now in many countries around the world. Recently a government official in one country said to Nicky and Sila, \u2018A strong society depends on strong families and strong families depend on strong marriages. That\u2019s why we are interested in your work.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Bible has a great deal to say about family life. Not only do we have a natural family, but as Christians we are part of the church, which the New Testament sees as \u2018the family of God\u2019.<\/p>\n

The three passages for today are not directly on the subject of family life, but in each of them we see something about family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1. Children and the next generation<\/h2>\n

Psalm 102:18-28<\/a>Every generation has a responsibility to think about the future and to plan for the future. We should be concerned, not just about what happens in our time but also about the next generation. The psalmist is concerned for the next generation: \u2018Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord\u2019 (v.18).<\/p>\n

Jesus is the key for every generation. Interestingly, the writer to the Hebrews quotes verses 25\u201327 of this psalm and applies them to Jesus (Hebrews 1:10\u201312): \u2018Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever\u2019 (Hebrews 13:8). He \u2018laid earth\u2019s foundations a long time ago, and handcrafted the very heavens\u2019 (Psalm 102:25, MSG). Jesus will be there forever: \u2018Year after year you\u2019re as good as new\u2019 (v.27, MSG).<\/p>\n

The psalm ends with this hope for the next generation: \u2018Your servants\u2019 children will have a good place to live and their children will be at home with you\u2019 (v.28, MSG).<\/p>\n

This is a hope, a prayer and, to some extent, a promise. Of course, as we will see in the Old Testament passage for today, everybody is responsible for their own lives. However, there is a sense in which God treats people as families. We can hope, pray and believe that our children will live in his presence and be established before him (v.28).<\/p>\n

Lord, thank you for this hope that we have for our children. I pray for my own family and for those in the church, that we will live in your presence and that our children will grow up to know, love, serve and be established before you.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2. Family and homes<\/h2>\n

1 Corinthians 16:5-24<\/a>Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, has a big sign outside saying: \u2018Welcome Home\u2019. The vision of Brian and Bobbie Houston, the senior pastors, is that everyone who comes to the church will be welcomed, loved and given the hospitality that we would give to a guest in our own home.<\/p>\n

We need to recapture this New Testament vision of church as a home. Of course, the early Christians did not have church buildings. They met in homes (v.19). Paul writes to the Corinthians, \u2018If Timothy shows up, take good care of him. Make him feel completely at home<\/em>among you\u2019 (v.10, MSG).<\/p>\n

The church is the family of God. God is our father. Paul sees the whole church as a family. He talks about other Christians as his \u2018brothers and sisters\u2019 (v.15). The church is not an organisation you join; it is a family, where you belong.<\/em><\/p>\n

Paul, who was single and did not have his own wife or children, loves the Corinthians and seesthem <\/em>as his family. He found spiritual refreshment by spending time with them (v.17). He ends his letter, \u2018I love all of you\u2019 (v.24, MSG). He expects them to \u2018love the Lord\u2019 (v.22) and to love one another. They should express this love by greeting \u2018one another with a holy kiss\u2019 (v.20).<\/p>\n

This is not just a nice theory; it is very personal. He longs to see them (v.5). He knows that they will \u2018help\u2019 him (v.6). He does not want to spend only a short time with them; he wants to spend much longer \u2018if the Lord permits\u2019 (v.7). Paul\u2019s message in his letters flows from his love and concern for the people in the church. He practiced what he preached when he wrote \u2018do everything in love\u2019 (v.14).<\/p>\n

The only reason Paul is not coming sooner is that \u2018a great door for effective work has opened to [him], and there are many who oppose [him]\u2019 (v.9). (It seems that whenever God opens \u2018a huge door of opportunity for good work\u2019 we should expect that there will also be \u2018mushrooming opposition\u2019 (v.9, MSG).) Do not let such opposition deter you from making the most of great opportunities when they arise.<\/p>\n

He goes on to talk about Timothy, whom he describes elsewhere as his son in the Lord (4:17). He then speaks about his \u2018brother Apollos\u2019 16:12) and goes on to talk about \u2018the family of Stephanas\u2019 (v.15, MSG). It appears from the New Testament that it was quite common for whole families to be converted and baptised together.<\/p>\n

We also see in this passage an instance of a married couple having a joint ministry. Aquilla and Priscilla ran a church in their home (v.19). Here, Aquilla is named first. However, more commonly Priscilla is the one whom Paul names first (see Romans 16:3). It is clear that they ran the church together.<\/p>\n

The family of the church is made up of single people like Paul, married couples like Priscilla and Aquilla, and whole households like those of Stephanas. Together we make up the family of God.<\/p>\n

What Paul writes applies to us all: \u2018Keep your eyes open. Hold tight to your convictions, give it all you\u2019ve got, be resolute and love without stopping\u2019 (1 Corinthians 16:13\u201314, MSG).<\/p>\n

Lord, please give us such love for one another that whether we are single or married, we all experience the riches and refreshment of being part of the family of God.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3. Parents and children<\/h2>\n

2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28<\/a>Good parenting is a huge advantage in life. Joash\u2019s father died when he was only seven years old. His mother ensured that he was \u2018taught and trained by Johoiada the priest\u2019 (v.2, MSG). He clearly received a good education and \u2018did what pleased God throughout Jehoiada\u2019s lifetime\u2019 (v.3, MSG). Joash had a family of his own which included \u2018both sons and daughters\u2019 (v.3, MSG).<\/p>\n

God had promised his blessing on David and his family<\/em>. Kingship passed down the family line. However, although God\u2019s love was unconditional, each person was responsible for how they responded to this love. The book of Moses (which is probably a way of referring to \u2018the Law\u2019, the first five books of the Old Testament) is quoted in support of the fact that \u2018parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each of you will die for your own sins\u2019 (25:4). (\u2018We each pay personally for our sins\u2019, MSG.)<\/p>\n

We see this principle worked out in the book of Chronicles. Joash started out well. He \u2018did what was right in the eyes of the Lord\u2019 (24:2). He \u2018decided to restore the temple of the Lord\u2019 (v.4). Everyone joined in: \u2018All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly, dropping them into the chest until it was full\u2019 (v.10). \u2018They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design\u2019 (v.13). (It is interesting to note in passing that buildings for worship do matter and can be restored if everyone gets involved.)<\/p>\n

Sadly, Joash\u2019s reign did not end well (vv.17\u201327). It is so important not just to start well but also to finish well.<\/p>\n

Tragically the same pattern was repeated in the life of his son, Amaziah. He started well (25:2), but did not finish well. He became \u2018arrogant and proud\u2019 (v.19) and \u2018turned away from following the Lord\u2019 (v.27).<\/p>\n

Lord, help us to be good examples and to finish well. I pray that family life would once again be the foundation to nourish our society continually. May there be a reversal in the decline in marriages and a restoration of strong families.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Pippa Adds<\/h2>\n
\n

2 Chronicles 24:1\u201325:28<\/strong><\/p>\n

With good advice young children can accomplish great things. We mustn\u2019t underestimate them.<\/p>\n

Joash became king at the age of seven. With the help of Jehoiada the priest he started so well. He did extremely well while he had a good adviser. Sadly, when his adviser died, he went off the rails. It is so important to keep helping one another so we can all finish well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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