Colossians 3:18-21, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged."

It is without a doubt that the way families are viewed and function in our society is under attack and skewed.  The people in a traditional biblical family are a mom and dad, and the natural product of their union is children.  God commanded Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion …” (Genesis 1:28).  The relationship among a man and a woman is to be for life, that is, until death separates them, Jesus clearly commanded, "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).  You must realize the union between a man and a woman isn't simply a physical union, but, more importantly, a spiritual union.  Who joins together a man and a woman?  The answer is obvious from Scripture - it is God!  

Now in Colossians 3:18-21 we find four distinct commandments that are the recipe for a Godly Family.  I want and desire to glorify God through my family. Notice these four commandments:

• Wives are commanded to live a life of submission to their husbands, for it is fit in the Lord.  That which is fit, is that which God views as due and appropriate or fitting.  A wife choosing to place herself under the leadership of her husband is allowing her husband to become the man God wants Him to be, and she has placed herself in the position of experiencing God's blessing, because what she is doing is "fit in the Lord."

• Husbands are commanded to love their wives and to guard against becoming bitter against them.  A wife needs to experience value from three sources; God, her husband, and her children.  Ultimately God is to be the source of everything, but as it relates to one who can enhance this reality it comes from a loving husband.  This is a man who sacrifices and demonstrates that his love is like that of Christ, for it is agape love that is commanded.  Typically, when a man quits loving his wife, he becomes bitter, and his responses to his wife are argumentative and unkind.  Men, we must guard against bitterness.

• Children are commanded to obey their parents, for this conduct is well pleasing unto the Lord.  In a day and age when lawlessness is rampant, God wants us to demonstrate the influence He has upon the family by having a home filled with submissive people.  Children learning to obey their parents will grow up to be children who obey God.  We must realize the importance of obedience, and make it a point of emphasis in our homes.

• Fathers are forbidden from being the source of provocation to anger in the lives of their children.  Anger and frustration in a child are typically the result of a parent’s failure in the areas of communication and expectations.  I could write a book on how not to do it, but what we really need to be good at, is how to admonish and nurture our children.  Building an environment of love, discipline, encouragement and praise are all essential in good parenting. Children need to know they are loved, they need structure and boundaries, they need to be encouraged, and when they do right, they need to be praised. (That is not throwing them a piece of candy).  

Here we have God's recipe for a Godly family.  Ladies and gentlemen, may we strive to have families that reflect the light of Christ in a world filled with darkness and lawlessness.  God give us homes, built firm upon the Savior!!!

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. Why is marriage more than a physical union between a man and a woman? What does it mean to be joined together spiritually?

2. What are the biblical responsibilities of a godly wife?

3. What are the biblical responsibilities of a godly husband?

4. How should children respond to their parents?

5. What are two major failures for parents while rearing their children?

6. What are four major ingredients essential in good parenting? Do you parent using these ingredients?