Protecting the Family Unit
In this devotional, I want to speak about the importance of having a godly family. We have entered into an age where people do not see the significance of marriage. Instead, we have a lot of single parent households, and no more of husband and wife, or mother and father. When the Lord created Adam, he later then created Eve. The Lord stated that man should not be alone, therefore he gave Adam his helper, Eve (see Genesis 2:18). The LORD then gave the commandment to be fruitful and multiply (see Genesis 1:28). It is through the union of marriage, between husband and wife, where generations are born. Generations of believers and saints come to give God the glory. Unfortunately, the adversary, the devil, is trying to wipe out those generations. He is destroying the family unit by removing fathers from their homes, putting mothers in positions they cannot fill, and lastly, giving a false identity to children.
We need to understand what our roles and responsibilities are in the godly family unit. Let’s first talk about fathers. 1 Corinthians 11: 3 states, “But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Fathers should be the head of their households, they look to God for guidance on how they should lead their family. According to Ephesians 5:25-37, fathers should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church. Men, your wives are an extension of you, therefore if you love and value yourself, then you should also love and value your wife. Fathers are also called to raise and discipline their children. Ephesians 6:4 states, Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the LORD. It is important for fathers and mothers to teach their children the ways of the LORD. Show your children who they are in Christ, so they may not be deceived by the false identity the world will try to place on them. Fathers are very much needed, especially for their sons, who will someday grow up and lead their own households.
Mothers
Ephesians 5:22-30 states, “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the LORD. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also the wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” As stated before, husbands are the spiritual heads of the household, therefore wives should recognize her husband's leadership. In other words, if you are a wife, you should not try to be the man of the relationship.
Mothers are called to teach their children just as fathers are called to do the same. Proverbs 22:6 states, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Mothers are supposed to teach their children the precepts of the LORD, so that when they grow old, they will not depart from the LORD’s way. Mothers are also needed to raise up their daughters to eventually be the true women of God. When fathers and mothers come together, they are unstoppable.
Children
Children also play a vital role in the godly family unit. The LORD calls children to honor your father and mother (see Exodus 20:12). Children must respect their parents and follow their teachings that have been instilled in them since birth. As children get older, they tend to gain their independence, but children need to remember that parents are filled with years, so don’t be quick to refuse their advice. Proverbs 6:20 states, “ My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” I will state this over and over again, never forget the teachings of your parents. Remember the LORD’s commands that were taught to you and keep those commands in your heart.
The enemy hates godly families. He wants fatherless homes, broken families, and fornication. He wants generations to be wiped out, he is against godly marriages, he promotes perverse ways. But the LORD is saying no more.
Heavenly Father, thank you for this devotional. I pray that you bless each and every person that reads this devotional. Lord, I see the lack of godly families that are causing your children to be lost, are causing women to not know who they are in you, causing men to not know who they are in you. Lord, I ask that you reestablish families the way that you intended to be. Lord, rebuke the enemy that tries to destroy families and distort the meaning of marriage. Raise up men in your image, equip them with godly leadership, so that they can lead their households. Raise up women in your image, help them to be a helper to their husbands, and help them to raise their children in the way you want them to be raised. Lastly, bless your children, help them to know who they are in YOU. Protect them from the enemy who tries to steal the teachings that have been given to them. Protect your families, LORD, so that they may continue to give you glory. In Jesus name, Amen.