"A Family Like God's" (Part 1)

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:26-28 NIV).

I may ramble a bit in today’s Morning Devotional. I suppose it is because I am caught between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.” The “rock” is a vital principle. The “hard place” is the amount of space I have to develop the truth in this venue. So, here goes… I believe there is nothing more powerful in heaven or on Earth than family. It is the single most influential force for good or for evil in all human existence. From birth, it marks you. Your family crafts your conscience and shapes your soul. At home you learn life’s lessons and begin the art of practicing them. At home you learn to love and to do what’s right. More than merely giving you a street address, your home and family imprint you with a spiritual identity shaped by the two people who gave you life. Truly, nothing compares to the strength of being tightly wrapped in the protective fiber of family. It’s who you are. It’s where you belong.

And if all goes well, as it should, it is your family that surrounds you when you start life’s journey, when you face life’s hardest trials, when you go through the valleys and when you die. More than anyone else, the members of your family are the ones who are there for you, caring for you and mourning the loss of you when you’re gone. This should come as no surprise, because God created the family. Look at today’s reading again. At the very dawn of time, “God created man in His own image ... male and female He created them.” Of all the ways He could have chosen to inaugurate His creation, He chose to start with family. In fact, the Bible begins with a marriage in Genesis and ends with a marriage in Revelation. Marriage and family have always been central to what God is doing on planet Earth.

I believe family is still of utmost importance to our heavenly Father. It holds the key to our health, our success as a society, and our future. And I believe it is worth whatever effort is required to nurture, encourage and support it. Its worth whatever sacrifices necessary on your part to make it what it ought to be. Sacrifice everything before you allow anything to come between you and your family. And, here’s the real question: What’s your family like? Regardless of the model you presently operate within today, nuclear family, blended family, or single parent family, I believe it is essential to make it the best that you possibly can make it by following the example of God with His family. Will you make that commitment today? We’ll get more specific in the days to come. Today take the first step. Renew your commitment to family first!