The Family - Pt 2

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:31-33 ESV). Happy Mother’s Day! When Paul summarizes is teaching concerning the family in our reading today, he quotes this wonderful principle given to Moses at the beginning of creation. When God created Even for Adam, he told Moses that there are three basic principles for a successful marriage. This first is to leave your father and mother. Of course, the Scripture is not telling us that we are to disregard our parents in order to marry. In fact, there are many examples throughout the Bible of adult children caring for their parents. Jesus did so with his dying words to the Apostle John. The key here is in focus. Remember, when God told Adam and Eve this principle they had no father or mother! He was anticipating the temptation to forget the establishment of a new home, honoring the old and living in the new. “Home is where the heart is” becomes a reality when we make this shift. Too many adult children marry and still retain submissiveness to their parents. That does not honor them; nor does it establish a new home. The second is to hold fast to one another. I like this one best; and, it is the easiest to do. Being the easiest, it is the first one forgotten. The word used means to “epoxy” yourselves together. I do a lot of woodworking. When you glue two pieces together correctly the bond is stronger than the original wood. You glue yourself to one another in the family by relationships that trust and honor regardless of performance. I am not excusing the failures that often come to individuals; however, I am also not excusing the refusal to restore and move forward. It is rare that a relationship cannot be restored. The reason so many are not is that we give up too soon. Glue yourself to your spouse and children. That makes it possible. The third is to become one flesh. So many have misinterpreted this to mean “intimacy.” It is so much more than that. It is the melding together of people to be one. This is one mind, one spirit, one body united against all. It is a family committed to following the will of God regardless of the turns the journey take. We must all make it our priority to come home! That home is found in the heart and mind of our heavenly Father. Call your mom if you can today. See them if you can. Above all, love them in spite of their behaviors. After all, God loves us because of who we are. Not because of what we do!