Items For Prayer And Praise
By Lois J. Stucky
One of the articles in this issue (January 1992) mentions that homes can be a little bit of Heaven on earth. Don’t we all want our homes to be like that? What is it that makes Heaven a place of such joyful bliss that we want to emulate it here on earth? It is the presence of the Godhead, of course, and all that emanates from them. Perhaps two of Heaven’s most delightful qualities are unity and love.
Think of the Trinity. God said, “Let us make man in our image…” (Gen 1:26). The Trinity united in creating man. And they unite in recreating man. The Father planned salvation; Jesus provided it through His death and resurrection; the Holy Spirit performs it in man through His influence and indwelling.
Unity such as is seen in the Trinity’s interaction is God’s order for the home as well. The husband and wife unite to form the home and unite with God to bring forth children into it. Each member has a particular part to play, a place to fill. If there is mutual respect and due honor, loving submission, the willing taking of responsibility – there is harmony. Purpose is accomplished. God is glorified.
How important that newlyweds develop unity in their homes as early as possible! Thereby is prepared a “love-lined nest” into which children will be born. There children will feel cared for and comfortable, and will early learn their part in the family and society.
Someone has pointed out that children on the one hand need to feel welcome in the home, and on the other hand, they are not to be made the center of the home. It is not God’s order for a parent to focus on the child above the other parent. God has so ordained that the greatest security and well-being come to a child, not when the child is the center of focus but when he or she can see love and unity between the parents first and then experience their love turned also toward him or her.
Too many homes are far from a “bit of Heaven.” Must we leave it at that? Cannot someone in that home say, “We’ll have a better home and it will begin with me by God’s grace and help!” The starting place may be forgiveness. We ask forgiveness of others for our failures, and we forgive others. It takes much grace to forgive sometimes! Especially is this true when there are broken homes and hearts and battered lives. We may have ourselves to forgive also, for much of the fault may be ours. Then we must make a new start, trusting God, walking humbly and in love.
We know some reading this issue are in one-parent families. Reading of the happy, complete family may bring a pang of sorrow or discouragement. Dear ones, be sure to go to God for His forgiveness if there is some way your failure has brought your situation about. Then depend on His loving heart to help you make your home the best it can be. Pray and spend time in God’s Word to help you be strong in the inner man, so you can manage your home well and make it as full of love and security for the children as possible. Point the children to the Heavenly Father and His love for the fatherless and motherless. And if you are a single person outside family life, draw upon the companionship of our Lord and Saviour to fill the void.
The article in this issue entitled “Holiness – What Is It?” does not deal directly with the home life as most of the rest of the articles. But holy, victorious-over-sin lives are building blocks of a happy, God-honoring home. Take time to give this article a careful reading. Holy lives make holy homes.
And holy homes make a righteous nation. “As goes the home, so goes the nation,” is a well-known adage. We agree with it. We want a righteous nation. We desperately need it. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). Since many of us are a part of a home, there is something we can do toward having a righteous nation. We can determine as did Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15) – for God, for country and for ourselves.
Praise God!
...For every happy Christian home that models family life as God meant it to be, and that these homes built on the rock Christ Jesus, will inspire others to strive for the same.
Please Pray!
...That homes having family altars will persevere and that many additional homes will begin.
...For Herald readers well along in years who live alone with only memories of happy family days, that they will find in the Lord the companionship that they need. Pray also that family and friends will be mindful of them and give them joy and the practical help they need.
...That God will send a mighty revival, convicting and delivering from the sin that is the cause of earth’s ills and injustices.