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The gift of a good and godly family – Part 2

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
11 December 2022   |   4:01 am
There are those who never prepare before embarking on any venture. They assume that all things will somehow work out for them.

[FILES] Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

There are those who never prepare before embarking on any venture. They assume that all things will somehow work out for them. But the Lord is emphasising that we cannot build anything that will endure without first preparing adequately for it. Nowhere is this most vital than in planning for a family. We need personal preparation to build a godly, happy family:

• Proper Relationship With The Lord: (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Matthew 12:49,50; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 17:6,14-16; 1 John 1:5-7).

God communes with those who have proper spiritual relationship with Him. Those who are not yet saved should repent because it is part of preparation for marriage. God promises to be a Father to us if we make Christ our Redeemer and Saviour. The proof of our relationship with the Lord is the transformation of our lives.

• Prayerful Request From The Lord: (Proverbs 19:14; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 7:7-11; Proverbs 18:22; James 4:2-4; Ezekiel 14:6-10; 1 John 3:20-22; 5:14,15)

A prudent, wise, uplifting, good, supportive and happy wife (and husband), who would make you progress in the direction God has earmarked for you, is from the Lord. To have such a wife or husband, you must remove every idol from your heart and make your request known to Him in prayer.

• Protective Righteousness Before The Lord: (Proverbs 11:4-6; 12:28; Isaiah 54:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 14:16-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:21,22; 1 John 2:15-17)

Righteousness is the believer’s protective armour. It shields him from all attacks, evil people and destructive choices. We must “abstain from all appearance of evil” and do all things to the glory of God. Marriage is God’s gift through which we make progress in every area of life. It should also make our passion, devotion and love for the work of God to increase. In every godly home, there are markers to look out for.

• Righteous Fellowship In A Gracious Home: (Ephesians 5:1-5,22-25,28-33; 1 Peter 3:1-13; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; Philippians 2:3-5,14-16; 4:4-8; John 15:12,13)

Righteousness in the family should make us to walk in love. To walk in love means we are transparent to our spouses in all things. It is being practical, sacrificial and selfless. We must “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” In a family where there is no vainglory or strife, and where each person esteems the other “better than themselves,” the righteousness that keeps us in fellowship will be present.

• Refreshing Fulfillment Of Growing Helpfulness: (Genesis 2:18; 2 Samuel 10:11; Proverbs 31:10-12,26; Ecclesiastes 4:9,10; Job 26:2,3; Romans 16:3,4; Acts 18:27)

God instituted marriage, so, we can help and keep each other company because loneliness is a problem. Thinking, living and doing everything alone is not good. At times, we need someone by our side to go through life with us; someone who can lift or lighten our heavy burden. Certainly, we need help; but not the kind we can get from neighbours, relatives, child(ren) or parents; it can only come from a spouse. However, this help must be reciprocal.

• Rapturable Faithfulness For A Glorious Heaven: (1 Corinthians 15:19; Luke 20:34-36; Matthew 24:36-42; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52;1 John 3:1-3; Revelation 19:7-9)

One of the reasons we marry is to help each other to run the Christian race successfully and make it to heaven. If all that marriage does for us is to have a good life only in this world, then “we are of all men most miserable.” We must ensure we continue to encourage each other to be obedient to the word of God and endure till the end. As we desire to have a good, godly and gracious marriage on earth, so should we hope to have a good passage to glory when the trumpet sounds to be part of the Lord’s Bride at His marriage supper.

• Further reading (King James Version): Genesis 2:18, 21-24; Proverbs 19:14; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:28-33. Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 18:22; 19:14. Proverbs 24:27; Luke 14:28-30. Ephesians 4:15,16; Romans 14:19.

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