GOD'S MASTER PLAN FOR THE FAMILY
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, a day when Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ. As you celebrate, don't forget that Christ is the reason for the season. I Wish You A Wonderful Easter!
Attempting to put up any physical structure, without a master plan, will certainly end in futility. Once a master plan is drawn, all the builders have to do is to follow it explicitly until a magnificent building is built. Marriage and family are not exceptional. Every architect knows the futility of attempting to put up a structure without a master plan.
Marriage can be likened to a house. The Architect who drew the master plan is God. God's Word says: For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God (Hebrews 3:4).The husband and the wife are the builders, who must painstakingly follow the design of the Architect to arrive at success in their family. We shall be exploring the topic, God's Master Plan For The Family throughout this month. This week, we shall be looking at The Essence of The Family.
Marriage is the foundation for the family. After marriage comes the marital life or the life experience by a couple. They no more live like single individuals. After marriage, children are added (either by birth or adoption) and additional parties (related either by blood or association) come into the home. Then, a family is established. Families are products of marriages.
The essence of the family is to create an atmosphere or environment for effective administration and preparation of individuals, so they can grow and properly pursue the plan of God for their lives.
The home is where the character and destiny of an individual should begin and take proper shape. "Charity begins at home," they say. No matter how good or expensive a school is, or how glorious the Church is, there is no better environment than the home. Good training actually begins from home. It doesn't end there; it only begins from there.
Abraham understood this and by that understanding, he was able to order his household aright. God's Word says: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him (Genesis 18:19).
If God were to comment on your family, would He say something positive about your family? Abraham and his family were successful in all that they did because their lives and family were patterned after God. Family success is the foundation for an all-round success. Any man who succeeds as the head of the family is sure to succeed in anything else in life. Building your home upon God, will ensure a successful family life. Many couples push God and His principles aside, and yet expect to enjoy the benefit of marriage and Family.
There is only one right way to live, and it is laid out for us in the Bible, which is the Word of God. God's plan for marriage as an institution and the family is clearly stated in His Word. This plan has to be discovered, understood and applied before the success for a successful marriage and family.
A man's testimony is incomplete without a mention of the state of his family. There is a man in the Bible called Job. God's Word says: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east (Job 1:1-3).
No matter what level of success a man or woman attains in life, if it is not accompanied by an undeniable family success, such success or accomplishment will be unsustainable. Social, financial, business or career success (even with fame and all) without family success is tasteless and frustrating.
Is your marriage and family experiencing a breakdown or turbulence? Do you feel the sparkle of life at home has gone out and life seems to have lost its sweetness? Do not fret. All you need to do to come out of turbulence is a personal encounter with God. You need to make a decision to be a child of God. You need to be born again. This is done by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am born again!
Congratulations! You are now born again and fit to enjoy every covenant blessing!
If you prayed the above simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and He will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God's Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through:
E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8;
For more insight, these books authored by Pastor Faith Oyedepo are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches, and other leading Christian bookstores:
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Single With A Difference
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Marriage Covenant,
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Making Marriage Work
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Building a Successful Family
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The Effective Minister's Wife
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Success in Marriage (Co-Authored with Bishop David Oyedepo).