Disciples take God and His Word seriously regarding forgiveness and reconciliation with personal family
• In Christ, I am a forgiven and reconciled member of God’s family. By His strength, I agree to honor God by forgiving and reconciling with members of my family as well.
Ephesians 6:1-9
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Pondering Point
Consider this brief but telling alliteration on unhealthy family relationships: Don’t be done in by disrespect, dishonor, disobedience or disputes. Seek God’s help to disarm such destructive family dynamics. To let them linger is to, lamentably, let them last.
While alliteration allows for light-hearted linguistic lessons, God takes seriously the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation; He calls us to take them seriously also; the home is a prominent place to live this out. Honor and respect are to be shared, as are the rest of God’s teachings.
Let’s turn these devotional thoughts into a prayer between us and our Father in heaven.
Prayer for the Day
Father God, I don’t want my family done in by disobedience, dishonor, disrespect, or disputes. Help us disarm such deadly, destructive family dynamics. In the place of such unhealthy actions, instead bring to our family a restoration born of Your grace that manifests in humble confession, forgiveness, acceptance and love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.