FAMILY ISSUES!

Friday, January 3, 2020

FAMILY ISSUES!

Gen 2:18 - 24

18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Try to imagine a life without a “counterpart” anywhere. Vegetation abounded in Adam’s world and animals of all kinds, but for Adam there was not one person or thing that “fit.”

The word “meet” in verse 18 is the Hebrew word ‘ezer which literally means “aid or help.” In fact the English modifier “help” is not in the original.  Adam Clarke, in his commentary says this: “If the word be rendered scrupulously literally, it signifies one like, or as himself, standing opposite to or before him. And this implies that the woman was to be a perfect resemblance of the man possessing neither inferiority nor superiority but being in all things like and equal to himself.

No association or relationship emits stronger emotions than family. Perhaps none are more important! In the original, the word “good” includes such things as “loving, merry, pleasant, pleasure, prosperity, sweet, and well-favored.” This speaks specifically and eloquently of the wife but the extended family is the natural result.

Adam himself comments on the blessing of a counterpart by saying “she is my own flesh.” Nothing is as important as she! He continues by commenting on the family unit, as yet unformed, as secondary to this relationship. “For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother.”

How are things in your family? Is your spouse primary? Is there harmony in your home? God designed that everything that can be described by the word “good” should belong to the family.

Dear Lord, thank you for my dear wife and my family. I would otherwise be very much alone. AMEN

GENERATIONAL ISSUES!

Thursday, January 2, 2020

GENERATIONAL ISSUES!

Ps 71:17-18

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

The Psalmist looks at three distinct periods of time. He remembers his youth as a time of learning. God taught him! Learning comes from the wisdom of those who have already grappled with the confusing issues of life. They have tried the new and sometimes ventured the ridiculous but finally settled on the sensible. It is wise to listen to them.

He mentions the middle part of life next. “Hitherto have I declared thy wonderous works.” A lifetime of application of lessons learned made him a teacher. Not grown but growing, he offers wisdom to others. Some of his lessons have been hard learned and he wishes his students to avoid the pain of experience. But we all know that experience and experiences is the best teachers.

The word translated "hope" in verse 14 means a long and patient waiting in spite of delays and disappointments. If we trust God, then the trials of life will work for us and not against us.

Now he is old and grayheaded. This condition arrives so slowly that we forget our hair was once dark and our skin smooth and supple. Our minds still propose adventures but our bodies reject those plans. Yet, there is much to give to the next generation – if they will listen.

2 Peter 3:18

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Lord, your church should be a cooperative, multi-generational, family of believers. All should be learners and teachers and growers. Help me to show thy strength to this generation. AMEN

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Josh 1:8

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

           Everyone wants 2020 to be a year filled with prosperity and “good success.” Last year has taught us that nobody seems to have a reliable formula for making it happen. However, our text does seem to present a usable and reasonable formula. Certain aspects of this verse need a closer look.

           The “book of the law” clearly means the Bible. We have tried so many things without success it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try God’s operating manual for life. It is recommended that we not only read it but ponder it and practice it.

           The phrase “make thy way prosperous” is translated from a single Hebrew word. The word tsalach means “to push forward.” Isn’t that what we want to do?

           The phrase “good success” seems to be a double positive and, in the Hebrew, the qualifying word “good” is absent. Success is the Hebrew word sakal and it literally means “to walk circumspectly and make good decisions.” You can’t make bad decisions and expect good success!

Deut 30:8-9

8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

9 And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:

Dear Lord, I see that good success is a conditional blessing that requires much of me. Help me today and throughout this year to make good decisions. AMEN