Friday, September 7, 2007
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
THE FAMILY REFEREE
I left my study and walked out into the kitchen for the third time in less than ten minutes. On my two previous visits I had asked #3 and #4 son to work our their problems between themselves. But the fighting and bickering had only gotten worse. It was obvious they weren't going to work out their differences without a referee.
Families -- even Christian families -- have issues with love and forgiveness. They don't always get along very well. Every member of your family and mine has a sinful nature. And, of course, our great Enemy, Satan, is all too willing and able to exploit that fact. Things can get pretty ugly even in those homes where Jesus is honored as Lord and Savior.
Yet, unlike non-Christian homes, our Christian families have a divine referee to help them through those unloving moments. We have our Heavenly Father's love to cover over the multitude of our family sins. We have Christ's blood-bought forgiveness to apply to one another and to ourselves. We have the Holy Spirit's power in the Word to renew within each family member the fruits of faith, such as love, patience, kindness and self-control.
The Triune God is our loving referee, working within our hearts and homes the peace and concord that only His love can bring. Thank you, dear Lord, for the grace to heal all family feuds.
O Lord, we come before Thy face;
In ev'ry home bestow they grace
On children, father, mother.
Relieve their wants, their burdens ease,
Let them together dwell in peace
And love to one another. Amen.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 624:4)
