FAMILY MATTERS
THE FAMILY WAS GOD’S IDEA FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
18Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Genesis 2:18-24 NLT
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AFFECTS EVERY OTHER RELATIONSHIP, ESPECIALLY OUR FAMILY.
30 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NLT
”All my heart”: AFFECTIONS
The Greek word for heart is Kardia – The core or center of your life. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:34 NLT
● You get to choose who you love.
● You choose what you allow into your heart.
● When you allow something or someone in your heart, it guides you.
So how do you place value on someone? Give undivided attention.
How do you raise someone’s value? Give constant appreciation.
”All my soul”: EMOTIONS
The Greek word for ”soul” is Psyche – emotions, feelings, attitudes and will.
● Don’t be afraid to express emotions.
● Don’t run from emotions.
● Don’t rely on emotions.
”All my mind”: INTELLECT The Greek word for ”mind” is Dianoia – Exercising the mind, to think through. We are to love God with our minds.
● Ask tough questions.
● Plan important time together.
● Study God’s Word.
”All your strength”: ACTIONS The Greek word for ”strength” is Ischys – combined focused, all out actions, might.
● For love to be love, it has to be acted upon.
● Love is not a feeling.
● Love is an action.
● ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Next Steps for Me Today…
● I realize my family will never be right until my heart is right with God.
● I choose today to give all of me to Jesus.
● I choose today to love my spouse.