MAY 23, 2010

GOD'S VIEW OF THE FAMILY

Scripture Reading - Psalm 127-128

"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table: ( 128:3 ).

Read these chapters daily this week to see the family from God's perspective.

Our response to everything in life depends on how we view it. This fact is especially true of the family. Everyone has ideas about family life. The government, the media, the judicial system, educators, entertainers, TV producers-they all promote their views of the family. Many of these influences are strongly and negatively affecting our families. One need only look around to see the devastation. Is it any wonder many have distorted views about family life? To get the proper perspective on family living, we must go to God's Word and see family from God's point of view.

Have you ever looked through the wrong end of a pair of binoculars? Everything appears small and so far away-a completely wrong picture. But when you look through the right end, everything comes into focus. Things that appeared far away and hard to see are suddenly up close, larger, and clearer.

Many today are trying to see God through the family, but that perception makes God appear far away and out of focus. We must look at the family through God. Remember, God created the family. Who knows more about family living than God? Christian bookstores are full of books about family living. Some are good; some aren't so good. The greatest book ever written to families is still God's Word.

This week, we'll be looking at the family from God's perspective through His Word. Hopefully, this study will help your family keep a proper focus.

EXERCISE: Ask family members to look through the wrong ind of a pair of binoculars. Let them share their thoughts. Turn the binoculars around and ask them to look again. Talk about the different view and discuss how perception relates to our views about the family.

- Jack Palmer