The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“I want my home to be what God wants it to be,” he said to his pastor. “Angie and I want to start a family soon. We both come from homes that are not very happy. Angie’s parents divorced when she was in her teens. My parents have stayed together, but things are not very happy there either. I know there are no perfect homes, but I surely want my home to be better than either Angie’s or my home. I have not known the Lord for a very long time and, well, Pastor, could you give me some suggestions what a Biblical home looks like?” Paul sincerely quizzed Pastor Ahrens.

Wisely, the pastor assured Paul that there are no sinless or perfect homes. Placing his hand on Paul’s shoulder, the pastor said, “The sinless, innocent home of Adam and Eve did not last very long. Sin entered that home, and ever since, families have struggled with the effects of sin. In spite of this, families can really seek the Lord and apply the Scriptures to daily living. When they do, several characteristics will be true.” Here are a few things the pastor gave Paul to be thinking about. When talking about a Biblical home it will look like this.

1. It will be a place of safety. No one will be intentionally wounded physically, emotionally, or sexually. While sibling rivalry is very typical in most homes, it must always be checked and kept to being playful and enjoyable for each child. Parents must guard and constantly check the tone of words, type of words, and volume of words because emotional wounds come from the use of words.

2. It will be a place of security. Each member of the family senses the security that comes from the sense of belonging. This security is fostered in the following ways.
A. All are wanted and told so.
B. No one is an inconvenience and treated that way.
C. All are a vital part of the family and consistently reminded of this fact.
D. All are part of God’s plan by being placed into this family and told this.

3. It will be a place of individuality. No two siblings are alike. Each person has individual strengths as well as weaknesses. Each will find fulfillment in doing things that fit his or her personality. Parents help their children to discover who they are and how God has made them. Parents encourage their children to discover what interests them and how they learn. Interests may be very different between the siblings; however,  all are encouraged to pursue the things that fit them and to which they are suited. The greatest challenge seems to be most often found when Dad is very sports-minded, but his son wants to play the piano and read books. Wise dads do not force their children into things not suited to them.

4. It will be a place of encouraging worth. No one is ever made to feel stupid or worthless. Playing and fooling never moves toward being demeaning or hurtful. Our sense of worth is found in discovering God’s plan for our lives. The Apostle Paul reminded us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Wise parents encourage their children to seek the will of God and then help their child do it. There is no greater sense of worth than understanding that we are His workmanship. Good works should flow that glorifies God, not just in seeking the approval of man.

5. It will be a place of forgiveness. A Biblical home and family provide a wonderful place to learn how to repent or to have a change of mind for a wrong action taken. It provides a great place to learn how to be sorry for one’s actions and how to seek forgiveness. It is much more than simply muttering a few words which include a lame apology. It is also a great place to learn how to accept the apology and extend forgiveness.

The Apostle John explains, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The idea of confessing is to agree with God as to what one has done. There are no excuses offered, only genuine confession or agreement with God that one’s sinful action was indeed sinful. What a great model for every member of the family. Isn’t it interesting? Because of our sinfulness, one often tries to deny the action. Or one often tries to diminish the seriousness of the situation. When the genuine apology is sought, wonderful forgiveness can be extended. The fractured fellowship can be restored and the offense is not brought up again.

6. It will be a place of working together. Here responsibility is learned as chores are shared. Family living is not a “right.” It is a privilege. When family members who work together are appreciated and affirmed, even the mundane chores can be times of character building. Strong characters know that God must be first, that work must be done in a way that pleases Him, that wholesome and enjoyable fun follows when work is finished. Strong characters understand that the government and others do not owe them, and they shun free hand-outs. Biblical families provide a wonderful place to learn about honoring God, working hard, appreciating each other, and having fun together along the way.

7. It will be a place of worship. Wise parents do not allow the excuse of being too busy to rob them of the great joy of worshipping as a family. It is saddening to see what is happening in the typical American home today. Sports, gymnastics, dance lessons, swimming, and a dozen other opportunities clamor for the attention of the American family. The family worship time and the blessings that come from this often are lost in all the craziness of an overbooked schedule.

A surprise birthday party for the mother of the family took place. Even though most of the children were grown with families of their own, they still loved to come home. What greater joy could there be than to celebrate the special birthday of their mom! After a great catered meal, the family spontaneously gathered in a circle and just started reminiscing. The best memory, many stated, was the family devotion times. They reveled in sharing how the family would gather before bedtime. Some of the older siblings would hold the younger, and Dad would read from the Bible, and the family would pray together. Several remembered specific things for which the family had prayed. They remembered how God had answered. Even though this took place over twenty years ago, it was a highlight of their reminiscing. Family worship is so important.

The pastor and Paul would meet together regularly over the course of several months as they discussed these and many other principles. “These seven life principles will be important for you to do. I don’t mean to make them sound like a list to be checked off,” the pastor laughed with Paul, “but it will be important to make sure that you are doing them. It’s just like James 1:22 reminds you. ‘Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves,’ Paul. Do the things you know to be true,” the pastor concluded.

These are great principles for every home and family where each member knows the Lord Jesus as Savior.

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

You might not have turned to the Book of Habakkuk in quite a while. In fact, if in a service your pastor were to say, “Please take your Bibles and turn to the Book of Habakkuk,” would you easily be able to find it? I understand. However! There are tremendous principles for us to glean from this book. Habakkuk wrote during the worst of times for his nation. One of the things that the prophet emphatically declared was that God is the source of his joy. Habakkuk listed six things that were absolutely essential for Israel’s economy. He then went on to write that if all six essentials should fail, he would still rejoice in the Lord. Imagine! Today if the stock market, the financial institutions, the currency, the retirement plans, and everything related to these matters should all fail, what should we do? We believers surely would have quite an adjustment to make, true, but also opportunities to encourage the devastated to trust in the Lord and stay focused on the source of our joy—the Lord! Do you have such a relationship with Him? That is what the Lord greatly desires for each of us.

For today: Lord, please help me to remember that your people have found genuine joy in You, even in the worst of times

“The Top Five Things I Really Can Do Today!”

I readily admit the fact that there are many things I cannot do. I cannot run a marathon race. I cannot perform brain surgery. I cannot fly a plane. I cannot swim across Lake Erie. I cannot leap tall buildings with a single bound! For sure, there are hundreds of other things that I cannot do. Now that we have settled that matter, let’s think of five things that I CAN do on a daily basis as a follower of Christ.

1. Today I can rejoice that I am part of His family. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). It is truly wonderful to know Christ and be part of God’s family.

2. Today I can read, believe, and remember God’s Word. “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:10-11). His Word is settled. It is true. It is reliable. It is powerful and precious.

3. Today I can fully trust the Lord even when I do not understand. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The idea of trusting is being confident in and relying upon Him even when I cannot fully understand what He is doing. I get on an airplane and I trust the captain. Though I have never met him or her, I trust that the captain knows not only how to fly the aircraft, but also how to safely land it at my desired destination. That’s trusting. How much more can I daily trust in my precious Lord?

4. Today I can represent well my awesome Lord. “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). How very true is that old saying, “The darker the night, the brighter the light!” Many of us are sensing a darkening of the condition of society. It’s a great time to remember that this world is not our home. We are ambassadors representing the Lord and our Homeland (Heaven) in this foreign territory. Therefore, representing Him well as His ambassador is both an opportunity and responsibility.

5. Today I can be watching and loving the Lord’s return. “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). While I would never try to set a date in predicting when the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) will take place, I can tell you this. I am living in expectation and excitement that this could be the day for this glorious event.

Instead of focusing on the many things that I cannot do, I choose to daily remind myself of the many wonderful things that I can do! How about you?

“The Top Five Things Every Bible Should Be Able to Say About Its Owner!”

Many parents can relate to the terrifying moment when their youngster is asked a question. You know what I am speaking about, don’t you? On one hand parents fear that the child won’t answer at all. And there is the fear that the child will answer “too much” and freely say embarrassing things. All parents face this at times, and most probably could tell of things they wished their children wouldn’t have said!

Now let me ask what might sound like a silly question, yet in all honesty, it is a very probing question. What if your Bible could suddenly start speaking to your friends? Would your Bible be able to say the following five things?

1. My owner knows the Author. “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3).
2. My owner believes my teachings. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete; thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-16).
3. My owner delights in my instruction. “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word” (Psalm 119:16).
4. My owner has hidden me in his or her heart. “Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
5. My owner obeys my teaching because he or she loves the Lord Jesus. “If you love me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). God’s Word is the greatest treasure in all the world. It is eternal. It is never outdated. I hope that you daily invest some moments reading the Scriptures.

www.michaelpeck.org

Yesterday I shared with you about our little son Jeffrey and his seriously ill little heart. Today I want to simply write about the precious family of the First Baptist Church of Marilla. Karen and I served at Marilla from 1980-1995. Those were wonderful years with this church family. Together we learned much about the two genuine components of ministry. Paul wrote of this as he spoke of Onesiphorus.

First, we see the ministry of being. “When he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me” (2 Timothy 1:17). He was there and just his presence demonstrated that he cared for Paul and that he loved him.

Second, we see the ministry of doing. “How many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well” (2 Timothy 1:18). His ministry of being and doing “refreshed” Paul (2 Timothy 1:16). This refreshing gives the idea of a cool breeze or a cold drink of water on a hot day.

I want to tell you that graciously, consistently, and lovingly the church family at Marilla ministered to our family and helped us through Jeff’s many surgeries and hospitalizations. They reached out to our entire family and encouraged and upheld us in personal and precious ways.

There are dozens of illustrations of their love and care for our entire family. Let me share just one of them. Following one of his surgeries, Jeff was in very serious condition. Buffalo Children’s Hospital allowed both parents to stay overnight. However, the requirement was that one of the parents had to come to the security area to check both parents in each evening for overnight clearance. As I stepped into the lobby from the elevator, many of the church family were waiting for me. They wouldn’t tell me how long they had been there. They simply said, “We had to come.” Embracing me, crying with me, holding me and praying with me, I saw firsthand the church in the ministry role that the Lord intended. Returning to Jeff’s bedside, I sent Karen down telling her only a blessing was waiting in the foyer. Several moments later she returned to my arms as we wept and thanked the Lord for our church family.

Friends, the role of your pastor is to equip you to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). The dear folks at First Baptist Church of Marilla certainly ministered to us during those four years of Jeff’s life as well as in the years following his home going. My family and I are so grateful for the many ways they ministered by “being” and “doing.” I want to encourage you that the Lord has equipped you to minister to others even in these days of pandemic. You and your ministry can really make a difference.