The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

I have changed all the names in this Daily Prescription. Think of this verse with me.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).

Phil and Marti were in a difficult situation. They loved Phil’s family and wanted to be an encouragement to them. The problem was the way Phil’s brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Maxine, were raising, or perhaps better stated, were not raising their children. Jim was only a year younger than Phil so their children were fairly close in age. Phil and Marti loved the Lord and wanted to raise their children to be respectful and obedient without grumbling and complaining.

You guessed it. Very sadly Jim and Judi put up with long tirades of grumbling from their children. The situation became even more difficult when Phil and Marti’s children noticed the difference. Years later Rochelle spoke to Marti, her Mom, and said, “When we were growing up, I thought you and Dad were mean. Now I know it was because you really love us. I want to be the kind of mom that you are. As you always put it, ‘An honest question will bring lots of explaining. But there is never room for grumbling and complaining.’ Mom, I want to use that when the Lord gives us children.”

For today: It is important for children to be taught. Often, however, right teaching and right living by the parents are the first steps for children in what will be caught.

Paul the Apostle really captures my attention with this statement.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called” (Ephesians 4:1).

I want to be brief today because I want those words to really sink into my own heart deeply and yours as well. Walk worthy is the challenge as well as opportunity that you and I have every day as we are out in the world representing the Lord.

What a blessed challenge for today: The worthy walk actually gives the picture of living suitably as a believer. That is a great reminder and challenge for each of us today.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “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).

Traffic on the expressway was moving considerably slower than the posted 70 mph speed limit. The digital sign read, “Construction ahead. Slow down! Be patient!” Mark, Karla and their three children were heading home to Karla’s parents’ farm. They couldn’t wait to get there, and now this construction was going to slow them down! Wisely Mark seized the situation to remind them that because we have trusted the Lord Jesus to be our Savior, throughout our lifetimes He is continuing to work. We are His construction projects.
“While it may not be much fun to be going 30 mph right now, remember these two things,” he said. “First, this won’t last forever. Second, it will be so worth it when this part of the project is completed. It is the exact same way with us, family,” he reminded them.

Just at that second, a pickup truck hit an orange construction barrel which flew into the next lane, and with that, the teaching moment was gone and the carload of travelers had lots of things to laugh and talk about. Later that night when everyone was settled down in the motel room, Karla whispered, “That was wonderful today, Honey. You reminded us of how the Lord is working in our lives. You just remember that I am under construction, too, and I love you!”

Here’s a question for all of us, especially me: How is the construction project of the Lord working out in your life? If you know Christ, then you are His workmanship.

“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (Proverbs 15:2).

Tom often read through his Bible in just about a year. This time, however, he decided to slow down and not just read the book of Proverbs; he was going to study his way through it. When he came to Proverbs 15, he was impressed with how the writer crafted so many word pictures contrasting honorable and dishonorable speech.

He couldn’t escape the powerfully pointed verse demonstrating the difference between the wise and the foolish and the use of their words. He was amazed at the two words “poureth out.” The foolish person “pours out” foolishness. The picture of this “pouring out” is to “bubble up, to belch.”

One night in his evening prayer time he said something like this to the Lord, “I’ve been listening to a lot of foolish words being burped up all over the place today, Father. In the political scene, at my work, and even at the barbershop, the words that come out of people really demonstrate the condition of their hearts, don’t they, Lord? Please help me be wise, and may my words please You.” That sounds like a very good prayer for us as well, don’t you think?

For today: May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable to the Lord.

I have changed the names. But just think of this today and see how it just might apply to yourself.

“He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates very friends” (Proverbs 17:9).

Jack and Sherrie, Bill and Virginia, and Harold and Marian were good friends. They and their families often vacationed together and at least got together socially a couple of times a month. Then it happened. Bill deeply wounded his friend Jack. He misjudged Jack’s motives about a situation and spoke untruthfully about him.

Jack met privately with Bill and spoke graciously and quietly to him. Bill was deeply sorry for hurting his friend and apologized. Guess what, friends? Harold and Marian never knew of the offense. Do you know why? The answer is found in our verse for today. Jack applied the clear directions of the Lord for living biblically.

He could have easily fractured the friendship of an entire family, but he didn’t. Several years later Bill was speaking to Harold about the wonderful forgiveness he found in Jack, and to his astonishment, Harold never knew anything about it. Obviously there are instances where we have to tell others of the wrong situation. But there are times when a one-on-one personal situation can be resolved without ever separating other friends.

Here’s what I’m thinking today: Ask the Lord for wisdom if you are in a situation involving others. The Lord has plenty of wisdom to share with you, according to James 1:5.