May 18, 2014

Ephesians 3:14-21

May is the month for families - graduations, Mother's Day, weddings. What a perfect time to discuss Biblical families.  Dr. Jeff Cook delivers a message that will show you how important families are; how they are named and claimed, what needs to be happening, and how we can care and share for our families the Lord has blessed us with.

What does the Bible have to say about families.  Well to start, biological familes are pretty special. But the biological family is a physical representation of our spiritual family, the way God intended it.  Our spiritual family is by far the best. 

It is made up of the Father, our Brother (Jesus Christ), along with whole family of heaven.  This is a direct relation to our physical families.  And we are named to enrich, strengthen, support and build each other up.

We are claimed by God to be in His family. In the Greek, the word Kateoikeo means to house permanently, inhabitant.  This word for family meant once you were in the family, you could not be removed. 

In John 14:23 Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Later in Revelation 3:20 we read, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and open the door, I will come and eat with him, and he with me."

We often hear the words the God's love is wide, long, deep, and high.  What does this mean? How can we apply it to our lives.

Width: Think of a little child telling his parents are grand parents how much he loves them.  "I love you THIS much." with arms spread out as far as they will go.  Can you hear God saying that to us.  We even get a picture of this love by thinking of Jesus on the cross: his arms spread as wide as they will go.

Length: Endurance shows the continual motivation and action forward even through the toughest circumstances.  At times we just want to give up, but through the Father's example over and over, he continued with patience, forgiving and loving his children.

Depth: Sometimes we get into it deep.  We have to experience the worst to look upon God and give Him the glory.  Our experiences build our faith when we turn our eyes to Him.

Height: As we think of height, this of placing your eyes up on heaven, or were we often relate heaven to be.  Think of the hope we have in the future to be walk the streets of gold, to be in the presence of our Father and heavenly family.

So how do you care for your family? Through love, attention, affection, spending time with them.  Have the ministry of "show up".  Be there.  Not just physically, but emotional, mentally be home with your family.  Be here in church with you church family. 

When we do this, we will give glory to Him.  We will worship the Lord, Creator and Abba Father.  We can worship him through tanking him, praying, singing, laughing, celebrating, anticipating, smiling, encouraging and embracing one another.

So tell me about your family.  Tell me if you are taking the steps to lead your family after the example set by the Heavenly Father. If not, its not too late to begin.