How Do You Treat Your Family? 3/20/21

 Good Morning,

I am feeling a little childish today as I drink a hot cup of Door County S'mores Coffee. You can really taste the marshmallow coming through with a hint of chocolate. Nothing like dessert for breakfast!

Matthew 6:9-10 "This then is how you should pray:"

 "Our Father in heaven, hallowed our name, your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

All too often we forget as believers in Jesus Christ that we are family and not in name only. We have been adopted into the family of God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and our faith in Him. We have a spiritual bond and duty to behave like we know what family we belong to. This is especially true in our relationships with one another. 

We tend to think that our best behavior is being saved up for our eventual time in heaven. On the contrary, our life in the Kingdom of God began when we put the "Saved By Grace" hat on. We often will say at the end of a prayer "Your will Lord, not mine". 

If that is truly what we desire, we want God's will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Then how can we justify the behavior we exhibit toward others in our families? In this case I am speaking about the Earthly families we have. Just think about the mean things or sarcastic exchanges that take place between those of your own house. 

Romans 14:19 "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

My mother used to say to me when I was high school and headed out on the town on a Friday night "Don't shame the family son". I used to think she was joking, but as I ponder more and more of her words now and then, I believe she meant every word of that statement.  You can see from my attached photo, my mother's reaction to a Fonzie pose as I was leaving for a Friday night dance at school.

Think about the shame you can bring on yourself and your family when we let loose our tongues on our families, either in a angry way or a sarcastic way. God hears every word and eventually like any sewage, it spills out in public, little by little. Through our behaviors we cheapen the meaning of the "Family Of God." His will is not one of loose talk, and mean exchanges, but a will of peace, forgiveness, and understanding. 

So today, let's remember to Whom we belong and drop the hypocritical  behaviors that make others wonder if we are truly from God's family.

Have a great and peaceful day. 

Marty