Disclaimer: Trigger warning. This post may contain sensitive content. Please take note of your personal emotional and energy levels during and after listening. And everything here is a gentle nudge, never a forceful push. Consider working with a mental health specialist when dealing with family trauma.
Scripture: Paul is writing a letter of encouragement to Timothy, a young preacher, upcoming leader, and follower of Christ. Although considered a Pastoral Letter, it contains principles that apply to us. In our verse, Paul gives concrete, particular examples of what Christian life in the household of God should look like.
But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. — New Living Translation (NLT)
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever — English Standard Version (ESV)
Observation
Here, faith is referred to as a rule or way of life set by Jesus living out God’s word. “What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” Galatians 5:6.
Christ’s command is for believers to (1) love one another (John 15:12), instructing us to deny ourselves and practice sacrificial actions and (2) obey (John 14:15), teaching us that love comes with a form of obedience.
To be a follower of Christ without practicing self-denial or any loving consideration for others, especially in the form of care and provision of your own family, is hypocrisy.
To have a love in your heart for God but a hatred, animosity, or resentment in your heart for family members is like claiming God but denying Him with your actions.
Application
Honoring God in vain is when, on a level, we show favor towards God, but deep down, our actions show our hearts are still far from His. Think of being willing to do what’s within your comfort zone but not outside of it.
Doing hard heart work brings us closer to God and honors Him. Forgiving someone, showing mercy, offering grace.. etc.
Re-assess how we see the person or situation by trying to adopt a new lens of understanding and forgiveness.
Re-align our hearts with God’s and trade in the cold and hardness for warmth, flesh, and responsiveness.
Re-approach the situation with a renewed mind, heart, and spirit, having faith in the possibilities for the future.
Our walk with God asks for our faith to grow into action when and where it may be the most uncomfortable, or even unreasonable, for us… And it starts at our homes, in our families.
Unlike unbelievers, we committed our hearts when we said yes to Jesus, and saying yes to Jesus is also saying yes to His ways. Even though it’s hard and we may mess up, we continue to practice putting our best foot forward, inviting God in, and letting Him work on our hearts.
The enemy wins when the family is divided or in more popular terms, no one wins then the family feuds.
Prayer (long-winded one)
Dear Lord,
Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Mighty is your name. Today, we come to you possibly needing every bit of that might, God. The holiday season is not always a pleasant time for all of us. For some, it is the best part of the year.. full of joy, togetherness, and blessings.. for others of us, Father, it is a time of pain, heartache, and suffering. Sometimes, we walk into rooms full of people and should be relationships.. should be closer.. should be happy.. should be healthy… And some of us are tired of hoping but being disappointing.. wanting but grieving. Lord, take it. You know what we are holding and the weight it bears on us. Lord, take it. We rest it at your feet. And should you refuse, then we pray you take the spirits that are binding our minds. Rebuke every binding spirit over and in our families that is at work against your will. For we trust you when you say you delight in every detail of our lives, God, and your plan is for us to prosper, have hope and a future, not harm. We know your word applies to our entire family because despite the age ranges and who was born in what generation, we are all children of yours. So, Father, we declare and decree victory in the House of the Lord. Victory over the enemy.. victory over broken and feud-filled relationships, victory over past wounds.. victory over generational curses.. victory over binding spirits… Give us an atmosphere of healing and restoration. Bring joy and warmth to our hearts for one another Father. Let your spirit be the only one that dwells this Thanksgiving. It is in your mighty name that we pray,
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen
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