God's Family System

No other passage in the Bible defines the families role as clearly as Deuteronomy 6. Moses stands before the entire nation as a grandfather and leader to position the family as God’s primary conduit to tell his story of redemption and restoration. Moses highlights values that should transcend time and culture. They are this

#1 We have to GET RID OF ALL THE COMPETITION - Deut 6:4

#2 We have to MAKE IT PERSONAL - Deut 6:5-6

#3 We have to CREATE A RHYTHM - Deut 6:7-9

#4 We have to FIGHT FOR THEIR HEART, SOUL AND MIND - Deut 6:20

#5 We have to WIDEN THE CIRCLE of Influence - Deut 6:4a

The fight for the hearts and minds of our children is raging all around us. The Good news is this, God has given us a system to follow. A plan that will lead to success. The Bible says it like this;

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

There is a "way", a God ordained system that will lead to passing from one generation to the next the principles that matter most. Raising healthy, godly families is not a hit or miss, do your best, no one really knows adventure. It is a rewarding privilege that God wants to partner with us in. But, for that to happen we have to accept and follow God's system, His way, His path, His principles.

Reggie Joiner in His book, Thinking Orange, issued this warning and insight that I think is so important;

"Please don’t get this confused – this is not a debate about family values. Many leaders are fighting for their definition of family values, but often they have forgotten what it means to actually value their families. Have you ever considered the possibility that how families treat each other may have far greater consequences on children than where we draw the line on the issues of the day? It’s one thing to stand up for what you believe, but it’s easy to lose sight of the root issues that genuinely affect a family. While numerous organizations have waged a war for family values, family relationships continue to break down"

The point is, we have to get and stay focused on living out and following God's plan. We have to fight the right fight and spend our limited time and energy keeping in place the right system. And, that is easier said than done. For that reason the church and the family need to partner together. The church and the family need to both be pushing in the same direction and with the same purpose. I encourage you to make it a priority to learn what it really means to "Think Orange" - that's our new, church and family partnership strategy phrase. I implore you to avail yourself of the many opportunities to live out God's family system outlined for us in Deuteronomy 6. That's what our church is attempting to create. So get on board, prepare yourself for change and let's teach the greatest commandment to the next generation

Mark 12:29-31 (KJV)
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Like Joshua of old, I stand up and proclaim:

if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Josh 24:15 (KJV)

Will you join me?