Family is a gift of God- Part 3

Let us look at the divine strategy for building a godly home in an ungodly world for the glory of God. We read in God’s word..”O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! ” Here we have three divisions.

1. Divine expectation
2. Divine prescription
3. Divine provision of blessing

1.O that there were such an heart in them. What sort of heart? God is expecting from me a heart without reservation. Not a heart for two hours on the Lord’s day to worship neither an hour on Wednesday Bible Study. But, a heart totally and affectionately set apart for the Lord. It is then, we experience the blessing of the Lord and our children in turn shall be blessed of the Lord.We read “…. thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might”….seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul”. The Lord knows our hearts, even the secrets of the heart.” What was wrong with Solomon? His heart was not right with God. We read frequently about his heart in 1 King.11:1-13.It was far from God. As you know, the strange women turned his heart after other gods. His children had to face the consequences for what his father did. We read of the integrity of heart, perfect heart, pure heart, clean heart, willing heart, upright heart, true heart, wise heart, with such heart we must love and serve the Lord. Psalmist says..”How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Here is the one whose aspiration is being satisfied. His soul, flesh and heart is crying, longing, deeply desiring for the dwelling place of the Lord. His heart, that means affectionately, his soul, means spiritually and his flesh, means physically, so whole being, longs for the Lord. The house of God and the God of the house won his heart and these two are  on the top of his heart. David said, I have set my affection to the house of my God. In the book of Haggai , he occupied with the house of God and in the book of Zechariah, he occupied with the God of the house.

Back in Deut.5:29” Oh that there were such a heart in them”. Husband and wife, thus having a heart without reservation set apart for the Lord and must be concerned with those things which delights the heart of God. Like unto Psalmist and prophets, parents along with God given children occupy the house of God and the God of the house and its altar. So that your children are brought up with the interest of those divine things which concerns and delights the heart of God. The Lord knows where is our heart and for whom it is. Paul asks us to set our affection on the things above, where Christ sitteth at the right of hand of God. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that  I desire beside thee. May the Lord search our hearts and make us realize where our heart is? We read in Proverbs..” My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways”. Our Lord gave us  all what He had, His only begotten son and His son in turn, offered Himself upon Calvary’s mercy seat. In response what shall we render unto Him?”Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all! Let us, like unto Macedonian, give ourselves fully for the Lord. Hymn writer says.”Saviour, Thy dying love, Thou gavest me, nor should I aught withhold, my Lord, from Thee. In love my soul would bow, my heart fulfill its vow, some offering bring Thee now, something for Thee. Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee. That each departing day, henceforth may see, some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done, some wanderer sought and won, something for Thee. All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free. In joy, in grief, through life, O Lord, for Thee! And when Thy face I see, my ransomed soul shall be, through all eternity, something for Thee.”O that there were such an heart in them”. Do we have such a heart?( Division-2,3  to be contd.)

Have a blessed weekend