"HARMONY IN OUR HOME"

People in a home are like a choir. If just the sopranos or tenors sing, they would sound good, but the voices together enrich each other. To live in harmony, we don't all have to be alike, look alike, or act alike. In fact, it is good when we are different and compliment one another. Family members who live in harmony enjoy companionship. They share joys and sorrows.

"BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Psalm 133:1 This verse is all about the preciousness of family unity. Its blessedness is exclaimed! A harmonious home life requires much effort. At times we must put up with others when they are irritable. During times such as these, we must remember, God paid dearly to make our forgiveness possible. His perfect Son shed His blood for our faults. As He forgives us, we must daily forgive our loved ones. "CHILDREN, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:1,4

When God determined to establish the family as the structure for the nurture and growth and fulfillment of souls, He created a workable and functional pattern to assist and encourage the welfare of His world. "God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Psalm 68:6 The family, with its values and purposes, is under grave threat. The notion of a father-mother-child relationship seems arbitrary to many. But there is nothing arbitrary about the Lord's determination to make the family the basic unit to protect, educate, and fulfill the solitary souls of this world. "Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established." Proverbs 24:3

Christians must invest effort and time in the strengthening of the family. We are in this world but not of it. Family is assailed in our modern culture, and preserving its significance and worth becomes more and more difficult. Christians need purposely to employ every means to keep the family strong and to use it to bring up children and preserve one another in the faith. We're all in this together! While "there is one body and one Spirit" (Ephesians 4:4), there is not always unity among family members. Because of our sinful nature, we bicker, criticize, belittle, complain, and blame one another. And the devil loves it! "With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing on another in love." Ephesians 4:2

God's command and plan for family unity is quite clear! We must be humble, gentle, patient, bearing one another in love. Only with God's help can we swallow our pride and make peace when we would much rather make a point! Only with the patience of the Lord can we wait for a fellow family member to grow spiritually. Only with the indwelling of the Spirit can we show forbearance with others, as God does with us, and make allowances for their mistakes. We must remember God's family is united in Christ and is called to function together in love. Application: Don't make comparisons within your family members. Don't take each other for granted. We need to thank and commend one another. Daily, let us turn to the Lord for His strength to make harmony in our homes a habit. Let us stick together and work together so that as a family we may walk in the way of the Lord. Today's Devotion: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15 Heavenly Father, let our home be a place where we may retreat and daily refuel for life's journey. Help us to build our families on the foundation of Your will, using Your Word, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen. God Bless You All as you build your families foundation on love, keeping harmony within its walls surrounding you.

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