Relationships: Spouses and Parents: May 18, 2016

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2016.

RELATIONSHIPS:
SPOUSES AND PARENTS

DEFINITION:

A connection, association or involvement; connection by blood or marriage.

SCRIPTURE:

A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Mark 10:5-9.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.  Hebrews 13:4

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

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In this devotional we are sharing some of our thoughts from a Biblical perspective about spousal relationships and parenting relationships. The scriptures that we have shared with you in this devotional include specific guidelines for us to live by day by day.

First, we look at the marriage spousal relationship. Second in importance after our relationship with God is the marriage relationship between spouses. Marriage is the foundation of the family and family the foundation of society. It has been said, “as goes the family so goes society” We are seeing today a widespread breakdown of the family unit.

Marriage is a life-long bonding that is of God. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, His disciples and to the people about marriage commitment, adultery and divorce in Matthew 5:27-32. Take your Bible and read this passage. If you are struggling with any of these issues in your marriage take action now to deal with it. Begin with praying that the Lord will work in your heart and in the heart of your spouse to heal your marriage.

For a marriage to be successful today, Christ must be in the center of that marriage. When the Lord is not in the center, the marriage relationship will suffer and most likely not survive when problems come. We can be confident that problems will come. Every marriage encounters tough times at some time or another. All you have to do is listen to and talk to married people today and this will be confirmed for you. More than half of the marriages today end up in divorce.

But more important is what the Scriptures say:

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (Satan)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?"   II Corinthians 6:14-15.

And in the Old Testament the book of Amos (3:3) asks the question:
"Can two walk together, unless they are equal?"

There are THREE secrets to a successful marriage. First, there must be a COMMITMENT by both parties. A lifetime commitment to one another is critical to any possibility of a successful marriage plus a commitment to the vows taken at the marriage ceremony.
Secondly, there must be COMMUNICATION. This communication must include listening to one another, talking to one another and sharing ALL things with one another.

Finally, husbands and wives must be CHRIST-LIKE. You must have traits that Jesus had, such as a servants heart and attitude and be kind, be willing to forgive, be tender hearted, always thinking of others before yourself, and be compassionate every day in all you do.

Parenting today has almost become a "lost art." In many families parents are so busy working and then socializing that they are not there for their children. The Bible gives to us many guidelines on parent/children relationships. Parents must:

• TRAIN: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it". Proverbs 22:6.
•  CORRECT: "Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes he will give you delight to your soul". Proverbs 29:17.
• DISCIPLINE: "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother". Proverbs 29:15.
• INSTRUCT: My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother". Proverbs 1:8.
•  WARN: "My son if sinners entice you, do not consent". Proverbs 1:10.
• ADVISE: "My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood". Proverbs 1:15-16.
• NOT PROVOKE: "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the TRAINING and ADMONITION of the Lord". Ephesians 6:4.

Children have responsibilities as well:

• OBEY: "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1.
•  HONOR: "Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise; that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth". Ephesians 6: 2 and 3.

LOVE YOUR SIBLINGS: "Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul". I Samuel 18: 1 and 3.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Isaiah 43:1b.

Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

PRAYER:

Give me a hunger today to strengthen my relationship with my spouse and my relationship with my family. Show me what God wants me to be as a parent through reading Your Word. Knit my family together in love for each other and in the desire to honor and obey Your commandments and put You first in our lives.

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