Family Values

We are called to reflect God’s character through the display of our relationships. Scary, isn’t it given all the ways we consistently fail to do it day-in and day-out?

The Apostle Paul wrote to believers in Jesus Christ in the city of Colossae concerning the church “family.”

Colossians 2 speaks to why we should labor for unity in our family: to receive the riches/understanding of the mystery of God. Colossians 3 speaks to what is required for functional/unified family to exist.

Paul says:
1Therefore if you have been raised up (set apart/set above/brought into an understanding of truth/matured) with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

That is the path to disunity.

8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him …

12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

That is the path to unity – the fruit Paul describes in Galatians 5.

14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another... (Not perfect harmony without conflict – but unity of purpose)
17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

That’s God’s vision for His family; and those verses are the basis for my family’s values – our purpose to exist as a family. From that purpose Brad and I established the rules and guidelines for our home. That section of Scripture is the “why?” behind the rules, based on God’s design.
All the principles outlined in the text are critical. We are called to the following – regardless of circumstances:
- To be raised up in Christ (different/mature/focused on Him with “eyes up”)
- To have a perspective on why we are “here” (to know and love God -- and to show his glory through our relationships to an unbelieving world)
- To be able to obey to submit to His ways as always the best for us like we really, really, really believe it! – and overcome the dark side of ourselves through transformation
- To produce fruit
- To unity of purpose and intent
- To thankfulness
- To do everything as unto Christ.

Got it? Great!
It’s not all that hard to understand those things. The hard part is living it. The big question is, “HOW?” Given the mess and stress of family connections – and the mess and stress in my own heart – in your heart – how to we get there? Can we get there?