How God Uses Family Life to Disciple Us

    Have you ever noticed how God uses family life to disciple and mature us into the image of Christ?  It seems to me that family experiences provide opportunities to learn important lessons that have spiritual implication. 

·         God uses childhood to teach us about obedience, submission, and respect for authority.  (Learning to respect authority in childhood helps us respect God’s authority as adults.)

·         In parenting God teaches us about nurture, providing for those you love, and humility (not being able to control your children will drive you to your knees!).

·         In singleness, God teaches us about friendship, loyalty, and self-worth in solitude.

·         God uses marriage to teach us about commitment, sacrifice, forgiveness, and love.

·         In sex God teaches us about surrender, vulnerability, and oneness. 

·         In crisis and death God teaches us about priorities and trust.

·         In stepfamily living God teaches us about second-chances and grace. 

·         In all of these life experiences, God invites us to walk with him: “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

Are you listening to what life is teaching you?  Can you recognize the spiritual opportunities God is providing so that you can mature in Christ?  He who has ears to hear...