FAMILY TRAINS FOR FAMILY

        

        The Holy Spirit instructs Christians through Paul - 

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:9-10)

        The use of the word "especially" is no accident. Applying especially in any sentence brings a special focus to whatever person, place or thing that comes afterward. In this case, "those who belong to the family of believers" or Christians are challenged to be particularly good to each other. Believers in Christ are to favor, support, encourage, pray for and help one another.

        However, before Christians make good, dependable servants for each other, they need to pay attention to their development as a member of their own blood family. Paul, writing in his first letter to his protégé Timothy, stressed - 

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8)

        There is that word "especially" again. Paul focuses in on the blood family this time. He says, in between the lines, those that accept The Faith accept such tenets as -

"Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." (Ephesians 6:2-3) 

and 

"Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck." (Proverbs 1:8-9)

        If kids learn as quickly as possible, tenets like the ones mentioned above, the benefits are there for them immediately and follow them into their next family, should they decide to follow Christ. 

        

        For a son or daughter who adheres to Scripture about the blood family - it will go well with them and they will live long in the land. Another reward to flowing with God's laid out family relationship dynamic is that your father's instruction will grace your head or be able to be remembered. The other jewelry part is given by your mother. Your mother's teaching will be a chain to adorn your neck or life lessons your heart can hold forever.

        Biologically, we have no say as to what family we are born into. However, we do have the power of choice in becoming a part of the Christian Family. For those who have recently decided to follow Jesus and become a part of the Christian Family and for existing family members, let us consider our blood family development when we join the Christian Community, Church or Family. If we cannot take care of our own blood family, then how can we expect to contribute to the care and spiritual well-being of The Church Family?

        Those deciding to follow Christ will be staying eternally within this new family. All have brought baggage and will be bringing baggage. So, let's drop the negative, unwanted, unneeded stuff from our lives and move forward to more growth and development within The Christian Community or Church. Bring to the Christian Family dynamic the positive lessons and characteristics from your development within your blood family.  

        

        I realize not everyone's blood family development was as smooth, orderly and/or Christian as others, but by this point, the point of choosing to be in the Body of Christ, we need to realize and capitalize on the fact that  Family Trains For Family. 

OUR TRAINING

        

        The bottom line is we all have a spiritual self that needs to be attended properly and regularly. 

        Athletes train their bodies and minds for their sport, usually for a competition of a season of games. They make a deliberate decision to go through all the necessary preliminaries in order to play in the actual game and be a part of the winning team. 

        Many people have the drive to to keep themselves physically healthy and/or have this chance of victory and team comradery. Other people train in some part of education or the arts to fulfill that development need and desire to reach personal goals. 

        The businessman or woman will take classes to be aware of how the business world works. The musician or painter will take classes to perfect their craft as well as to understand their place in the business universe. Both a local shop owner just starting and a musician/artist beginning their career usually has had training in their field before launching their own effort.

        Scripture says that people of God were - trained in battle, trained in music, trained in blacksmithing, trained in The Law and so forth for the service of The Lord. Whatever individuals were training for, the development was for a higher purpose - for God's purpose and plan. We can train for our own causes all we want but if our steps are not ordered by God, then how can we expect the favor of God, then how can we delight in God's way (Psalm 37:23).

        To emphasize the need for spiritual training in our individual lives and especially in The Church today, The Word of God says,

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." Therefore, "have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly." And let it all begin early in the family - "do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Therefore, "solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (italic words mine) (1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Timothy 4:7; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 12:11; Hebrews 5:14)

        So, do not shy away from spiritually training with The Lord. We have Christ, His Word, His Holy Spirit and each other. Of all the trainings in the world, this should not be neglected, it should be prioritized as paramount. Why? Because our words and deeds will reflect Our Training.

        

NO VARIABLENESS

 The King James Version of James 1:17 states - 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

The fact that we have a wonderful, divine, heavenly Father that desires to give us gifts is heartwarming, mind-blowing and encouraging to the soul all at once. However, there is a particular gift that "the Father of lights" gives in which He expects us to give or share in response.

God is called "the Father of lights" which means "the lights" are His offspring. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus described His followers as light and instructed them to shine for God's glory.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Notice the importance of the light. God has empowered true believers with His Holy Spirit to be the light of the world. Christ shows scale by starting with a town on a hill then light hidden under a bowl within a house. He also shows no societal boundaries by displaying His light in public on a hilltop town and in private within a house needing luminance.

Paul adds to this idea when he said, "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27) The key is "no variableness".

In the main scripture of study for today, James 1:17, God - the giver of good and perfect gifts and Father of lights has "no variableness". God's light, His perfect nature does not change. His brilliance does not increase or decrease, believers have just not discovered the next wonderful side of God yet.

God cannot improve, but we will always have room for improvement. Still, as a work in progress, I believe the notion of consistency in Godly nature for Christians is important. 

Believers ought to strive for consistent harmony between The Word of God and the light they shine just as with The Lord there is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning".