The first instruction given to man and woman as a family is found in Genesis 2:17, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” The home then becomes a place of teaching—God teaching parents as well as parents teaching children. God’s instruction to man not to eat the fruit of a forbidden tree was God’s purpose for guidance, protection, and authority over man for man’s own good. Thus the first lesson given to man taught love and obedience. A love to God who had created and given, a love one to another, and the surrender of the will to obey the Creator throughout life. The failure to do so brought sin, trouble, and separation.
The home is still the foundation and place where most lessons of life are learned. Just as the fruit produced from a tree is made up of what is inside the tree, so is the life of an individual made up of what is inside the home. Nothing else can take its place regardless how good. God is still trying to teach us the joys of life through the emblem of the home, and also teaches us the sorrows of life through the emblem of the home, but He also expressed His union with us through the emblem of the bride in the home.
Many institutions have been built to help man and add edification to his training at home which is very needful; added strength is helpful, but the real basic is God’s word in the hands and center of home to learn His Law, His Grace, and His Application to life’s situations. With God’s word in the hand, and God’s love in the heart each person can be a teacher, a missionary, a preacher, and a sincere witness for the Lord in that small place of four walls. Those four walls do not hold the influence instilled or motivation for action always, these get out, you get out, others come in, and carry out those inspirations. The dream of greatness can be fulfilled by becoming the servant of the Lord by serving in that place called home. But make sure the service is to and for the Lord there. But what about this institution? Was it Made, Purchased, or Given? On the part of God, it was made by Him and given to you. On your part it was received as an object you need to fully make and present to Him as completed in Him. Each individual has the responsibility to cultivate the Gift of God so that it will become the beautiful and sweet from God by us becoming workers together with God.
Something to think about….Many of our homes are filled with instruction manuals, some probably scattered in different places. In our home, they are organized alphabetically and systematically. Regardless of what item I refer to, the manual should be easily reached. If not, I must have misplaced it alphabetically or systematically, not lost. My Bible, God’s Word, I know the location of, but not just one, but many. In my home, it is very difficult for me to comprehend the thought or comment, “I can’t find my Bible” or “I don’t know where my Bible is” or “I have lost my Bible.” The Home – Is it Made, Purchased, or Given? or……….Forgotten?……….Lost?
Encourage One Another,
Bro. Jim Graham