Don’t you just love a beautiful, peaceful time when the family gathers and there is joy in the room?
Chapter 17 of Proverbs begins by defining the beauty of peace and quiet at the table. Here’s how our chapter begins: “Better a dry morsel with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Proverbs 17: 1
This emphasizes the value of family love and unity over material abundance. It encourages the focus on harmonious relationships rather than external wealth or abundance.
God loves the family unit! He created families and delights when we are living in harmony with one another.
The sad reality of this is that a lot of American families are not living as God intended them to live. God had established family units from the beginning of time.
Man was created to be part of a loving, thriving, not striving family.
The Body of Christ was fashioned to be the family of God.
Because He created and loves families so much, here’s what He promised: “The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to Him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him.” Psalm 22: 27
Yep, Daddy God is bringing us all back together as one, (for those who serve and follow Him) in His mansion, we call heaven. On that day complete peace and harmony will be granted. No more misunderstandings, separation, hurt, and strife. Alleluia!
If living in peace and harmony seems foreign to you now within your family unit and there are some hurts that still need healing, here’s your promise within that same Psalm.
“For He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” Psalm 22: 24
God is hearing the cry of your heart.
That strife and disunity will be turned around one day.
God continues to look at our hearts and into our relationships as well. He explains this with the example of silver and gold by saying, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” Proverbs 17: 3
Remember that silver and gold are refined to remove their impurities.
If you’ve been under the “Refiner’s fire”, you understand the impurities that came to the surface and were removed. God is always in the process of making His children pure as gold.
We were never created to live with all the impurities that came by being born into a sin-nature. We were created to live a life in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to live above the sin-nature as we are baptized in Him.
Unfortunately, part of that sin-nature is our malicious tongue that wounds and attacks verbally. Taming our tongue seems to be a lifelong process, doesn’t it?
Families are separated for long periods of time because of verbal misconstruing and offenses that were never talked out.
Brothers and sisters, Family of God, this should not be. This is occurring in our God-given natural families and has spilled over into the church within the Family of God.
This is why God wants us to guard, protect, and purify our hearts. It truly is the wellspring of life.
Satan is the creator of disunity, misunderstandings, offenses, and unforgiveness, which we keep feeding while holding on to the lies and deception, being not willing to come and “reason together” when offenses occur.
We have been told, “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.” Isaiah 1: 17a, 18
But our sinful nature, wrapped in the deception of the enemy, the Father of all Lies, whispers in our ears and we listen to him allowing our tongue to become a weapon.
“The wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.” Proverbs 17: 4
Do we understand that we have been given authority to overcome the enemy’s tactics? We have been given victory over evil to not engage but to slay that giant! Our words should glorify God in honesty and integrity.
The authority, or the right to rule, as a leader/king, depends on honesty and justice.
Using bribes and special privileges was condemned in Biblical times for a reason.
“A leader’s lips should speak as an oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice.” Proverbs 16: 10
Our speech is so important in and out of the home. It all begins at home.
Our kind and caring principles develop roots at home before being extended to the world.
If those kind and caring principles were not developed at home, we get a do-over with our God, our Father.
“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2: 7
How is this possible some may ask?
We were created to live in peace and harmony through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This only is released as we come to Jesus. We are exhorted to “Live in harmony with one another.” Romans 12: 16a
Strive to live in peace with all. God will help us as we yield to His Spirit.
Call On The Prince Of Peace.
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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