THURSDAY, JULY 27
Ephesians 5:22-25; 6:1-4
Ephesians 5:23, 25

For the husband is the head of the wife,
…Husbands, love your wives…"

DO RIGHTEOUSNESS (4)

It is God’s will that "the husband is the head of the wife" and "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph 5:23, 25). Christ loved the church with His holy love and wants her to be "holy and without blemish" (Eph 5:27). Knowing his responsibility, the husband has to humbly seek God’s will, Word, strength, grace and love to be a godly and loving head so that his wife may be willing to submit to him. It is God’s will that "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord" and "that she reverence her husband" (Eph 5:22, 33). Realizing human weaknesses, the husband and the wife have to seek God and His Word together in their daily devotion so that they may be able to love, endure, help, serve, encourage and forgive each other according to God’s Word. Sadly, many couples have failed to seek righteousness before God; as a result, their family life is a failure or even a disaster, not having a good testimony for God’s glory!

It is God’s will for parents not to provoke their children to anger, "but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph 6:4). "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…" (Deut 6:6-7). Knowing that only God is able to save their children and transform their sinful hearts, parents have to pray hard for their children, set a good example for them, pray with them and teach them God’s Word at family worship, take them to a Bible-believing church to worship God, etc. It is God’s will for children to "obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph 6:1-3). Children who want to receive God’s blessings must show their respect, obedience, and filial care to their parents in the Lord, even when they are getting old, weak and sick. Failing to do righteously, many families are not happy Christian homes with God’s blessings! What about yours?

THOUGHT: Am I doing the right things before God in my family?
PRAYER: Lord, help me do Thy will and Word in my family.