When he walked upon this earth, Jesus Christ was very tuned-in to Heavenly Father. Jesus prayed all the time, and he was so inspired by God’s creation. In fact, he would sometimes use nature and the things around him to teach about Heavenly Father. One such occasion is recorded in Matthew 6:28-30(NLT), where he said “28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Jesus Christ knew the tendency of people to worry about things like what to wear, what to drink, or what to eat. These things distract us from focusing on what really matters. Jesus reminded us that if God takes care of the lilies in the field, how much more will He take care of us, His children?
God knows our needs. 2Corinthians 3:5 tells us that we are not sufficient by ourselves. We are not qualified on our own to do and be all that God wants us to do and be. So, we shouldn’t get a big head and walk around thinking we’re all that; because it’s not the case. God is our sufficiency. He takes care of us, and this is where we must place our trust. One of the things that we should learn from Adam and Eve is what a mistake it is to underestimate God’s provision and magnificence in any way. This is what they did. They allowed themselves to be tricked by the devil, and they started to doubt the goodness of God. Even though they were in paradise and had all their needs met, they started to suspect that God was keeping something from them, so they took the word of satan over the Word of God. This was a monumental mistake.
The Book of Genesis makes it available for us to clearly see how brilliantly and effortlessly God created everything. He was systematic and organized beyond comprehension. He put systems and institutions in place that are designed to take care of us and bless us. He designed the man and woman to function in a marriage as one unit with separate roles. By doing this, husbands and wives can learn more about the unity of the Godhead bodily. Heavenly Father also wanted us to learn how a man and woman are to be in partnership with Him, working together to expand His Kingdom and to get some things done on the earth.
The most important unit that God has created in the earth is the family unit. This is a big part of our partnership with Him. In Genesis 2:23-24(NLT), after God took a rib from Adam’s body and made Eve, Adam was very pleased. He said, “23 At last! This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” God’s standard is that the man will leave his parents, having gained from their knowledge and nurturing, and cling to his wife. It is through this union that Heavenly Father expands His spiritual family on earth.
Our Heavenly Father desires to become for us all that we can ever need. One of the ways He does this is through the marital institution. It is a union that is holy, and God wants it this way because He is holy, and again, His desire is to be in partnership with a married couple. Holiness allows this sacred communion to take place.
God intended that out of this deep and intimate bond of marriage, a family would be established or extended. Of course, we know that not only did Adam and Eve have problems living up to God’s expectations, the rest of us have the same problems as well. Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus, to the earth to show us the way to connect with God intimately, and to have a right relationship with Him. Now that we have right standing with God through Jesus Christ, we must understand that God desires the heritage of people who love and honor Him to continue. He expects that we will mature in Christ to such a degree that we will not be selfish and greedy, but that we will understand that love is commitment; and that family is born out of this commitment to love God, others, and ourselves.
Again, marriage is God’s institution, and He has given it to humanity to preserve His heritage. Psalm 127:3(KJV) tells us, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Children are God’s heritage. They are His reward to us, and He blesses our families as we raise children in our care to be people who love and honor God with their whole lives. We ought to instruct them in God’s Word and model the example of Jesus Christ before their eyes. They will in turn do the same for their children, as the legacy of God’s love through Christ grows stronger and shines brighter with each generation.
We can see so clearly today that many are against marriage and are trying to negate its importance or to make it something God never intended it to be. People run from it just as they run from God. We owe Heavenly Father everything, and we must never forget that His Will is forever and always best. 1Peter 2:9(NKJV) tells us, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” This verse is God’s declaration and commandment to us. He chose us to be His sons and daughters through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He is waiting on us, as siblings of Christ, to grow in His love and to teach our families to do the same. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Appreciating the Family Unit”, written for victoryinjesuschrist.life© 2019. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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