As we continue our series, 'A New Season Of Love', we have so far looked at How Loving God Can Change Your Life when we make that the most important priority, affecting every area of our lives and resulting in great change in our lives. Last week we saw How You Can Love Yourself through understanding you were made in the image of God, that you are greatly loved by Him and by receiving a new identity in Christ. This week we are learning How To Love Your Family.
In the Bible in Joshua 2:1-24 we read the story of Rahab. She was a lady who had a bad reputation, but she was a lady who did great good for her family. She really loved her family and we can see how she greatly blessed her family. God can rescue and rebuild any family, whatever situation you may be in. You may be the only Christian in your family. You may be part of a broken family. You may have experienced troubles in your family. But the good news is that GOD loves your family and He wants you to love your family and to believe for God’s kingdom to come in your family. From the example of Rahab we see that:
1. She made her choice to follow God (Joshua 2:1-11)
2. She interceded for her family (Joshua 2:12-13)
3. She believed the promises of God for her family (Joshua 2:14; Hebrews 11:31; 1 Samuel 2:35; Isaiah 54:13; Joshua 24:15)
4. She saved her family by her total obedience to God (Joshua 2:15-21)
- She gathered all her family in the house
- She made sure her home was marked by a red cord (Joshua 6:22-23 & 25)
Apply
Have you made your own personal decision to follow God? Have you put your full confidence in Him? When Joshua sent spies to see how the Israelites could conquer Jericho, Rahab took the risky decision to protect them, explaining to the spies that she knew that the Lord had given the land to the Israelites (Joshua 2:1-11). In verse 11 she declared 'for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.' She was not an Israelite. She didn’t follow the moral teachings of the Israelites. She was a prostitute. But she knew that the Lord God of the Israelites was the one true God of heaven and earth. So, she chose to be faithful to God rather than her own people and culture. This decision to fully commit to God resulted in her whole family being saved. Just one person in a family who decided to totally follow the Lord is enough to rescue your family from destruction. If you really love your family, the best thing you can do is to first fully commit your life to God. This means that you choose to put your confidence in Him, and to be committed with the family of God who will help you to grow in your faith. Like Rahab you have to choose if you are committed to the world around or to God and His kingdom.
Do you pray specifically and passionately for your family every day? Are you focussed on seeing all your family saved? Rahab knew that her family's lives were at risk when the Israelites came to Jericho. That is why she had to intercede them. Her words in verses 12 and 13 are like a prayer asking for the mercy of God for all her family and she was very specific: 'my father and mother, my brothers and sisters all who belong to them'. She was desperate for them all to be saved from the terrible destruction that she knew was coming to her city. We too need to be very focussed on seeing all our family saved. We need to pray specifically and passionately for God for every member of our families to receive the kindness and grace of God.
Have you asked God and received specific promises for your family? Do you believe the many promises of God in the Bible for your family? In verse 14 the spies made a promise to Rahab and she believed in the promises of GOD through these men of Israel. Her actions and reactions showed that she was a woman of faith (Hebrews 11:31). It’s very important to believe in the promises GOD that has given you personally through the Bible and also through the Scriptural direction through your pastors and prophets. If you really love your family, you must always stand in faith for your family and believe to see God’s promises fulfilled.
Do you believe your family can be saved and blessed even in the darkest times? Are you ready to totally obey God in all areas of your life? Rahab was not passive but took action to save her family (Joshua 2:15-21). Just as she gathered all her family in the house, you have to take the initiative to win your family and always check on where they are spiritually. You must do all you can to gather them to pray and read the Bible and encourage them to follow the Lord. And like Rahab made sure her home was marked out by a red cord and all her family were inside, and as the Israelites put red blood on the doorposts of their homes in Egypt, our lives and families can only be saved from spiritual death in this life and the next through the blood of Jesus. With all the destruction that was going on around her, God was faithful to save Rahab and every member of her family (Joshua 6:22-23, 25). We also need to believe that the love and the promises of GOD are for us and for all our entire family. Every family will face spiritual battles and experience great challenges, but your family can be saved and blessed even in the darkest times. You are the key. God chose you to bring protection for your family. Today choose to show your love for your family by choosing to fully serve the Lord and pray with passion for God to show His kindness to your family. Have faith in the promises of God for your family and fully obey the Lord and trust in the blood of Jesus. As you remain faithful God will do great things for your family.
