(Deuteronomy 6:7, John 9:5, 1 Peter 2:9-17, Mark 10:23-16, Psalm 127, Psalm 128)
Put this light on the lampstand of your home, so that it will be a light (illumination) to all-father, mother, children and even visitors.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)
As long as Jesus is in our homes and families, He is our Light. However, our Lord Jesus as the Light is the Sun of righteousness and we as the moons (please, pardon this illustration). The sun is self-illuminated while the moon is dependent on the sun for illumination. The amount of illumination the moon can receive from the sun determines the amount of illumination it will be able to radiate out; so are we. We cannot radiate more than the “amount” of Jesus we receive. The more of Jesus we receive, the more of Him we can radiate. Hence, the need to put this Light on a lampstand to lighten all in the family. His power and greatness to us are that limited! The lampstands can be the meditation in His Word, prayers and worthy manner of living that justifies what we profess.
In view of this, let His word be “seen” in your home. Let those who visit your home be able to take home Jesus Christ each time they visit you. We might be thinking about how possible this can be. However, there are abundant grace to tap into and it will become achievable. All of these mentioned above is a delightful result of when the home has a true and practical relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a “visible” result that grows from the “visible” relationship with Jesus. It is a pleasant result from when the family lives in Jesus and Jesus lives in them. This can be better pictured as them living with Jesus and Jesus living with them. Meaning that, they consciously and always know Jesus as one of their family. In whatever they do anywhere about their home and family they are conscious that Jesus is also a participant. Whenever people remember your family and home, then their thought will be reflected straight to Jesus Christ. Whenever they think of peace and joy in the family, they think of the atmosphere of your home (What better result can characterize a home and family where the Prince of peace lives-a house of joy, peace and blessings). This is good for the husband and wife but greatly wonderful for the children. Plants are groomed in the agricultural nursery but children are primarily groomed in the home. Their first experience is the home.
Now, how do we raise this Light to a place where He will lighten every member of the family? And also for the visitors to see and be illuminated?
Please, let us also consider the following ways as we teach our home about the will of God.
How do we teach our home about the Lord?
Teach the children the fear of the Lord. When teaching them about His FEAR , ensure not to portray Him as a wicked or selfish one but teach them about His REVERENCE as Holy, righteous, pure and just God. Emphasize on the reverence, not just fear! Again, teach them not only the fear of the Lord, teach them also the sweet love of the Lord. Teach them wonderful works of God from the scriptures and your experience as you walk with Jesus.
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:9)
Give them reasons to believe God as the Creator of all – of everything and everyone.
Where do we source our teaching from?
Ultimately the Bible, Godly sources and experiences (all sources must be biblically sound)? The Bible must be the Supreme authority. Let us tell them that the ultimate authority in the home and family is the will and word of God. Let them know that the authority you have over them is God’s authority, passed down to you, for which you give account as a faithful custodian of such heavenly authority before God.
(The fathers and mothers must serve as the priests of God to the family. Our heavenly Father has committed this responsibility to them and there is a need to be faithful to it.)
Is teaching enough as all that should be known? No.
Practice and live each virtue as it is being taught.
To make Jesus the Light of our home, we must do what we teach from the word of God.
We might not really comprehend this without relating it to those contemporary issues we are familiar with. Jesus wants to be recognized in our families and homes just as we recognize political and entertainment icons, even better. He wants His Word cherished just as all our ultimate needs are being cherished, even more because the needs satisfied by His Word cannot be appropriately satisfied by anything else. The way we express and share our views about societal issues, He wants us to do so with scriptural issues.
Please parents, Jesus is counting on you!
Let the children also be aware that Jesus cherished them greatly.
13 Some people were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 When Jesus saw this, he became furious and told them, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these.
15 I tell all of you with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
16 Then after he had hugged the children, he tenderly blessed them as he laid his hands on them…(Mark 10:13-16 ISV)
Let the children know who they are to Christ and who they are in Christ. Tell them they are God’s heritage which were wonderfully made (Psalms 127:3, Psalms 139:14). Let them know that for God to have carefully and wonderfully made them, it is purposefully for a unique mission and mandate. Hence created for a genuine and significant purpose and will of God. Please, let them know that to fulfil this, one must remain faithful before God.
Are teaching and practical (living) enough to actualize this hope? Not really.
We would always need to find wonderful ways of rewarding this manner of living in every possible ways. Also cherish one another’s scriptural knowledge. Share testimonies about God awesomeness.
Lastly, we must push for individual longing and seeking for Jesus Christ. We must emphasize this so as to be able to see Jesus as a PERSONAL Lord, Saviour and Friend. More importantly, please let us always remember that one unique way to grow deeper roots in Jesus is a personal and private relationship with Him. Remember Jesus said… If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).
Put this LIGHT on the lampstand of your home.
Prayer Points
1) Thank You Lord Jesus for bringing my family close to You.
2) Lord Jesus, forgive us for not exalting You enough in our home and family issues.
3) Lord Jesus, we all come to You at Calvary take away our “old selves” and transform us into Your new creations. (Matthew 9:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
4) Lord Jesus, fill our home with Your joy, peace, blessings and love.
5) Lord Jesus, give us the grace and Holy Spirit that will proclaim You to others.
