Family
“All the
ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all
the families of the nations will worship before You." Psalm
22:27, NAS
Sitting
on the back porch of my brother Tom Martin’s house in Cedar Falls, Iowa, as the
sun rises in the east, brings back memories of our days growing up in Cedar
Falls, Iowa, just north up the road on Hwy. 218 an hour or so.
Tom
and I, along with our little brother Rob, had five sisters between us. Sue,
Mary, Colleen, Janet, and Lynn completed the sibling count of eight. Dad and
Mom raised a good Catholic family during the 1950s and 1960s.
Family
and the memories they bring can be a solid foundation for each of us. Though
some are happy to get on with life, leaving their childhood years behind with
all the trauma and conflict that went with it, the Lord desires His children to
be raised in a good family, with a loving Dad and Mom in the home, and children
that honor, respect, and cherish their parents, brothers and sisters.
"Children,
do what your parents tell you. This is only right.
Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has
a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.”
Ephesians 6:2-3, The Message
I
could speak on the problems destroying family life today, as there are many,
but I choose to consider the blessings that do come when men and women have
families, seeking to follow the Lord and His ways.
There
are good families in our society these days. There are those who have committed
themselves to know the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) and walk in His ways, as He
intended.
The
man and woman who come together, in godly marriage as set by the Creator, will
in turn give themselves, in sacrifice, to have children, with the full intent
of raising them to know and fear the Lord.
They
will seek to forgo worldly pleasures, to lay down their needs and wants for the
sake of the ones the Lord has given into their care.
These
men and women believe that children are a blessing from God. They “go without”,
as my parents did, to give more to the boys and girls they have in their care,
so they too learn the purpose of family and the love it expresses from the
Father’s heart.
A
society with strong families has the strength to resist ungodly principles,
withstand attacks from unruly individuals, and the fortitude to stand firm when
forces rise against them from all sides.
I am
always encouraged when I see young Israeli families walking the streets of
Jerusalem, carriages being pushed by fathers, mothers walking alongside in
their place of dignity, honor, and love for all.
This
is the intent of our heavenly Father, who looks down with pleasure and
enjoyment Himself on those who choose to walk in His plans and purposes.
For
those of us in our later years, we can encourage the younger generations to
give themselves to having families, as the Lord purposed. To live for others
whom He would place in their care. To reveal His heart to the nations, through
the prime example of godly families.
I also
want to thank you, who are now grandparents, for the tremendous sacrifices you
made years ago, giving of yourselves for your children, and who now enjoy the
fruit of your labor as your grandchildren rise up among you.
“Well
done, good and faithful servants!”
Ahava
and Shalom,
Steve
Martin
P.S.
Laurie and I are volunteering in Jerusalem, Israel, with Christian Friends of
Israel for three months, Oct. 15, 2025 – Jan. 12, 2026. Read all about it! Steve & Laurie - Time Coming for Jerusalem Volunteers.
We
welcome your prayers and support as we together bless Israel and His people in
their Land.
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Message
#9 in my new series (2025): "Family" July 27, 2025
#Family #SteveMartin #LoveForHisPeople #Jesus #God #love #parents #grandparents #father #mother #servants
