Post by Cindy on Aug 31, 2015 7:13:52 GMT -5
FAMILY ORDER. We sometimes speak about difficult circumstances into which people are born as “an accident of birth.” Viewed from a divine perspective, however, our placement in a human family is no accident at all: it is a divine appointment. “God sets the solitary in families.” Indeed, the protection and care that one receives in a family is so essential to human life that God says He will personally intervene on behalf of widows and orphans who lose the normal protection of a husband and father. When we are tempted to complain about our family, or suppose that our birth-circumstance would be better somewhere else, we need to regain this divine perspective. This is not to become passive or fatalistic about one’s situation, nor is it to say this will cause an escape from sorrow or suffering. Nevertheless, we are reminded that the ultimate well-being of our human families rests upon the promise and care of our Father in heaven and that His sovereign and loving purpose will intervene for our benefit.
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” (Psalm 68:5–6)
Spirit filled life study Bible.
Amen! God did not just make up a whole bunch of babies and then randomly put them in the wombs of different mothers. He personally chose who would be our biological parents, and who would raise us. That doesn't mean that every family is perfect either. It means that God is merciful, always giving us a chance to do the right thing. Obviously many times the parent or parents don't do the right things and their homes become dysfunctional, often because they don't know Him. When that happens, it's not because God made a mistake though. He places us exactly where we need to be in order to ultimately become the person He created us to be. That requires work on our part too of course.
When I first got saved, I got angry at my mother who was dead, because she was an atheist and didn't raise me to know the Lord. I kept thinking how different my life would have been if only I"d been raised in a good Christian home. I felt that so much of my life was wasted because I wasn't raised that way. Then the Lord gently pointed this out to me and showed me that what I was really saying was that He had made a mistake, which of course we know is impossible, for God is perfect. We're the ones who aren't perfect! Further, He showed me that it wasn't really my mother I was angry at, it was Him. Of course I repented and asked Him to show me His truth, and this is what He explained to me through His Word. Then as He so often does, He simply brought a number of questions gently to my mind. Questions such as, "So because your parents were atheists, you didn't know me at all as a child?" I had to answer honestly, especially since I knew He already knew the answers, so I had to answer that yes, I had learned about Him, from various people. "Then you just weren't able to go to church?" Yes, a neighbor took me to church with them every Sunday. "Maybe you just didn't have a bible, or didn't read it?" Yes, my mother got me one when I was 12 and I read it constantly. He asked other similar questions, all showing that although my parents didn't believe in Him, I had been raised to know and love Him from the time I was a toddler. Then my complaint came out. "But Lord, if they'd been Christians, they wouldn't have tempted me with the occult, and would have instead done what they could to keep me on Your narrow path of life." Instead of being angry at me, the Lord placed a scripture in my mind: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) At that point, I knew the Lord was right, and that it had been my own sin nature that had deceived me and was still trying to deceive me by causing me to blame my parents. Just like Adam blamed Eve and God. I also had to admit that my parents loved me more then anything in their life and that I loved them too. I knew my mother would have never done anything to purposely hurt me. But, because she was held captive by Satan and didn't know the Lord, she made mistakes; she sinned and got me involved in it too, even though I knew better. No, God didn't make any mistakes. In fact, it's quite possible that I was given to my parents in the hopes that they might come to know Him through me. I'm sure there were other reasons as well, but I think that might be one of them. Regardless though, they gave me the love and support any child could ever want or need.
So please know no matter who your parents are, or who raised you, God placed you with them for very good reasons. If they hurt you in any way, it was because they sinned, not because God wanted them to hurt you. So if you're wondering why the Lord placed you in your family, ask Him. Tell Him how you feel and ask Him to show your the Truth. Then open His Word (if it's not already open) and see what He has to say to you about it. Keep in mind that whenever God speaks to us, however He speaks to us, He will NEVER contradict or go against His Written Word. That's one way we can always be sure if it's the Lord or not. If it doesn't agree with His Word, it's not Him.
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” (Psalm 68:5–6)
Spirit filled life study Bible.
Amen! God did not just make up a whole bunch of babies and then randomly put them in the wombs of different mothers. He personally chose who would be our biological parents, and who would raise us. That doesn't mean that every family is perfect either. It means that God is merciful, always giving us a chance to do the right thing. Obviously many times the parent or parents don't do the right things and their homes become dysfunctional, often because they don't know Him. When that happens, it's not because God made a mistake though. He places us exactly where we need to be in order to ultimately become the person He created us to be. That requires work on our part too of course.
When I first got saved, I got angry at my mother who was dead, because she was an atheist and didn't raise me to know the Lord. I kept thinking how different my life would have been if only I"d been raised in a good Christian home. I felt that so much of my life was wasted because I wasn't raised that way. Then the Lord gently pointed this out to me and showed me that what I was really saying was that He had made a mistake, which of course we know is impossible, for God is perfect. We're the ones who aren't perfect! Further, He showed me that it wasn't really my mother I was angry at, it was Him. Of course I repented and asked Him to show me His truth, and this is what He explained to me through His Word. Then as He so often does, He simply brought a number of questions gently to my mind. Questions such as, "So because your parents were atheists, you didn't know me at all as a child?" I had to answer honestly, especially since I knew He already knew the answers, so I had to answer that yes, I had learned about Him, from various people. "Then you just weren't able to go to church?" Yes, a neighbor took me to church with them every Sunday. "Maybe you just didn't have a bible, or didn't read it?" Yes, my mother got me one when I was 12 and I read it constantly. He asked other similar questions, all showing that although my parents didn't believe in Him, I had been raised to know and love Him from the time I was a toddler. Then my complaint came out. "But Lord, if they'd been Christians, they wouldn't have tempted me with the occult, and would have instead done what they could to keep me on Your narrow path of life." Instead of being angry at me, the Lord placed a scripture in my mind: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) At that point, I knew the Lord was right, and that it had been my own sin nature that had deceived me and was still trying to deceive me by causing me to blame my parents. Just like Adam blamed Eve and God. I also had to admit that my parents loved me more then anything in their life and that I loved them too. I knew my mother would have never done anything to purposely hurt me. But, because she was held captive by Satan and didn't know the Lord, she made mistakes; she sinned and got me involved in it too, even though I knew better. No, God didn't make any mistakes. In fact, it's quite possible that I was given to my parents in the hopes that they might come to know Him through me. I'm sure there were other reasons as well, but I think that might be one of them. Regardless though, they gave me the love and support any child could ever want or need.
So please know no matter who your parents are, or who raised you, God placed you with them for very good reasons. If they hurt you in any way, it was because they sinned, not because God wanted them to hurt you. So if you're wondering why the Lord placed you in your family, ask Him. Tell Him how you feel and ask Him to show your the Truth. Then open His Word (if it's not already open) and see what He has to say to you about it. Keep in mind that whenever God speaks to us, however He speaks to us, He will NEVER contradict or go against His Written Word. That's one way we can always be sure if it's the Lord or not. If it doesn't agree with His Word, it's not Him.
!!
