Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wife and never treat her harshly. Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will be discouraged. Colossians 3:18-21 (LASB)
The family is the foundational institution created by God and by extension a fundamental institution of human society (Gen. 2:20-25, 4:1).
This foundational family is constituted by marriage that is ordained by God and is between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:1-12).
Marriage is characterised by the leaving the authorised structure of one’s parents and joining together to form a new authorised structure. In summary, marriage depicts a picture of the relationship of Christ to the Church (Eph. 5:22-33). It is a covenant before God, between a man and a woman, that must be honoured just as we honour Christ.
Today, let’s value and guard the oldest institution!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we approach Your throne of grace in the name of Your son Jesus Christ to ask for Your divine intervention. The family structure that You have designed is under attack by satanic forces. Your Word declares that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God in the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). So according to Your Word, Lord, we pull down every stronghold of the enemy that seeks to destroy the family in our nation. We pray that nations and governments would understand that marriage has been the foundation of families and strong societies throughout the ages and would value this institution, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: Matthew 19:1-12; Ephesians 5:22-33
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 31:1-8; Mark 13:32-37; Mark 14:1-16; Leviticus 15; Leviticus 16
