"A Better Home Life"

  There is a clear indication in our present day that people are looking for a better home life. The lectureships and marriage enrichment series that are promoted seem to be in record number. Videos are available  and books written on the home are just too many to count. The other day while walking down the religious section of a bookstore, I counted at least 36 different books that dealt with something about home life. Let me say that I am not against anyone wanting to improve their home and marriage relationships. What concerns me is all the so called "expert" advice given, sprinkled with a little bit of God's word and the suffering and decline of the home still prevails. What is being missed?

  Everything God has granted to those in Christ Jesus is "everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." (II Pet. 1:3) We have given to us from God EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS. God's ways improve our lives and will lead us into His holy conduct. That's the true knowledge of God! People are missing the key ingredient. Submission to the Lord and listening to His voice! Many are trying to improve their marriages without submitting to the Lord. Many are attempting to train their children without submitting to the Lord and their children learn nothing of submission. Listen to two ideas spoken by the Holy Spirit and written by the apostle Paul: "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord." (Eph. 5:22) Why is that so difficult? Why do we not accept, "as to the Lord."? "Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her." (Eph. 5:25) Why is this so difficult? Why do we not accept, "just as Christ loved"? Too many focus on the externals rather than a heart to hear and submit. A love for the Lord with all our hearts is what the Lord calls us to. A submissive spirit and a humble heart toward the Lord is what determines things. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right." (Eph. 6:1) Why is this so difficult? Why do we not accept, "in the Lord"? "And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Eph. 6:4) Why is this so difficult? Why do we not accept, "the discipline and instruction of the Lord"? All answers to marriage and the home are found in one's submission to the Lord. When one departs from a heart that desires the Lord and His ways, you will be reduced to man's "expert" advice because we are getting nothing from the Lord. For many, they move from one idea to another while remaining unhappy and frustrated in their homes. If a wife, husband or child would work on their submission to God from their heart, loving Him, where do you think God would take them? What kind of marriage would you have?

  Sometimes we read the above verses so many times and heard lessons on them that we have become dull in our spiritual senses and that's a tragic mistake. God speaks and says here is the way to a happy, fulfilling marriage and home: to the Lord! But when the word submission is mentioned, to love like Christ is mentioned, in the Lord is mentioned ears suddenly block anything else and the heart grows cold. In all this, it is the Lord's way. Have you ever wondered why there is little written on the home other than like the verses above? The Lord is speaking to us and yet many would rather have man's advice other God's. And look at the homes in failure, especially in the body of Christ!!