Good morning, Five Minute Families. We just wrapped up a marriage retreat at CVR and are looking forward to a family camp coming right around the corner. We love to encourage families to grow closer to Christ, encourage strong biblical marriages, and journey with those who grieve in life losses.  One thing we cannot do in ministry is sit around and do nothing.  Sounds obvious in a lot of ways but it is something we need to address on daily basis.  Way too often we can become comfortable where we are and simply not do anything.

Psalm 1 is a great place to start in looking at what we are wanting to encourage in this session.  Verse 1 reads: How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners nor sit in the seat of scoffers.  The blessing and encouragement out of the verse is the NOT… In sin, a person progresses from walking, standing, and then sitting – from movement to not only stillness but becoming comfortable in a place we shouldn’t be.

Along with movement we see another progression from wicked to sinners to scoffers.  That one is not as obvious as walking, standing, or sitting because we can relate easily with those things and know when we are doing those activities.  Walking with the wicked, standing with sinners or sitting with scoffers is not always a full jump deep into sin. Casting Crowns has a song, Slow Fade, which covers this idea perfectly.  We often don’t even realize how far off the path of righteousness we may have gotten until we are confronted with the truth and see that we are not where we should be.

Many decisions are placed before us daily.  Here in Psalm 1 is life and death, blessings and curses – the right way which leads to holiness and prosperity and the wrong way which leads to misery and ruin.  Of course, daily life often does not seem like such major decisions.  Life is simple right, when to wake up, what to eat, where to work and things like that.  But we can easily get comfortable in the mundane.  We can start walking with the world and share its views. And before we know it, we will be standing right next to sinners and even sitting with the scoffers… and who are they scoffing at? They are scoffing at those who practice righteousness.

How does this apply to family and relationships?  We see in Ephesians 5:1-2: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Let’s break that verse down into parts.

1. Be imitators of God. That sounds like a very tall order, but we should know that God as described in Philippians 1:6 began the good work and will also complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It means we seek Him and His truth, preparing our hearts for transformation into His likeness.  Be imitators of God to your family. Show grace, give mercy, seek and grant forgiveness.
2. Recognize our position as Children of God. We are not simply trying to appease some unknown, unloving, uncaring God but are coming to God as His child.  We know that He gives good things to those who know Him.  Not money or cars or houses, but blessings that encourage us to resist temptations that take us off the path. Speak this truth into your family. Help them see that in Christ we have been adopted into His family as beloved children.
3. Walk in love the same as Christ. Here we see a return to walking but this time in the positive. This is intentional walking.  Not just going out for a scenic hike or walk around the block for exercise, but one that stays on the path of righteousness and seeks the face of God.
4. Prepare for a sacrifice of -what we call- our flesh. Christ gave himself up for us and we can reflect Him by giving up our selfish desires for others.  Jesus taught that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Galatians 5 shows us that through our love for others we gain freedom. We are no longer captive to our desires but are free to love like Christ.
5. Bring God glory as Christ was a fragrant offering. In the Old Testament those acts of sacrifice and offering brought forth a pleasing aroma to the nostrils of God. He planned from the beginning that such an act pointed to the same sacrifice that Christ did for us. His selflessness brought our salvation. We can build up our families through our giving of ourselves for others.

Our prayer is that as you seek to love your family, you will walk in the truth and admonition of the Lord.  We know that this is often not an easy task, and there is a process of growth that needs to take place. Clear View Retreat can be a partner in that journey as we walk with you and your family.  Be blessed.