A Family Transformed

Number 46 in the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” The miracles and promises of Jesus that show us the awesome blessings we can experience each day. I hope it encourages you!

When I pastored I saw firsthand the devastation of dysfunctional families.

Instead of love and support too often I saw anger and attack. Instead of being a refuge from the world’s pressures it became a war zone to escape.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t always the neighbors who didn’t go to church though. Sometimes it was some of those who were the most involved. Going to church wasn’t an inoculation against the disease.

And the destruction it left was devastating. Children abused or rejected. Marriages destroyed. Families torn apart.

Lives devastated sometimes in ways that couldn’t be seen yet manifested themselves later.

After many years of marriage I can say honestly Jennifer and I have gone through our times of struggle too. I mean, realistically who hasn’t?

Marriage is tricky. There have been times when it would be easier to quit.

But I can also say the love and peace always returns because we simply have stayed committed to God first and to each other second. So when those times come that we would rather walk away our commitment to God keeps us together.

There’s an interesting sidelight to the story of Jesus sending out his disciples into ministry. He told them as they traveled to find someone in town who will welcome them into their home. Then to offer them this blessing.

“When you enter that home, say, ‘Peace be with you.’ If the people there welcome you, let your peace stay there. But if they don’t welcome you, take back the peace you wished for them.” (Matthew 10: 12-13 NCV)

Literally all the person had to do was welcome the disciple and God whom he represented. That’s it.

Then the blessing of peace or shalom was pronounced on that home.

But what is that blessing?

I picture the image of peace settling on that home like a cloud bringing gentle life giving spring rain. Who of us don’t need at times that gentle peace in our lives and our families?

Yet this word for peace, shalom, means so much more. It means wholeness and completeness. It’s the picture a broken bone being healed and returned to full strength.

It’s also the picture of receiving abundance from a harvest so you have more than enough.

What a picture of our families that would be. And it can be.

We can live in a marriage and family transformed by power.

How have you seen this?

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