Daily Devotional for Friday July 11, 2003

God's plan for the family

( Genesis 1:28 )

God's plan for the family. Satan is the great perverter. Satan takes the perfection of God, and perverts it. This is how he operates. Perhaps nothing has been more destructive to our society here in the United States in recent years then how he has managed to pervert God's plan for the family. No matter what subject that I am dealing with on a particular day, I usually share that you have the freewill to make your own choices. You can either do it God's way, or you can choose to reject God's way and do whatever you want.

However, when you choose to rebel against God, there are ALWAYS consequences to deal with. Nobody forces you to stop at a red light. You stop because it is the safe thing to do, not only for yourself, but for the other motorists. However, you are free to ignore the red-light and not stop, but there will be consequences for doing that. It is impossible to go against the plan of God, and not have negative consequences to deal with.

The Book of Genesis clearly lays out God's plan for the family. One man, one woman, in marriage for one lifetime. Throughout the Bible, we get God's instruction on how a husband and wife are to live. We get instruction on how they are to raise their children. God has done a thorough job in giving us His plan for marriage and the family. That is why the first thing anyone who rebels against God MUST DO is reject the Bible, since it clearly defines their choice as a sin. God's plan for a family is NOT a man and a woman living together without being married. God's plan for a family is NOT two men living together. God's plan for a family is NOT two women living together. These are perversions of God's plan for what a family is to be!

The next generation of mom's and dad's MUST KNOW what God's plan for the family is. Young adults are being taught at school, through the media, that however they decide to live is fine. In this age of political correctness, they are taught that NOBODY is wrong. If you challenge a choice the Bible clearly says is wrong, then you are called intolerant. It is in this atmosphere that our next generation of mom's and dad's are growing up in, and why now more than ever this message MUST BE SHOUTED FROM EVERY ROOFTOP! The Bible clearly teaches us that their IS absolute right and wrong. It must become their goal and desire to follow God's way. There are NO ALTERNATIVES to God's plan for the family!!!

The reason is God's plan for the family WORKS! By far the biggest perversion of God's plan for the family is people living together. Marriage is not like buying a car where you take it out for a test drive. You date over a period of time. You build a spiritual foundation to your relationship. Eventually, God will confirm it to you both, many times, that this is part of His plan for your life. You go through a period of pre-marital counseling with your pastor. Once you BOTH know that this is what God wants for your life, you GET MARRIED.

To live together, there is no real commitment. You are living in rebellion to God's plan so you live outside of His blessings. Sex becomes part of this relationship and now you are involved in even more sin. You simply can not choose to ignore God, and expect Him to bless you for sinning! Instead of God's blessings, you live through the consequences of your rebellion to God. The spiritual and practical consequences of rebelling against God can literally destroy your life! Never forget, that is the goal of the enemy, to KILL, STEAL, and DESTROY!

I love you and care about you so much. To the young adults reading this, I pray that as you get older, these words will stay in your heart. YOU HAVE THE CHOICES THAT WILL DETERMINE YOUR LIFE AHEAD OF YOU!!! Life works when we do it God's way. Does that mean life is perfect? Of course not! There will always be problems because of the sin-filled world that we live in. But there is a peace, and a joy, and an abundance above and beyond anything that you can imagine when we are living life according to God's plan. I pray today that these words find a fertile resting place in the hearts of those who read them. God's Word for you today is to do it HIS WAY. GOD'S WAY WORKS!!!! God's plan for the family is clear. One man, one woman, in marriage for one lifetime!!!

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller