Core Spiritual Practices for Unity in the Home
There are great spiritual forces trying to destroy the home. Satan hates mankind and wants to demolish everything that God loves including our families. The world does not love Christians; it is envious of their peace and joy in Christ. The world’s attitude is, “If I can’t have it, neither can you.” It seeks to destroy the family and remake it into its own image. It proclaims that it can provide a family that is just as loving, peaceful, satisfying, and joy filled as God. It cannot. Moreover, family unity is threatened by carnal desires; pride, envy, anger, lust, greed, gluttony, and sloth undermine spirituality in the home. These sins get Christians to focus on the carnal and neglect the spiritual. What can the Christian family do to maintain spiritual unity?
Families must have and maintain a consistent spiritual core that constantly pushes back on both the external and internal threats. This core is the result of intentional, practiced exercises of a spiritual nature, and it is essential to spiritual unity in the family. These exercises are motivated by 1) love for God, and 2) love for the other family members. Colossians 3:14 says, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Love modeled after Jesus Christ keeps families together.
Practically, love will propel families to engage in spiritual activities such as 1) attending Bible classes, 2) actively participating in worship by singing, giving, remembering, studying, and praying (Hebrews 10:25). They will 3) involve themselves with church activities: youth events, gospel meetings, and potlucks (Hebrews 3:13). They will 4) study the Bible with others and 5) evangelize those around them who are not Christians (Luke 19:10). Motivated by love, these are core spiritual practices for families to maintain unity.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley