The Journey 21: Transformation In My Family Life

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Read: Luke 10:38-42

Key Verse: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessing and prosperity will be yours”. Psalms 128:1-2

                I believe every family has a time of family prayer sometimes both in the morning and evening. Though in the morning all the members cannot make it for a time of family prayer, at least in the evening many of the families before retiring for the night consciously spend time together as a family to sing a song, read a portion of Psalms and then pray. This is rich heritage of faith that has been passed on through generations. But in the midst of this also are, families who never come together for fellowship or prayer. What is it that brings about a transformation in our family. In our mad rush in life to accomplish things and also to prepare ourselves for the task that lies ahead next day in the  morning, we forget the fact that, we also need to strengthen our family ties which God has given to each one of us.
                  On Saturday’s we meditate on how we can bring transformation in our family. This month we meditate from the gospel of Luke 10:28-42, where you find a family of single individuals strengthening their life through their relationship with the Lord. A home where Jesus was “ totally at home” basically because of the intimacy that both Jesus and the members of the Lazarus family shared with them. This intimacy is on the model of what Jesus said in John 15: 6 “ I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing”. But what type of intimacy is one that strengthens our family? Here we see in the family of Lazarus a conscious decision of Mary to spend time with Jesus Christ. This brings a round of protest from Martha who complains to the Lord that her sister is not concerned about the pain that she is going through in preparing for the Lord. Instead of reprimanding Mary, Jesus Christ admonishes Martha and tells her “not to be worried about many things…….and that Mary has chosen the better”. Both Martha and Mary were close to the Lord but here in this particular incident he is teaching both the sisters a wonderful lesson. Intimacy and relationship with the Lord is developed only when an individual sets apart time to be with him, a tiem that is qualitatively good and enriching. Trying to have a family prayer when most of the members have gone to bed and then forcing them to get out of  bed or from their study routine and then being forced to spend the minimal time for family prayer is what happens in most of our families. It is here that we need to take a decision that if we need to see transformation in our family life, every member of the family will come together during a time that is qualitatively good so that the our intimacy with the Lord is developed.
Give the best time to the Lord and not your rest time……..
 
For Further Study:  Psalms 127,  1 Samuel 1
 
Let us Pray: Lord you want us to be intimate with you. Often we spend try to spend time with you more as a routine and not as a time of renewal and transformation. Help our family to spend quality time with you and find strength through that. Amen

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