Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 29

Spiritual Leadership At Home

–  Abraham’s Example

 Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

God’s approval was given to Abraham for his spiritual leadership in guiding his family to keep and walk in the way of the LORD.

(1) God knows who we really are

– For I know him…

God’s favour was on Abraham because of his consistency in leading his family. Can God in His omniscience endorse your testimony at home? Abraham was such a one. Will God be pleased with your spiritual leadership at home? It is a good time to ponder upon this. Now is the accepted time to work while the Lord tarries.

There were two milestones in Abraham’s life which he did right that gave him God’s approval. Firstly, he obeyed God’s call to lead his family to come out from the idolatry in the Ur of the Chaldees. Abraham was called into fellowship with God and he hearkened. What kind of environment was Abraham living in? He was living a separated life from the moral filth of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Today, we hear of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-gender) movement that is pushing its way into the Singapore society. The message seems to be inclusiveness, to accept their alternate lifestyles. God forbid! Christians need the moral courage to stand against such a tide because this is against the word of God.

1 John 1:5-6 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

The second milestone was that Abraham stayed in the plains instead of the cities. He did not pitch his tent toward Sodom, nor dwell in Sodom, and therefore he was not vexed with the filthy conversation of the Sodomites (2 Peter 2:7). It is the perfect will of God for the saints to live a holy life.

1 Peter 1:16-19 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

(2) Raising a Family Altar

…that he will command his children and his household after him…

Abraham took the lead to guide his family. He faithfully instructed his family. He led his family to worship the one living and true God. He led his wife and children with a firm and yet gentle hand. This was Abraham’s testimony when he came to Canaan following God’s leading and instruction.

 Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

 Genesis 13:4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Abraham lived in close communion with God and he led his family to have a close communion with God. He worshipped God in his home with the members of his household.

Do you command your children to worship God or are they allowed to do what is right in their own eyes?

 

(3) Walking in Righteousness

…and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment…

Abraham did not fail to instruct and train his family the ways of God. He instilled the fear of God in the hearts of his children and household. They did not go after the lifestyle of Sodom and Gomorrah. They separated themselves. Remember Abraham’s nephew Lot also prospered under his shepherding. However, there came a strife between Abraham’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen (Genesis 13:7-13).

Lot failed to keep the ways of the LORD when he left Uncle Abraham. The years of teaching were effectual in that Lot remained a child of God but a terribly backslidden one! He succumbed to temptation. He could not resist the lure of city life and its comforts. He finally lost his family. His wife turned to a pillar of salt when God rained fire and brimstone to judge the cities.

Are you building up your family so that the fear of God rule their hearts? Have they understood that which is right in God’s sight and have the moral courage to do justly?

It takes time to teach. Raising children takes time. Parents who are away from home all day cannot spend much time teaching their children. Reading to a child takes time. The child who is regularly cuddled in a parent’s arms and read to – even before the child could read – comes to associate books with pleasure and being loved. [Stormer, Growing Up God’s Way].

Electronic devices are no substitutes, maids and even grandparents are no substitutes for parents to lead their children in the ways of God. It takes time to teach – conscientious, hard work, looking into details. It takes time to train and true love demands discipline. God sets the pattern in His own dealing with us (Hebrews 12:6-8).

(4) Receiving God’s Blessings

… that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

When Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Abraham and his family were in safety. In fact, God told them of His impending judgment. We are living in the days of Sodom. God’s judgment is nigh. Will you take up the challenge to lead your family in the ways of God as Abraham did? May the Lord help us! Amen.

 

 Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee