This coming Wednesday in Pioneer Club I get the joy of teaching a Bible lesson I’m not sure I’ve ever taught. As I’ve pondered this Bible passage, I’ve realized how important this little two-verse story is! It’s the story of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law being sick with a fever.
But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
.And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
Mark 1:30-31
So why would this be in the Scriptures? Why should we tell the children this story? Why do you and I need to read it? I believe it’s because it speaks volumes about the care we should have for our family. Just as this family looked after the needs of this mother who was sick, we need to put the same kind of efforts into our family relationships.
- They loved her.
- They wanted to do the best thing for her.
- They got the best care for her needs.
- She showed her gratitude by serving.
It’s so simple, yet so powerful a message of family life as God intended it.
Loving, caring, giving, gratitude – all attributes every Christian family should have.
But so many homes today are filled with fighting and bickering, bitterness and grudges. The thermostat in the home is set at the high temperature of STRIFE. Heated discussions., sassy children, and hot words of anger fill the rooms instead of love, forgiveness and kind deeds.
James 3:16 says,
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Confusion.
Every evil work.
Is that what we want inside our home? If we allow strife, that’s what we will get.
I have a sad memory from years ago of a grieving family who were at the casket of their mother. She was now in heaven, and the family knew there were bitter feelings they had never reconciled. This family had “solved” problems with shouting matches, that of course did no good. Now their mother was deceased, and their hearts were hurting, filled with regret, and sorry they hadn’t taken care of it before she closed her eyes in death.
Standing at the grave of a loved one is not the time to make peace. It’s today. Don’t let strife and confusion and every evil work typify your family. Instead, allow your relations to enjoy the forgiveness you received at the cross. Life is too short and family is too precious.
Let’s be like Simon Peter and lovingly go get the best help we can for our family – let’s run and find Jesus! We must bring Him in on each situation and problem. We must care for the needs of our parents, siblings, and children, forgetting our own.
Does your family have a need? It can be met in Jesus.
(Tomorrow will be continuation of this post.)
RefreshHer 