“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV
Welcome to the 6th devotional recap of the year. This week, we explored how God’s divine design for relationships reflects His heavenly order. From the roles of husbands and wives to the power of a praying family and the necessity of managing conflicts with grace, we learned that the family is a unit of God’s spiritual agenda on earth.
On Sunday, we began by recognizing that family is not just a social construct but God’s divine design (Genesis 1:27). God established the family to reflect His heavenly order: husbands are called to lead with sacrificial love like Christ, wives to support and respect as a “help meet,” and parents to raise children in the way of the Lord (Ephesians 5:23-25). Every role, from parent to child, is an assignment to be carried out “as unto the Lord.”
We continued on Monday with a lesson on the family prayer altar. The biological family is the smallest unit of the local church, and its strength is built through intentional prayer together. Praying as a family leaves no room for strife and unites hearts in a way that nothing else can. We learned that when a family agrees in prayer, they stir the power of God to work miracles and meet needs (Matthew 18:19-20). This culture of prayer is a legacy that must be passed down from generation to generation.
From Tuesday’s article, we saw that Scripture gives a clear instruction to honour our parents, a commandment that comes with a promise of long life and prosperity (Ephesians 6:2-3). Honouring parents, even imperfect ones, means choosing to shield their flaws (as Shem and Japheth did for Noah) and forgiving their shortcomings. Parenting is God’s design to nurture us; by honouring them, we acknowledge and thank God for that design.
Wednesday’s devotional showed us that God defines love, and this love must extend to our biological and spiritual siblings. While sibling rivalry is seen in Scripture (Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers), God’s will is that we love one another fervently (1 Peter 4:8). We must deal with any root of bitterness or jealousy, choosing to forgive and walk in love rather than allowing competition or resentment to flourish (1 John 4:20).
As we learnt on Thursday, conflict is an inevitable part of human relationships, but it can be handled well through the Spirit. We are cautioned not to let the sun go down on our wrath (Ephesians 4:26) and to be slow to speak but apt to listen. The goal of any conflict resolution is reconciliation, not proving a point. By addressing issues directly and peaceably, we prevent strife from stifling our bonds and ensure our homes remain a light.
We concluded the week with a lesson on loving yourself. True self-worth is found in “God-esteem,“ not the world’s definition of self-love. Many people act out of hurt, but we must believe that we are worthy of God’s love (Zephaniah 3:17). The reality of who you are in Christ outweighs any past trauma or pain. When we see ourselves through the lens of God’s lavish love, we are empowered to treat others with that same dignity and affection.
Dear believer, your family is a strategic platform for God’s glory. Choose today to pray together, honour one another, and walk in the selfless love of Christ.
Bible Reading Plan: Leviticus 1-3, Matthew 26:14-35