Daily Devotional
The Most Valuable Family Foundation
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
February 6, 2023
Ponder This
The marriage relationship is meant to be the most intimate of all human relationships. The word intimate comes from the Latin word intimus which means “inmost.” Marriage is where we share the inmost part of our natures with another person. When we don’t build our homes on God’s definition of intimacy, we see that homes unravel and fall apart.
Somewhere years ago, I read about a city that had a landfill. After it was filled, an enterprising entrepreneur bought it from the city authorities. He went out there and began to haul dirt on top of the garbage. After he had covered it with dirt, he laid it out into a subdivision, and it became a beautiful site for homes. Young couples moved in and bought those homes and it was a wonderful community. Little children were riding around on their tricycles. Everything was fine for a number of years until the walls in those houses began to sag and roofs began to crack, and the subsoil gave way. After a while families moved out, and it was deserted. The community was built on garbage, and it could be hidden for a little while, but the truth became evident.
This is what happens to us often—we try to build our homes on garbage. We don’t understand the truth of God’s Word. One wise man said, “When the bottom falls out, maybe you ought to examine the foundation.” This is a question that matters: What did God intend for the family?
- What are some things that influenced your family?
- What would it look like to have a family built on Christ’s foundation?
Practice This
Pray for five families you know and ask God to build their families on His foundation.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
