Luminary

Genesis 13:8,9 Abraham and Lot

We know that this was so difficult for Abraham. He was family oriented. He honored his father Tara and wanted a son. He took in his nephew Lot. But because they could not stop arguing Abraham suggested they part ways.

Paul & Barnabas Acts 15:39 Even ministry relationships, coworkers if you will sometimes have to separate. Paul and Barnabas could not come to an agreement, so they chose to go separate ways

Joseph and his brothers Gen 45 This story shows us all kinds of family dysfunction. We know that reconciliation happened at the end of the story. But, so much trouble, pain, confusion took place in the middle!

Matt. 10:34 -37 The sword will separate. This isn’t often preached from the pulpit. It’s not a podcast or even a devotional message. However, it is truth! Jesus came with a sword and sometimes it divides relationships. Even parents and children.

Romans 16:17 – “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”

It’s hard to think that families can be separated. Relationships can be severed because of beliefs. We are not taught on this. We are often misled to believe that if we do everything right, we will have close, happy families. We are misled to believe that we can live in peace, if we do what we can to keep things peaceful. But there are times when what we believe about the Lord, his word and even His calling for our lives may cause division. This is a painful truth. How do we come to the place of accepting this, and being able to hold hope for those who have separated themselves from us? Especially if we are talking about estrangement of adult children.

Are your beliefs strong enough to withstand this level of pain? Do you trust that God is good and that he’s big enough to hold us when we feel our world is shattering?

Is Jesus enough? Pause with me for a moment. Reflect on that question in it’s reality. Is Jesus enough? If our spouse walks away? If our parents walk away? If we lose siblings? Friends? IS JESUS ENOUGH?

He must be enough. More than that He must be above all. It sounds harsh. It sounds like we can’t accept any other way. It sounds like we are not inclusive of other religions. It sounds like…pride.  It’s anything but! It’s humility in it’s greatest form. NO ONE else has EVER given up their life for our eternal well-being. No ONE has ever fulfilled the promise of never leaving us. No one else can give us the comforter, Holy Spirit. Not our parents or spouse or children.

We can lose our true calling and identity when we allow ourselves to be absorbed in anything but Jesus. As we are raising our kids, it seems as if this is the end all of our existence. As if our mothering is all there is. Yes, this is a very important season in our lives. Yes we are called to parent them well. We are not however called to make them our soul purpose for breathing. This sets them up to be idols in our lives.

Let’s look at how something can become an idol

1 Anything good that feels essential to our identity

2 Focus shifts. Decisions are made depending on how it affects that or them more so than how it aligns with Gods word.

3 Trust is misplaced when only they can give you what God promises

A few verses that reveal where our hearts may be allowing motherhood to become an idol

Ezekiel 14:3  They have set up idols in their hearts

Idolatry begins internally not just statues

Exodus20:3 Have no other Gods before me

It’s about priority

I wish someone had mentored me in this while I was raising my daughters. I see now where I , at times, made them of more importance than the Word or even of what God called me to. It caused broken relationships when they became adults and we’ve had to work out several issues. It may even be a factor in why my adult daughter has gone No Contact.

We must regularly examine our hearts

Ask yourself

What do I feel I can’t live without?

Remember God is our true source

Intentionally give them to God

Stay in the scriptures to allow truth to realign our hearts desires.

We remain holding to hope. We pick up the torch and become luminaries, lighting the darkness.

Hope anchors our soul and we refuse to give in to the attitude of “it is what it is”. Because it’s not. We speak things that aren’t as though they were. Romans 4:17

 We hold to the promise that our prayers are heard Psalm 6:9

God is not done with your family story!

As we take these thoughts into our day, or maybe for you it’s evening, lets pause to let the truth create space in our hearts, minds and imaginations.

Let’s lift our prayers together.

Heavenly Father,

We come before You humbly, acknowledging Your sovereignty and power in our lives. We declare that Jesus is the only God of our hearts, the One who reigns supreme and guides us with His love and grace.

Lord Jesus, we surrender our hearts to You completely. May Your presence fill every corner of our being, leading us to walk in Your ways and follow Your teachings. Help us to love You above all else, to worship You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Guard our hearts from distractions and temptations that seek to draw us away from You. Help us to stay focused on You, trusting in Your promises and relying on Your strength to lead us through every trial and challenge.

May our love for You shine brightly in all that we do, reflecting Your light to those around us. Create for us Luminary moments. Let Your love overflow from our hearts, touching the lives of others and drawing them closer to You.

Jesus, be the center of our lives, the foundation of our faith, and the source of our hope. We dedicate ourselves to You, our only God, now and forever. Amen.