Welcome to the blog of Pastor Alton Stone, from Simpsonville, SC. Pastor Stone is a retired Ordained Bishop of The Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee with over 45 years of pastoral ministry.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

A Godly Household (Part 2)

“Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock…” Matthew 7:24

One of the things that we have learned in experience, studies, and practice is that whether or not a structure like a house will stand is determined largely by the foundation on which it is built. If the foundation or the ground upon which that foundation is laid is weak then, no matter how beautiful or fortified the building may look, it is only a matter of time before the forces of time and nature will cause that building to collapse. 

 So it is with our families. If you want your family to survive the tests of time, the fiery attacks of Satan and the storms of life, you need to make sure your family (house) is built upon a sure foundation-A foundation that you can depend on. Is your family structure built upon the rock of God’s word?

Every June, the National Weather Service begins to encourage the residents of Florida and other states to begin making preparations for hurricane season. They do this to alert us so that we can be ready if a storm should make landfall. Their belief is that the more aware and prepared we are, the better the chances are that we will be able to survive the storm and no lives will be lost. However, before there was a National Weather Service, Jesus Christ gave a warning and an encouragement to his followers about what we need to do to make sure our houses are ready and able to endure the storms of life. 
The key to a sure foundation, Jesus says, is to listen to His words (teachings of Christ/God) and apply them.

Is the presence and power of God’s word visible in your family?  Do you and the members of your household actively engage and interact with the Bible outside of Sunday worship and Bible classes?
Parents, do your children see you studying, meditating and applying God’s word in your life daily? 
Do they hear you talking about the Bible (in a positive way)? Children, do your parents and siblings see that the word of God is an essential part of your life? I
f we are going to strengthen our marriages, families/households and our own spiritual lives, we’ve got  make sure we are listening to Christ daily and doing what he instructs us to do.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9  “And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead, and you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”.

 I challenge you to read Deuteronomy 6:6-9 over and over, and follow God’s instructions for making God’s word the foundation of your house. Incorporate time in God’s word into the daily or weekly routine and fabric of your family. Study God’s word together and talk about it with your spouse, children, and other family members. Discuss the sermons and Bible class lessons within your household and how they can be applied in your daily lives. When the knowledge and application of the word of God becomes the foundation upon which your family/house is built, although the storms of life will come, just like the wise man Jesus referred to in Matthew 7:24, after the storm is over, your  house will stand.

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