How Serving God Helps A Family Meet Modern Challenges

Serving God builds faith. Most of the modern threats to the family have grown out of a humanistic philosophy that denies the existence of God.

Faith in the reality of God, real trust in Him personally, is what isnecessary to meet these challenges (1 John 5:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-11; Hebrews 11:33-34). Faith is gained in the daily process of serving God to the best of our ability. If we are going to face down the devil, we must prepare to do so (2 Timothy 1:5).

Serving God builds genuine character. The worst dangers our families face today are those that strike at our innermost being, our very nature as beings created in God’simage. The strength required to deal with such dangers is the strength of deep, godly character (2 Peter 1:5-11). Paul prayed for his brethren to be strengthened (Ephesians3:14-16).

In spiritual warfare, we need the spiritual resources of good character. Character is not built relaxing in an easy chair; it is developed in the active work of serving God (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Families today that hope to survive what is happening are going to need more than the superficial strength of those who merely talk about the Lord. Serving God builds rich relationships. These relationships are not left up to chance -- they develop and deepen over time as we serve the Lord. What is true of the local congregation is no less true of our physical families: strength comes from effective working together(Ephesians 2:19-21; 4:16).

The best strength in the world is the strength of those who have grown strong together serving the Lord. Edification makes for real strength in churches and families(Romans 1:12).The strongest, happiest families I have ever seen are Christianswho follow God’s commands (Colossians 3:18-21).

Serving God builds courage.The devil would like to defeat us with fear and despair; withoutcourage, we are lost (1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:13; 2Timothy 1:7). David, in his fight with Goliath, showed the kind of courage that can come from serving God (1 Samuel 17:31-37).We must make up our minds which side we are on -- we cannot conquer sin while compromising with it (Ephesians 5:11).

Conclusion: We must do more than attend the services of the church-- we must “taste” that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:3; cf. Hebrews6:4-5). When we do, our families will have the kind of power from which the devil flees (James 4:7). It takes real effort to have a good marriage and godly children.