DIVINE RENEWAL OF FAMILIES

“But according to HI MERCY He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and RENEWING of the Holy Spirit” – Titus 3:5b

The Designer and Redeemer of Destinies is able by His Mercy, to effect DIVINE RENEWAL of FAMILIES: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HI MERCY He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and RENEWING of the Holy Spirit” (Tit.3: 4-5). Undoubtedly, God can make the mess of family dysfunctions to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom.8:28). However, it is much better to trust in His Mercy and be spared the frustration, stress, misery, and pains of dysfunction. If we’re willing to put all of our carnal ideas and views aside, the Eternal Designer is also the Re-Designer of Marriage and Family. 

The problem is never that God does not have the desire or the power to strength marriages, heal homes, and restore families. The problem is always that our self-will stands in the way. Self-will is at the root of every Marriage problem, and must be crucified! Self-will caused Lucifer to be cast out of heaven (Isa.14). It also caused the fall of man in Eden (Gen.3). God’s Answer to the sin of self-will is Jesus Christ. He took upon Himself our sin of self-will and paid the full price for our freedom. As we put our full faith and trust in Christ, He gives us righteousness before God and the power to crucify our self-will, which in turn will strengthen our marriage and save our family. Through Faith in, and surrender to Christ, we can be saved and transformed in personal and family lives.

Our marriages can be supernaturally transformed, and our families divinely renewed by the God who designed them. For these to happen, we must make Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. That’s the starting point – REGENERATION. Then, we must commit to walk daily in the Power of the Holy Spirit – RENEWAL: “Not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of HIS MERCY. He washed away our sins, giving us a NEW BIRTH and NEW LIFE through the Holy Spirit” (Tit.3: 5, NLT). Following the New Birth is New Life! Renewal comes through: Daily surrender to Jesus as Lord and daily walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Before we begin to consider the Divine Designer’s Roles for key members of the family – Husband, Wife, and Children – it’s crucial to revisit His Original Design: “Therefore shall a MAN leave his father and mother and be joined to HIS WIFE, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen.2:24). God had declared seven times in Genesis 1, “It is good…” Then, in Genesis 2:18, He suddenly said, “IT is NOT GOOD that man should be alone…” God said so because He had not finished, not because He made a mistake. Humankind was a work in progress; and God showed Adam that something was missing: “But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him” (Gen.2:20b).

In order to finish the Design Work for humankind, the Lord didn’t make woman from the dust like He had man. Rather, He put Adam into “a deep sleep” – an unconscious state, and from his rib, formed his wife, and brought her to him (Gen.2: 21-22)! He temporarily took Adam out of the picture and designed his fitting partner. Eve was custom made for Adam: “…she was taken out of Man” (Gen.2:23b). This implies that something was left missing. God purposely left a void in man when He carved out a piece of him to make his woman. They could only be complete when joined together. He who perfectly designed the first couple to “fit” one another’s needs, is still in the business of designing and re-designing couples to “fit” each other’s needs!

The Eternal Designer fits two drastically different individuals together, to become one flesh, completing each other in every way. If we’ll trust and obey, He is sovereign and powerful enough to transform marriages and renew our families from Failing to Fulfilling.