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Arise and Shine!
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- Published on Tuesday, 28 June 2011 02:00
Recently I switched on the radio to hear the news and weather forecast. While searching for the station I found a session with a discussion on the topic "Today's Family".
I got interested and so I stayed at this session. The discussion was very hot. There were reported statistics on divorce, discussion on the current state of today's ordinary family. The status of children and parents in today's society was named aloud where in the family that is so-called OK which means therefore not divorced, children grow up virtually without parents, in essence, because parents must work, often have two jobs to pay the mortgages, whilst being overworked.
Furthermore, the status in divorced families was described, which of course was no better and therefore the children are even worse off in such environment.
What surprised me most, however, was the statement that logically just because of it, it would be reasonable that children would grow up where the love really is, and thus let them leave to homosexual partnerships so they could adopt children because they love each other so much !!
I could not listen to the whole session, I was thinking about today's society, today's family, thinking about abandoned children, about how much love and attention I give to my children. I was thinking of families where there is violence and children are witnesses of it.
You can say, the world has gone mad, the world is sick; there is no love, no justice. I agree with you. The darkness is growing bigger. How do we respond to it?
What light am I wearing? Does it illuminate the darkness? Does it shine to people in the dark? Does it shine in my family?
I want to encourage you with words of The Lord Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew 5 verses 13-16:
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here is another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bring out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you here on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:13-16, The Message)
Now is the time for us to do “good" on purpose, not only when we feel like it. To do intentionally something good every day; for someone in our neighborhood, whether in your own family, to colleagues at work or neighbors who may be eschewed. Reveal the goodness of God; let God's love that has been poured into our hearts, touch all around us. All of creation expects the revelation of the sons of God (Romans 8:9), who will reflect the character of God, love and concern for humans. God doesn’t despise a troubled man, and so neither we stay indifferent to each other.