Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- September 21, 2010
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” Psalm 128:1-4
The fruit from a family who fears the Lord is tasty and delicious. However, this type of fruit does not happen immediately, but is cultivated over time. A fruitful wife sets the tone for the home. By God’s grace she weeds out criticism and replaces it with creativity. The home is her “pride and joy”. It is a reflection of her, as it is her nest.
A home to the wife is like an office to the husband. Things need to be just right or she feels violated. Indeed, be grateful for a conscientious wife who wants to express herself through the home. The fruit of a clean, decorated and ordered home is calming. It provides an environment of stability and frees family members to focus on each other and other people. A husband is free to do what he does best at work with a supportive wife at home.
A mother’s influence spreads like a lovely vine throughout the house. No area is left untouched. The children are nurtured and encouraged by her sensitivity. When instilled from birth, the fruit from children become obedience to God and love for the Lord. Their heart for God grows when parents read Bible stories to them as they wait in the womb.
The warm embrace of their little arms around your neck is the fruit of trust. The look of their kind and trusting eyes is the fruit of consistent love from mom and dad. Their bent toward love for God and people is fruit from their parent’s example of following Jesus.
Furthermore, family fruit flourishes when the man of the house models faithfulness. A husband’s intentional effort to follow the Lord ignites faith at home. A fruitful wife has no problem submitting to a husband—who submits to God. A God fearing man is quick to confess sin to his Heavenly father and to his family. It is not uncommon for him to say, “I am sorry” or “I was wrong”. Authentic confession encourages confession in others.
Confessed up hearts are family fruit. It is probable the family will pray, read their Bible and go to church, if the leader of the home does the same. Family fruit has a direct correlation to the faithfulness of the family head. Family fruit flourishes when the man fears God. Regardless of the circumstances he is committed to doing what God expects.
Therefore, your home becomes a hot house of character. The fruit threatens to bust through the glass panels for all to see. People are encouraged when they visit your hospitable home. Sinners need a safe environment, as acceptance comes from the fruit of Christ’s acceptance. Heavens dew and rainfall keep the fruit coming to a home submitted to Christ. Jesus says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Fruit is proof of faithful families.
Does my character cultivate fruit that glorifies God in my family?
Related Readings: Genesis 7:1; Proverbs 31:15; Mark 5:19; Acts 10:2
Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God
