"So God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return..." (Nehemiah 7:4).
As Nehemiah was moving into the next stage of rebuilding, restoring and renewing Jerusalem, he needed to know who was with him. Nehemiah was not doing a census to brag about how big his following or church was. It was to find out as they progressed to the next level of what resources they had and what would be needed.
It is interesting that he dealt with families. Notice that registration was not done by individuals but looked at as family units. Families are the core of our society. From a sociological perspective family units are the back bone of society that introduces values and the standards of the society; moreover, families are the incubator for spiritual teachings.
Nehemiah registered the families as units, because in the process of rebuilding, restoring amd renewing on the next level it was not going to be a result of individual effort, it would take the efforts of families working together to restore and implement a vision for a greater community. One of my mentors, Pastor Lee Pace shared, "Strong families build strong churches, strong churches build strong communities and strong communities builds a strong nation." We cannot get beyond this basic understanding of the importance of family in the process of rebuilding, restoring and renewing.
There are such breakdowns in our families that there is little wonder why our communities and nation is languishing in mediocrity and "mundaness". The attacks on the family and family values have produced a disintegration of the core of our society. That is why the lasse faire attitude toward spiritual things and morality. It all begins with the family.
It is tragic when individuals are concerned with their individual blessings and not for the spiritual welfare of their family members. It is sad when there is dissension and confusion that is passed on for generations and curses that persist. Every family is vital to the rebuilding, restoring and renewing of our communities, and if one family is dysfunctional, we are all dysfunctional.
Nehemiah was working to rebuild, restore and renew spiritual order within Jerusalem he knew he needed families that would be one accord and would honor the things of God. What about our families in 2008?
Living with Faith and Power and Creating a Phenomenal Life!
Bishop Keith Russell Lee
Hoffman Estates, IL and Los Angeles, CA
Spiritual Prayer Treatment
Father, Bless our families to conform to the
likeness and image of you and to be the
foundation that society needs.
In the Name of Jesus and Through His Power!
Amen! And So It Is!
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1 comment:
This is all so true. But which one are you referring to, the nature or spiritual family? My nature family is against of who I am in the Lord. They oppose my dreams, vision and accomplishment. No matter how hard I try to lavish my love on them, they still look down or speak against me. I want my family to be a part new life that God is rebuilding and restoring, but I can't help to think that they are actually hindering me. At least I am allowing them to do it. It feel as though I trapped in their click and there's no way out. I pray constantly that God will give me answer this problem. And I'm still waiting for that answer. So until then I don't know if I should separate myself and allow God to continue his good work in me, or if I should stick around until the situations change.
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