Rightly Ordered

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 5:21–6:4; Matthew 12:46–50; 19:27–30  (day four)

One of the primary places discipleship takes place is in our home, among our family. This is the place where the fruit of our spiritual growth should be most evident. It can also be one of the hardest places to engage in discipleship. Home is where we go after a long, hard day. Home is where we let our hair down, and are more likely to let our true emotions out. The members of our family tend to be the ones who get under our skin or upset us most. This is true no matter what stage of life you’re in. Whether you have a house full of kids, it’s you and your spouse, or if you’re single – the people you consider family will be a significant part of your journey in discipleship, and you will experience challenges as you try to model Christ in these relationships.

Christ calls us to first and foremost submit to him. Every other relationship or endeavor comes second to him, including our relationship with our family. When we increasingly submit ourselves to Christ, we will find that we can live in rightly ordered relationships with those closest to us. When they take the right place in our lives, these relationships will become discipleship-focused. Submission to Christ helps us submit to one another in love.

What changes do you need to make to let Christ be first and foremost in your life? What does discipleship look like in your family? What steps might the Lord be asking you to take to engage in discipleship with the members of your family?