By Pastor Chuks Ezeanya

Galatians 3:23 TPT “So until the revelation of faith for salvation was released, the law was a jailer, holding us as prisoners under lock and key until the “faith,” which was destined to be revealed, would set us free.”

God wants to spread His love through you; He wants to use you to show His love to others, especially to your family members and those around you. It is therefore your responsibility as a child of God to make your home God’s dwelling place. God only dwells in places that are Christ-centered. God only dwells in homes where Christ is honored above all. He dwells where everyone in the family lives under the dictates of the word and where everyone respects God.

Family is an institution created by God and mirrors the relationship between Christ and the church. The family must reflect the image of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Gen 2:18-24 NLT. One of God’s plans for creating a family is to raise godly children. God places a high value on family. The marriage relationship is a model of the Trinity Gen 1:27.

The world should see Christian marriages and homes as the gospel through which souls can be won. A believer’s marriage should glorify God and not men. You have 100%  success if your marriage is done in God’s way because God Has created nothing that fails. When a marriage does not function properly, it destroys the image of God and it breaks down every aspect of society. Without oneness, marriage cannot stand. Malachi 2:15 “ Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his.^a]”>[a] And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.”

A good marriage is the strength of the church, society, and the world. Homes have been under attack from the beginning of creation because the devil knows that when he destroys a home, the church will fall and the nation will definitely be affected. The devil can only penetrate a home when there is no unity. Guide your marriage with all your heart!

Characteristics of a Christian home:

1. 1. The presence of the peace of God. A home without peace is void of Christ. John 14:27 says “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”
   2. Obedient Children:  obeying your parents is obeying God. There are different ways by which children can obey their parents. First of all, never criticize your parents, take care of them, be thankful for them and always show gratitude, communicate with them, talk to them, treat them with respect, seek their advice and wisdom, pray for and with them, encourage them, forgive them and tell them the truth.

As a parent, God has given you the responsibility to direct your children to follow God’s ways. Children tend to mirror their parents. What a child consistently sees is what they will do. Children are important to God and His desire is that they grow up in His ways.

Proverbs 22:6 “Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.”

Marriage is God’s idea and must be done in His way. God hopes that all will enter this holy and sacred institution according to His will. The love of God will help you achieve God’s plan for your home.

John 14:15 “Loving me empowers you to obey my commands.”

Pastor Chuks Ezeanya is a serving Pastor at Fountain Of The Living Word Church, New Jersey.