THE CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLD

Luke 15 vv 22,23

Colossians 3 v 16

Exodus 10 v.23

Exodus 12 vv.3,4,8,11

I would like to relate these Scriptures to..…. the Christian Household.

What is in mind, first, is to draw attention, objectively, to the Father’s House and the way He runs it. He has a house and He does know how to run it. Here is an object lesson worthy of the closest study. It will be a great help if we can get into our souls a pattern of the way the Father’s house is ordered, and to this end we turn to Luke 15 verse 22 and listen to what the Father says, for therein is postulated not only relationship but love. So the Father speaks and what He says would bring out characteristic features of His house. First we hear “bring forth the best robe” - that is, let every little bit of reluctance to enter be removed from the heart and mind of the welcomed returned wanderer. Let him clearly see that the way is open; let him understand that I have caused to be brought out of heaven’s wardrobe the very best that I have to put upon him. In the atmosphere into which I will introduce him the mention of sins or shortcomings will be utterly impossible. Thus the first feature of the Father’s house, which the Spirit brings before us, is this very foundation feature of “peace” - that is, a sense of unruffled tranquility eternally secured.

The second feature to be noticed is – “bring forth… a ring … and shoes”. The shoes of sonship to walk in liberty in the Father’s house - for right of access and liberty of movement are essential features of this house.

The third feature to which our attention is drawn is that “joy” is there. They began to be merry because, among other things, the precious Christ of God was there. His presence there gives character to the whole scene and this faultless, impeccable picture is drawn by God the Holy Spirit for our souls’ meditation and delight. Peace, access and joy are thus seen in our context; three of the outstanding features of the Father’s house which would stand out clearly and objectively as suitable features for the Christian household.

In viewing the Christian household from a practicable standpoint we turn to Colossians 3 verse 16 where the Spirit of God opens up a reservoir of precious heavenly truth, unfathomable, inexhaustible – verily waters to swim in – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”. Here, beloved, are the inexhaustible and profound depths into which the Christian is introduced. As heads of a household, let us get this into our hearts – we have a Christ whose word is an unfailing source of precious heavenly supply; a liberated stream of unadulterated, refreshing and illuminating waters. Herein wisdom finds its place. What a call there is for its gracious and skilful wielding. It is this rich indwelling of the word of Christ which marks out the household as Christian. It leads to teaching and admonishing manward; and singing from hearts charged with grace – Godward. Let us accustom ourselves to what the expression “family altar” means. The word of God and prayer will find a welcome and ready place in the household where Christ’s word dwells richly. Children will not only be prayed for but prayed with. What a blessed thing to cultivate an atmosphere into which divine Persons may come and find home conditions there! What possibilities for spiritual prosperity are brought before us in verse 17 of our chapter – “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”. Exclusive, but fraught with immense blessing for the submissive, obedient soul. Heeding this exhortation would bring every detail of life under the surveillance of the blessed Lord, and those little things, which so often are the expression of self – will, and so hindering to communion, will not find expression. Is it in “The Name”? is a simple test which would, if applied, rule out an immense amount of profitless activity and strengthen the growth of spiritual life. It is admitted that a Christian household governed by these principles is, from a worldly viewpoint, severely handicapped, but for the Christian the question would be is it God’s word? If so it is authoritative and calls for implicit obedience but, carried out through grace and power supplied by the One who indicted the exhortation, it is fraught with the greatest blessing.

I trust we are able to appreciate, at least in a general way, that He who calls for action supplies the power so to act; and that such a call introduces an atmosphere of warmth and grace in which the Christian household may spiritually thrive and in which the separating influence of Christian practice makes definite impressions on every member of the household.

The Old Testament is by no means silent in this matter of godly households. We are more particularly interested in four features which are presented in the verses we have read from Exodus 10 and 12. The first is “light in their dwelling”. What a blessed thing divine light is and how surpassing the grace that has brought the Christian into the light. There was no lighting of candles or lamps in Goshen. In the midst of impenetrable darkness the blessed God lit the lamp of divinely given knowledge of Himself. This principle is equally true for the Christian household in the midst of the grossest moral darkness. Divine light in our dwellings means an understanding of the ways and purpose of God. Without, they grope for a way through the darkness, but within, blessed be God, His light shines and all is transparent before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Light within, but also the light of testimony shining from the within to the without. “Let your light so shine”- what a light can stream from a Christ dominated household? How important, then, is the matter of Christian comportment. Could it be that from lack of this an expression I heard a week or so ago was promoted? The expression which grated on my hears was “post – Christian era”. It was intended to describe the days in which we now live. What a commentary on the moral landslide which is sweeping over the Christian households.

If “light” is feature number one then feature number two is found in Exodus 12 verse 3: “Take … a lamb.” How vital in the sight of God it is that we should understand something of the value which He places upon the Lamb. In connection with the “New Meat Offering” God speaks of seven lambs! He would have our hearts impressed with the Lamb character of Jesus. How astonished must the hearers of John Baptist have been when they learned from him that God had a lamb! When a place in which to keep the Passover was in question the Lord sent the two disciples who alone write of the Lamb! I am sure He wants our hearts to dwell upon this heart moving and adjusting feature of sacrificial obedience to His will. We must not misquote verse 4 – as I have heard it misquoted. It does not say “if the lamb be too small for the house”, but if the house be too small for the lamb”. The Spirit would so illumine our apprehension of what the Lamb means to God – so wonderfully and blessedly great – that our pleasure will be to share what we have of Him with others. Here is a very blessed feature of a Christian household – the Spirit taught, heart warming appreciation of God’s Lamb!

Feature number one – light in our dwellings; feature number two – a worshipful appreciation of the value God places upon the Lamb of His providing. The third feature is a present, vital and lasting importance – the eating of the Lamb roast with fire. Here, contemplation can but bring the affections into movement. It is an affecting thing that the precious Jesus – God’s Lamb - should be exposed to the sentence of God’s judgment.

The fourth, and last feature, which this context would bring before us is “ready to go”. This immediately raises the pertinent question, have we left Egypt in our affections? What a blessed thing to live in the expectant atmosphere of the Lord’s near return? How powerfully this can, and does, mould the Christian character of young and old alike.

Simple, happy and blessed is the path laid out for the one upon whose shoulders has been placed fairly and squarely the responsibility of household headship. It may be unknown to the lion’s whelp and unseen by the vulture’s eye, yet the light which streams from above brightens the path and fills the soul with a knowledge of His present will – fills the path, too, with a sense of the divine Presence and the heart with the heavenly music of divinely promoted merriment.

May we all learn something more of the graciousness of our Lord by seeking, with our households, fidelity to Him. This will make our households an Obed-edom house of blessing and lead to the laying hold of the wealth of blessing implicit in the scripture “Thou and thy house”.

Perhaps it would not be amiss to recapitulate. The features of the Father’s house (an object lesson) peace, liberty and joy. Features of a Christian household - the word of Christ as resource; the family altar; the Name; and in the Old Testament - light; the Lamb; food for the journey; awaiting the coming.

The Lord make good in our souls those features which, while bringing blessing into our homes, will magnify that beautiful Name.

S.O. Thurston