Orphaned by Tragedy. Adopted by God

"When the people of God reach out to kids who are left alone with no parents to provide for them, those kids will see the face of God. When Christian men and women come alongside the children of single parents, those boys and girls will see the face of God." 

History’s first recorded adoption took place generations ago in the land of the Hebrew people. The story is recorded in the Bible, “Haran fathered Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father . . .” (Genesis 11:27,28) Then sometime later, Lot’s grandfather also passed away. Afterwards, Abraham, Haran’s oldest brother, took sole responsibility for Lot. He became like his own son. When Abraham received a mission from God to travel to an unknown land, his nephew came as part of the household, “So Abraham went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.” (Gen. 12:4)

Abraham walked in faithfulness with the Lord his God, and choosing to care for his nephew exemplified that. The story reveals the heart of God and His expectation for those who believe in Him. The Scripture teaches, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit [or care for] orphans . . .” (James 1:27). Clearly, it is a Christian’s duty to serve parentless children. Lot was orphaned because of the death of his father. Others have come to that place due to tragedy, running away, abduction, or because the parents are unfit and authorities have taken the children.

Orphan can refer either to both parents being gone from the child, or one. They may have a father, but no mother, or a mother, but no father. No matter how children come to this unfortunate place, followers of Jesus, individually or corporately through their church, have a divine charge to come alongside them.

God is the Creator of all mankind and architect of the family. As such, He fights for the family. The Bible describes God in straight forward terms, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5) God knows evil and injustice fill the world and have broken up families. But He has an answer for it – Himself.

When the people of God reach out to kids who are left alone with no parents to provide for them, those kids will see the face of God. When Christian men and women come alongside the children of single parents, those boys and girls will see the face of God. The hard and sacrificial work of doing good to these orphans, lay the ground work for the gospel in their lives. When one reaches out to the fatherless, motherless or parentless child it is a picture of who God is to each of these children.

And who is He? God is called Father, but not everyone is His child and can call Him Father. He is only Father to those who have turned from their disobedient ways and placed their faith in His beloved Son. In that sense, God has become their adopted Father and they have been brought into the family of God.

They are no longer without father or mother; God through Jesus, has become their heavenly Father. And they are no longer without a family; for in Christ, they have become part of the church, and now have brothers and sisters of various races, languages and backgrounds from all over the world.

Spiritually speaking, every human being is born an orphan. How can that be? From birth we are all separated from God the Father because of sin. And as we grow up, we spend much of our life wandering wherever our selfish and misguided passions take us. From God’s viewpoint, we are lost. However, the grace and kindness of God searches us out because He is a father to the fatherless. He comes to us through those Christian men and women, revealing Himself and His message for us.  (Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash)

A prayer for you – “Father in heaven, we recognize we are separated from you. We admit our disobedience and want to be made right. Through Jesus, become our true Father. Then use us to be a like a father or mother to those who are without. Let them see Christ in us, that they may know you as we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen."

The Problem with Every Man's Heart

"Why does God appear so hard on men versus women?  He says, “Husbands . . . do not be harsh with [your wives].”  (Colossians 3:18) And He follows that up with, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”  (Col. 3:20) Since God is all-wise, why did He not address the women, teaching them not to be harsh with their husbands, and urging them also to refrain from provoking the children?"

Why does God appear so hard on men versus women?  He says, “Husbands . . . do not be harsh with [your wives].”  (Colossians 3:18) And He follows that up with, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”  (Col. 3:20) Since God is all-wise, why did He not address the women, teaching them not to be harsh with their husbands, and urging them also to refrain from provoking the children? 

God is not giving women a pass.  He expects both spouses to be kind toward each other, and both parents to be loving toward their children.  Here is the reason; men have greater issues with harshness and anger than women. 

In our society, the majority of inmates in our prisons are men.  Many of the illegal acts they committed involved anger.  Violent crimes like murder, rape, assault, robbery.  Ask any police officer about domestic abuse calls, and it is mostly due to the husband or boyfriend.  Ask any school teacher about fights or bullying, and boys are most often the culprits. 

In the home, a man is more likely than a woman to hit, push, grab, sexually abuse, threaten, curse, intimidate, be demeaning, condemning, demanding or overly strict. 

Do women have problems with harshness and anger?  Yes, but for men it is clearly more significant, especially when the presence of their size and strength is considered.  Why do men struggle with this?  For the answer, we have to go back to Adam and Eve, the first two human beings.  They were created by God and were in perfect relationship with Him, until they disobeyed and the curse of sin entered the world.  Consequently, all of creation, including men and women, have suffered for this.  To Eve, representing the future of all women, God said, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”  (Genesis 3:16) God had appointed man to be the leader of his household and to do so in love and humbleness.  But due to sin, his leadership was corrupted with a selfish inconsiderate, controlling and domineering spirit.  This results in at times, treating his wife with harshness and provoking his children toward anger and discouragement.    

Is it possible for a father to overcome these tendencies and lead his family with a heart of service and selfless love?  Yes!  Instead of being harsh, God tells husbands to “love your wives.”  (Col. 3:18) Rather than provoking the children to anger, God states to fathers, “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”  (Ephesians 6:4) What is God saying here?  He is declaring to men that change is possible!  “Bring them up” refers to nourishing and cherishing.  How can a man shift from being controlling and domineering over his family, to serving and treasuring them?  This is how.  God says to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”  (Eph. 4:21,24) 

Within yourself, you do not have the ability to become this kind of man.  You have a heart problem that has only one remedy – Jesus.  He took your anger and harshness upon Himself when He died on the cross.  Then when He rose again, He conquered it.  And when He ascended back to heaven, He sent His Spirit to indwell His followers so they will have the power to live transformed lives.  Through Jesus, you can lead your home by loving your wife as you ought.  Through Jesus, you can cherish your children as you should.  Today, put off the old and put on the new.  

A prayer for you – “Lord Jesus, make us like you.  You are kind, good and loving.  We are sinful, angry and controlling men.  We do not want to live this way anymore.  For the sake of our wives and children, change us.  By your power, help us to put off the old and put on the new. In your holy name, Amen." 

Mourning in America

"How shall we respond to the condition of our country? Children are slain in our schools and on our streets. Women are sexually assaulted in the daylight. Young women are trafficked for the pleasure of their captors. Sons and daughters dishonor their parents, and parents abuse their sons and daughters. Babies do not live to see their mother’s face. Those in authority are cursed, slandered and threatened. Our citizens blindly enslave themselves to destructive forces. Ministers of God offer words of vain hope, but refuse to lay bare the people’s disobedience."

Read carefully the divinely inspired words of Jeremiah the prophet.  He penned them in a spirit of mourning over the condition of his own nation, whom he so loved.  “Women are raped in Zion, young women in the towns of Judah. Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders. Young men are compelled to grind at the mill, and boys stagger under loads of wood. The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music. The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.” (Lamentations 5:11-15) 

As I read Jeremiah’s stark language about the state of his nation, it makes me wonder about America. Children are slain in our schools and on our streets. Women are sexually assaulted in the daylight. Young women are trafficked for the pleasure of their captors. Sons and daughters dishonor their parents, and parents abuse their sons and daughters. Babies do not live to see their mother’s face. Those in authority are cursed, slandered and threatened. Our citizens blindly enslave themselves to destructive forces. Ministers of God offer words of vain hope, but refuse to lay bare the people’s disobedience.

How shall we respond to the condition of our country? What did Jeremiah do? He observed his nation carefully. He saw what was taking place and rightly concluded; the destruction happening before his eyes, was because the nation had sinned against God. He lamented, “The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!” (Lam. 5:16).

Americans are an exceptionally proud people. Has our crown fallen? Has it been tarnished by our immoral ways? Are the things we see happening, a result of our sin?

Maybe in response to another tragedy or injustice that grips the attention of our community or nation, we ought to follow Jeremiah’s example, “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children . . .” (Lam. 2:19)

The events happening in our nation reflect the darkness of mankind’s heart. It is an evil, a lawlessness that seems as if it has been released upon us. No man has an answer for this. It cannot be solved through human efforts. It is a spiritual problem that needs a spiritual answer, which is found in the One who calls Himself, Savior. Jeremiah wrote, “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!” (Lam. 3:40) Reflect upon our nation, your own community, your family, your soul. As you do, know that God can redeem! Jeremiah believed that about his nation, when it was at its lowest point, “Restore us to yourself, O Lord . . .” (Lam. 5:21) Why did he says this? Because he believed in a great God, “But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.” (Lam. 5:19) When grey skies form over us, it feels as if God is absent. Like He is far away and does not care. Praise God though, the grey skies cannot hide the truth, neither can the waves of evil. They distract and intimidate, but God is true, and He demonstrated that by sending Jesus, who died and rose again to overcome the darkness.

A prayer for you – “O God, hear us I pray. We observe and lay before you, our nation. We have sinned and desperately need your saving power. Humble us. Bring us to weep for our children and our neighbor. We believe that in you, the evil we see across the country and in our own hearts, can be overcome. We confess our weakness, acknowledge your greatness and cry out for your help, O God. In Jesus’ name, Amen."