For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. (Ephesians 3:14-15)
In speaking of Adam and Eve whom God had just formed, made and created, Genesis 1:28 states that "God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply'...". That sounds simple enough. It actually sounds like fun! But when chapter 4 rolls around, the fruitful offspring of that first family turns out to be rather troublesome, to say the least.
It's an event of chapter 3 that is the key to WHY the trouble in chapter 4, and all subsequent family troubles to this day. The fall of man brought into play the conflicts and contentions that are inevitable in any family - even in the most devoted and God-loving of Christian families. The presence of a sinful carnal nature within man can bring dissonance and dysfunction, regardless of intent.
Any time you have two people, you have two different perspectives, two different views, two different sets of ideas, tastes, feelings, and thoughts. Add in a couple more people, and you multiply the potential differences. Is it any wonder that even families deeply devoted to the Lord can benefit from Christian family counseling from time to time? Parenting is not easy street. Being a single mom is doubly difficult. And it's not a cake walk for children within an unbroken family, let alone in a blended family where they have to deal with the realities of separation, divorce, multiple parents and grandparents, custody disputes, and other unfortunate factors that have their affect.
If you are experiencing more contention than is healthy for you and your loved ones, consider calling Apex Biblical Christian Counseling. We offer Hope, Help and Healing to families as they work through differences and difficulties. God called us to be a part of family, and He has provided considerable instruction on HOW to receive the blessings He intended to be inherent in family from the beginning.
So whether you are dealing with family difficulties that involve you and your spouse, between you and your children, between you as newlyweds and the new in-laws, or between multiple members of a blended family....there can be greater peace and harmony for you and your loved ones.
