This week’s message is brought to you in our popular VLOG form – a short video on the topic of the week. Click HERE to view the one-minute video on important conversations in marriage.

Scripture for reference: For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24. ‘Leave’ means no dependence on dad and mom physically, emotionally or spiritually. Couples must talk through the dynamics of their respective family backgrounds early and often. Together they can discern the ‘good’ from their family background they wish to nurture in their marriage; the bad they want to steer clear of; and the ugly they must rebuke. Good might include an evening routine of eating dinner together as a family, regular church attendance and/or family devotion time between Sundays. Bad could be a tendency for your parents to argue, inconsistent discipline in the home or both parents busy in their respective professions. And ugly would be physical or emotional abuse, addictive behavior or divorce. It takes commitment, intentionality and Jesus in the middle of their marriage for a young couple to build their home on the Rock.

Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for marriage by Your design. It is foundational on so many levels – relationally, it is the reflection of our personal relationship with You in the flesh; practically, it is accepting responsibility to raise Godly offspring; and spiritually, it is the forum through which to pass our faith on to the next generation. I can only overcome so much of my past in my strength Lord. Come beside me, fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me build our home on the Rock – teach us to love as You love, serve as You served and think as You thought. Amen.

A faithful father builds on the good, steers clear of the bad and rebukes the ugly of his family background.