Family dysfunction and the unstoppable plan of God
Genesis 31-33, 35, 37

God doesn't need our “help” by compromising His values & morals to accomplish His plan.

“Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.”

~ Brother Andrew, “God’s Smuggler”.

I believe we can best partner with God in His work by following the morality God has given us and trusting Him to take care of us when danger tempts us to compromise in order to “help” God out.

Anytime there is family dysfunction or conflict between family members, it takes work from both sides to get to a place of genuine reconciliation.

What kind of work is required?

The responsibility of the offending party is to admit wrong and ask forgiveness, and the role of the offended party is to extend grace and forgiveness.

Who makes the first move?

Matthew 5:23-24 --> the offending party

Matthew 18:15 --> the offended party

Often, we need to be ready both to admit wrong AND to extend grace.

How would your family dysfunction change if all the members of the family were ready to admit wrong and extend grace?

The responsibility of the offending party is to admit wrong and ask forgiveness, and the role of the offended party is to extend grace and forgiveness.

God NEVER STOPS extending grace.

My next step with God this week is to…

…think about if there are any ways I’ve attempted to “help God out” in a way that compromises what He said is right & wrong. Confess it to God and commit to fully trusting Him with this in the future.

…admit my wrong to God and also to a person I know I’ve wronged – and ask their forgiveness.

…extend grace to someone who doesn’t deserve it but needs it anyway.

…pray the “bookmark prayer” each day this week before I read the OT chapter from Genesis.

…memorize the verse of the week listed in the Foundations reading guide (Psalm 31:3)

…read “God’s Smuggler”, the biography of Brother Andrew.