Regarding our rearing, my siblings surely
will attest to this: we were fortunate. Practically,
we had everything we needed. We were clothed,
fed, and educated. Our parents worked very
hard to ensure that we were well-loved and that
we were healthy and safe. We were disciplined
and we were encouraged. Our life was not fancy
by any stretch of the imagination, but as children
we did not lack for anything. We had the
necessities. More importantly, we were brought
up with a strong Christian and moral foundation.
We were partakers in a family led by parents
who were wholly committed—and still are—to
being involved in the life of Christ’s church. We
were privileged to be raised by a dad and mom
who not only participated in ‘church,’ but who
also lived life as the church. It is impossible to
quantify the value of our upbringing. And it is
difficult to imagine life being any other way than
the way it was—and is—for us. It all starts at
home.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus,
Paul has a lot to say about what life in Christ
looks like (i.e., what ‘knowing Christ’ looks like).
Interesting, however, is that before the apostle
gets down to the business of how the Ephesian
Christians are to live in their daily walk among
the outside community, he first addresses their
relationship to one another. Paul begins (in
chapter 4) by instructing them on the qualities
that are to be present in their interactions with
church family. Paul is deadly serious about
Christian people living in such a way that the
world sees Christ in them. Yet he begins his
teaching with an admonition to the church to
love and care for one another; to be humble,
kind, and compassionate toward one another.
It all starts at home.
–Ricky
