The Petri Dish called Family!

If there ever was a place specifically designed by God for the development of our spiritual life, that place would be called Family. God, in His wisdom designed the family unit or structure to be the Petri dish as the environment where the culture of Christian character can develop under the most intense circumstances. The Family is where we live in the same house and share most of everything in that house under the most strenuous and trying of conditions. In God’s infinite wisdom He places individuals with the most base, sinful, and depraved nature in a 24/7 developmental laboratory. No wonder things get so tragically out of hand and such dysfunction develops. Raising children can be difficult under the best of conditions. Bill Cosby once said; "You know the only people who are always sure about the proper way to raise children? Those who have never had any."

George Will wrote; “We are given children to test us and make us more spiritual.” I don’t know anything about Will’s spiritual persuasion or make-up, but I think he is on to something. Sometimes children can test us beyond our imagination. We certainly are not above making some serious mistakes as parents. Of course this is not God’s fault. He gives us the Bible as a guidebook and as an instruction manual. He gives to us the Holy Spirit (those who are believers) and He gives us everything that we need to live godly in Christ Jesus. It is amazing how the spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit are needed to maintain godly peace and order in a home. Thank God for the home and for family! Thank God that each day we need to turn to his guide book, depend on His indwelling Holy Spirit, and for the opportunities to use the fruit of His Spirit in various situations and circumstances in order to grow more Christlike in character as we are tested and tried by living together in the wonderful Petri dish called family. It is my prayer that the “cultures” developed in my Petri dish be an honor and glory to God and a joy and treasure to my family! The microscopic evaluation by our Heavenly Father and by the world around us will reveal what has been developed in my life.

What do you think?