This evening’s Bible Study went better than last. At the time, the news of Northland’s compromise was still fresh on my mind and took me away from full concentration on the message. I’ll admit that speaking about the husband-wife relationship from Ephesians 5 is challenging no matter what has been happening during the week. Thankfully, I was able to focus better this week and came away with a good study for husbands from the latter part of the chapter.
However, it was especially interesting speaking to a group of children and adults and being the only husband in the room. And yet, the passage still had great application for all of us because of Paul’s repeated reference to Christ’s love for the church. His example of nourishing and cherishing all believers is something all of us can follow whether male or female, married or not.
In the back of the hymnal, Hymns of Grace and Glory, I found a good hymn for the family. The title is “O Give Us Homes” and is sung to the tune Finlandia. You may remember the tune better as “Be Still My Soul.” The text of the song is a good reminder of our goal in Christian families.
O give us homes built firm upon the Savior,
Where Christ is Head, and Counselor and Guide;
Where ev’ry child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho’ his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho’ days be dark and grim.O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to ev’ry tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that’s vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever
If Thou art always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor:
Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.