Ray Seldomridge - The Family Project Devotional: Reflecting Gods Design In Your Home

In the Family Project Focus on the Family has given us a unique resource to strengthen, empower and support the family as the Creator designed it to be. This project is sure to give you the tools you need to build the family God desires you to have.

D R. T ONY E VANS

President, The Urban Alternative

Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

Healthy, stable families are one of societys most precious resources. We need to do everything we can to protect and promote them. The Family Project has a timely message for the Church, and for the culture at large.

A NDY S TANLEY

Senior Pastor, North Point Ministries

When you look at a family, youre looking at a God-designed picture of the gospel. This has profound implications for the Church and for society. The Family Project explores the theology of the family in an informative and accessible manner that lends itself to small group discussion. I highly recommend it!

D R. R USSELL D. M OORE

President, Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

The Family Project Devotional

2014 Focus on the Family

A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

Focus on the Family, the accompanying logo and design, and The Family Project are trademarks of Focus on the Family, 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.

TYNDALE and Tyndales quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of Focus on the Family.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotation on page 179 taken from The Message copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Cover photograph copyright Seb Oliver/cultura/Corbis. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Mark Lane

Cataloging-in-Publication Data for this book is available by contacting the Library of Congress.

Reference to websites does not imply endorsement of those sites in their entirety. Availability of websites and pages is subject to change without notice.

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Foreword

When our team here at Focus on the Family first started working on The Family Project, we struggled to adequately define the scope of this endeavor. Is it primarily a work of theology an academic exercise in the biblical principles that define and outline the family? Or is it more of a tool for families a user-friendly assortment of practical helps that allows them to distill those big biblical concepts into everyday applications?

As the project unfolded, we realized that The Family Project needed to be both of those things: a much-needed reintroduction to the biblical concept of the family for those living in a postmodern world, and a practical tool to inspire and equip families to be the best they can be.

Nowhere are these two goals more fully realized than in the book youre now holding, The Family Project Devotional. Within the pages that follow, youll delve deep into Scripture to discover the DNA of Gods design for the family. Youll celebrate the fact that the historical institution of the family is a direct reflection of the Creator himself.

But youll also encounter a wealth of useful, practical tips to help you discover how those timeless theological principles relate directly to you and to your family right now, at this moment in history. Youll find encouraging and inspirational tips to not only strengthen your own family, but to make a dramatic impact on other families in your sphere of influence, and on the world around you.

May God bless you and your loved ones as you celebrate His design in The Family Project Devotional.

J IM D ALY

MAY 2014

Introduction

This book contains 52 devotional themes, one for every week in the year. Within each week, we provide daily Scripture readings.

The rationale behind the choice of most topics is that the Bible, particularly the New Testament, gives numerous exhortations to Christians on what they should do for and with one another. Of course, these one anothers apply wherever two or more believers are gathered. But the place that offers the best opportunity for significant Christian relationships is the home. What happens in the family not only affects every member, but it also impacts the larger church of which the family is a part. And that will determine what sort of light were able to shine into our dark world.

Specifically, heres what this book offers for each week:

First, the topic and a subtitle to explain it a bit more. Youll find that some topics overlap or are distinct only in subtle ways. Also, some deal with other aspects of family life; not all are derived from the one anothers. Then:

Opening Prayer to begin the day with the Lord and to zero in on the topic for the week.

Daily Scripture Reading, often consisting of several passages, though most of them are short. On some weeks, weve also suggested additional readings. And weve chosen one passage each week to print in full for your memorization. Some of the assigned readings in this book will reoccur, since the same Bible passage can touch upon multiple topics.

Activity of the Day, which most often is a series of questions related to the Scripture readings for that day. Some blank lines have been provided so that you can jot down answers or record notes for further reflection. Do not feel that you have to answer every question; weve provided more than one so you can pick the questions that strike a chord with you.

Occasionally the activity for the day is, instead of questions, a suggested assignment for the whole family.

Conclusion to summarize the main teachings of the week.

Closing Prayer to commit your family to the Lord once again.

This devotional was written for an individual reader or a married couple. But since its all about family, weve indicated a few places where you can involve your children if you so choose. May you all, together, hear Gods voice through this yearlong tour of His Word.

WEEK 1

In the Beginning

The family is Gods idea.

OPENING PRAYER

Lord, reveal to us what kind of people You have made us to be. Help us understand Your basic design for all of humanity, so we may live in a way that pleases You. In Jesuss name. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Monday: G ENESIS 1:26-28

Tuesday: G ENESIS 2:18-2 5

Wednesday: G ENESIS 4:1-2

Thursday: G ENESIS 12:1-3

Friday: P SALM 128:3-4

Saturday: M ARK 10:7-9

Sunday: E PHESIANS 3:14-16

FEATURED SCRIPTURE

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being. E PHESIANS 3:14-16