The Blueprint and the Foundation
Have you ever built a house, a barn, maybe even a car? Have you ever quilted or knitted something of a grand design or not so grand? Maybe you are an artist that prefers some paper and ink, maybe you are or have been a coach on a sports team. All of these things have two things in common (They probably have more in common) and it is that they require a blueprint and a foundation. Would you ever build something without a blueprint? Even tattoo artists will render some sort of design on paper before putting a design onto your skin! This is no different than God’s design for the family. God’s original blueprint for the family was one father and one mother. God’s blueprint is still good, but when sin entered the world through the sin of the first family it destroyed the image of the nuclear family. The image of the nuclear family may have changed, not because God changed it because God never changes, but because of sin. With the blueprint damaged we can still praise the Lord for the foundation He has laid out for His people. The blueprint did not stop at the nuclear family, God’s blueprint continues even onto a much larger and broader scale and that is where the church gets involved. In the New Testament a family is often referred to as a “household,” the Greek word used frequently is oikos. This word opens up the definition of family since in its context it does not refer to the “nuclear family.” A household could include multiple generations under one roof! Is it not nice to think that you and your in-laws along with aunts, uncles, cousins could be living under one roof! Well… that was not always the case, the broader family including nonblood related members could simply just be living near one another. Oikos (Household) can be in all shapes and sizes. Despite our sin and the destructive nature of sin, God had a blueprint to include the broader family including the church family. Now remember the other word “foundation” you may have drawn up plans for your barn, house, car or artistic design and now you need to set the foundation. God set the foundation for the family in Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
God gave instructions to the Israelites that this is what you are teach your children. This section of Scripture is referred to as The Shema. Shema simply means “hear” or “give heed.” Parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, grandparents…Deut. 6:4-9 is the foundation of what you can teach the children that are entrusted into your care. Jesus reiterates verse 5 when questioned about what the greatest commandment is. Yes, teach the children as much as you can but start with a foundation that cannot be shaken and that foundation is found in Deut. 6:4-9.
“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what is right”- Theodore Roosevelt
Resource to check out!
- There is a free kids bible app by Youversion with interactive games for your child to play as they study the Bible. Check it Out https://bibleappforkids.com/
Written by: Cody Simpkins