Responsibilities

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 20-21

Abraham's attitude is not always responsible, in particular often seek safety in the face of danger or conflict which eventually led to a bitter fruit, that he should expel Hagar, his mistress, and Ismail, own son (21:10-14).

As the head of household, Abraham should not simply follow her advice to take Hagar as a young wife, because it reflects the distrust of the ability of God fulfilled His promise to give Abraham descendants. Because Abraham did not dare to take responsibility in decision-making, not surprising that Abraham's confusion when his wife asked him to drive his young wife. If Abraham took responsibility as head of household who makes decisions, dilemmas (two difficult choices) of selecting a young wife or an old wives would not have happened.

In the structure of the Christian family, the husband is the head of the stairs that should lead in decision-making and should lead the whole family to follow the will of God. Although the husband and wife must work together in educating children, the responsibility remains in the hands of husbands. Wife is a companion to help her husband so her husband could carry out their responsibilities. If the husband is not responsible, the wife will occupy the position of the husband, and the decisions taken by the wife will be heavily influenced by an unstable feeling. If a wife wants her husband to carry out their responsibilities properly, he should always give support and encouragement to her husband.

Colossians 3:18
"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."

Boundaries of Faith

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 18

Abraham failed to ask for forgiveness for the city of Sodom because he did not dare to come out of the limits of his faith. If Abraham dared to ask for forgiveness on the understanding that God is full of grace, may God give forgiveness.

When God tells his plan to punish the city of Sodom, Abraham begged forgiveness on the basis of the righteous in the city. Unfortunately, Abraham allegations about the existence of the righteous in the city wrong. Abraham request rejected by God because the request is based on the supposition that do not match reality, namely that ten people were not really there in the city of Sodom was. Supposition ten righteous is the faith of Abraham limits based on rational considerations. Should limit our faith is not determined by rational considerations, but by the grace of God. We ask not because we deserve to receive what we ask for, but we ask for on the understanding that God is full of grace.

What is limiting your faith. If you're sick and prayed for God to heal, if you set limits on who can and diseases that can not be healed by God? Does God only can cure the common cold? Does God also can cure cancer, kidney, heart, bird flu and swine flu? Does God can help in financial trouble? Does God understands and can provide a solution to the problem of life friend? Does God live only help when we've considered good by God? Does your faith is limited?

Ephesians 3:20
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Unity in Marriage

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 2

Destination weddings are not that two people like each other are free to have sex or to have offspring, but to a man and a woman love each other can come together to complement each other and help each other.

God created humans as social beings who have a need to relate to others (2:18). The initiative of God to create Eve as a worthy partner for Adam to show that God blessed the marriage between men and women. Even so, to realize that the happiness of a marriage will be determined by the attitude of each partner. Willingness to humble ourselves and each other adjust to the couple would guarantee happiness, but the attitude to maintain their selfishness will destroy a marriage. Note that the union between men and women depicted in 2:24 like two glued pieces of paper together so that each can stand alone.

If not watch out, unity in marriage can be destroyed by a third party. Unity can only be achieved when men and women respectively would leave the attachment with the environment (including the extended family) to look at various problems of life together. This means that each load be a burden shared and individual interests must be compromised to form a common interest. Engagement with others (parents, children, friends) are more powerful than the bond with the wife or husband is a threat to a marriage.

Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."