Building Strong Families

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God's Word For Today

Building Strong Families

Read Genesis 37:1 through 39:23

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him (Genesis 37:4).

Dysfunctional families are not a new problem. Today’s verse highlights two elements that have always had negative impacts on families: favoritism and jealousy.

Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and made no effort to conceal his preference. Any time a parent displays such blatant partiality, family discord is sure to follow. Joseph’s brothers despised Jacob’s love for Joseph. When they saw their father present Joseph with an ornate robe, their resentment of their brother escalated. Any hope of civil conversation was gone. They wanted nothing to do with him. But God used miraculous circumstances to eventually bring reconciliation within Jacob’s family.

Are we instruments of unity and love in our families? If there are hard feelings, broken relationships, or areas of conflict, we can be assured that God can bring peace and healing just as He did for Jacob’s family.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to strengthen your family and heal any broken relationships.

Quicklook: Genesis 37:1–11

[MajestyJo]

When I see the word unity, I think of my home groups over the years, not my own personal family. I go with an attitude that allows me to accept them for who they are, and not put expectations on them. For many years I wasn`t a part of the family until they were grown up, so the closeness isn`t there. They didn`t know me, and then they got their own life. A clear case of `live`and let live. If I need something, I know I can call them, it is a case of when it is good for them and when I am well enough to do, it doesn`t always co-inside.