“Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table” (Psalm 128:3).
TEXT — Psalm 128:1-6
Message
In Hyderabad, India, between the 1960s and 1970s, the story is told about Malla Reddy whose family structure and life has continued to inspire many. Malla Reddy, Annamma Reddy, their children: John, James, Mary, Martha were devout Christians in a predominantly Hindu area. Despite facing social ostracism and economic challenges, they remained steadfast in their faith. They raised their children with strong Christian values, emphasizing education, charity, and community service. Their home became a place of worship and fellowship for other Christians in the area. Their dedication inspired their children to pursue various ministries, spreading the gospel and serving the needy. This enviable family stands in contrast against societies that are now redefining the concept of marriage and family life.
Psalm 128 presents the reality and possibility of having an ideal and desirable godly family in any part of the world regardless of the challenges confronting our world. The parents and children are recipients of God’s grace and they demonstrate godly values and virtues. The father in the home fears the Lord – placing the family under the firm control of God’s word. The wife is described as a fruitful vine by the sides of the house, not a brier or a thorn in the wild desert. The children, like olive plants, sit around the table, meaning that they live under the protection and guidance of their parents and are obedient to instructions. The stable family then receives divine blessings from God that include long life and prosperity. The unity, cohesion, and stability of the family life serve as the bedrock for a strong society and a source of blessing to the Church.
More significantly, the passage also shows the large-scale impact of having such godly families in our society. Where the family system is respected and protected, stable family structures promote peace, goodness, and blessings in our nations. As Christians, we must set the example of building the ideal family so that our homes become the role models for the modern society that is drifting away from the divinely established holy estate.
Thought for the day
If God leads your marriage, you’ll stop enduring and start enjoying it.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
3 comments
Thank you God for making me a joy to the family, an Olive plant to sit around their table. Thank you Lord, I’m so grateful for this privilege.
The Lord has at several times blessed me with this standard Daily Manner, being produced by the DCLM. Thank you, the editorial board for the quality and excellent work. The Almighty Lord God will continue to lift you up and give you more vision for rebranding as the Spirit of God lest
Thank you once again.
Pastor Abiodun Osasona
Thank you God for making me a joy to the family, an Olive plant to sit around their table. Thank you Lord, I’m so grateful for this privilege.
The message was inspirering
The Lord has at several times blessed me with this standard Daily Manner, being produced by the DCLM. Thank you, the editorial board for the quality and excellent work. The Almighty Lord God will continue to lift you up and give you more vision for rebranding as the Spirit of God lest
Thank you once again.
Pastor Abiodun Osasona