Christian Family: Good News for Blended Families

That home was a home where God was honored; it was a home where God was central; and it was also a home where God was in control. Joseph did what the Lord said to do because God was in control. Mary yielded her life to the Lord because God was in control. Jesus knew what He knew (from that home) to such an extent that He could amaze the Jewish teachers. He was raised in a home where God was in control.

In a home where God is in control -- I don't care what the configuration of your blended family -- I've got some good news for you. If you listen to the voice of God and not to what the people say, you'll be all right. In a home where God is in control, if you worship at the house of God like the Lord's parents did every time they had an opportunity, if you model and teach the will of God so your children and your stepchildren can talk with their teachers about important issues of life, then you won't have anything to worry about. Everything will be found and kept in divine order because God will take care of you.

"Be not dismayed whate'er betide" -- "Joseph! Joseph! They're talking about your wife." It doesn't matter. God will take care of it. "Mary, the other children are looking kind of funny at that child with that other father." It doesn't matter. God will take care of it. Ever since the days of chattel slavery, black families have had all kinds of obstacles to overcome and stereotypes to live with, with marriage ruled out as an option and loved ones sold away at will. But it does not matter; God will take care of you.

Children, if you are in a blended family and they talk about you, remember they talked about Jesus. Hold your head up! Put a smile on your face. Step tall! Walk proud! Don't you hang your head down. Throw your shoulders back and say, "God will take care of me because I'm His child."

From Good News! Sermons of Hope for Today's Families, Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.; Edited by Jini Kilgore Ross. (c) 1995 Judson Press, Valley Forge, PA, 19482-0851 128 pages, $11.00. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Judson Press, 1-800-458-3766.