On this day // Family Focus Now // Colossians 3

1. This day in history

2. Focus on the family

3. Scripture

1. This day in history

On this day in 1452, the painter, architect, philosopher, poet, composer, sculptor, athlete, mathematician, inventor, and anatomist, Leonardo Da Vinci was born.  His life is worth reading about.  In 1865 on this day, Abraham Lincoln died, having been shot late the night before.  4 years earlier, on the exact same day, Lincoln had declared a state of insurrection and called for an army to put down the southern rebellion.  And last, on this day in 1912 the luxury liner Titanic sank off Newfoundland.  1500 people died.  Thanks to the chivalry of the time, unlike you saw in the movie, 74% of the women survived, and only 20% of the men.  Millionnaire John Astor who helped build the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, and the designer of the Titanic, were both among the dead.

2. Focus on the family

We’ve been in lock down now for about a month.  How are we doing?  I’ve heard of friends getting back to home projects that are decades old.  My wife is finishing a knitting project from years ago.  I organized the books in my study the first week.  One thing quarantine is showing us, is that many of us are not at home being home, while some of us are. 

However that’s working for you, my main point in this segment is to encourage you to focus on your family – those you are living with.  The 2^nd greatest commandment according to Jesus is to love your neighbor, and these are your closest neighbors.  Our twisted humanity has all kinds of ways to turn away from what is most important, and maybe you can see yourself more clearly doing that now.  I know I’m more inclined to scroll the news and FB now than ever, to get informed, to connect with friends.  And we can neglect our families who probably need extra love in this time. 

One thing my extended family has taught me over our years of birthday and holiday parties together, is that there is tremendous value in sitting in the same room together, with no TV or devices on, looking each other in the eye, and conversing.  This is a great time to reclaim the art of conversation, to reconcile old disagreements or wounds, to explore one another’s hopes and dreams, to open the Word of God together and read a passage, and talk about it, and pray together.

3. Scripture - Col 3:12-16

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”