Day by Day - Apr. 28, 2009
April 28, 2009
Domestic Nutrition, Part Two
by Charles R. Swindoll
As we saw yesterday, domestic nutrition in the home lands squarely on the shoulders of the husband and father. The apostle Paul used the Greek term ektrepho to urge, first of all, every husband to "nourish" his wife (Ephesians 5:25). Today, we'll examine Paul's second use of the term.
All who are fathers are exhorted with the same urgency to care for their children. Read the verse carefully, especially if you're a dad:
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (6:4)
See those words, "bring them up"? That's ektrepho, which, as we learned yesterday, could be rendered "rear them tenderly." It's the idea of treating your children fondly and carefully, deeply cherishing each one of them.
Much more could be said to husbands and fathers, but that's enough for now. In fact, let's face it, men . . . we have found enough in these few paragraphs to keep us busy for an awfully long time!
How easy for us to think of nutrition and/or nourishment as something meant only for the health of our physical body. Yet, when you search the New Testament, you find that it's also something very important for the health of our family. And just to make sure we don't pass over it too quickly, let me urge you---especially you who are husbands and fathers---to pause and realize how valuable your partner is to you . . . and while you're at it, think about how significant each one of your children is as well.
With Paul, I urge you to demonstrate your love to them. To begin with, express your affection in words of genuine appreciation. And next, spend some extra time with each this week, tenderly cultivating those relationships. I suppose we could call this kind of meaningful and loving nourishment "domestic nutrition."
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.
