August 30 Daily Devotional

Family Solidarity

Charles and Norma Ellis

Bible Reading:

Psalm 133:

¹Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
²It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
³As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Psalm 134:

¹Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
²Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
³The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Devotional:

Solidarity or unity is a beautiful thing in the family of God. Through love and the exercise of our gifts we grow as a church into a real unity in Christ. The church needs to become increasingly more aware of this.

And here again, the church, the family of God, is reflected or pictured in the human, biological family. There need be no alienation or generation gap if each member is in God's family, too.

How sad is disunity in the family. Are there in your home any who mar the goodness and pleasantness by the very fact that they are not children of God? Between believers and unbelievers is a barrier, a real barrier that may not be seen with the physical eye, yet may be felt by the sensitive soul. It is possible for this barrier to exist anywhere in the family; on one side, believers, on the other side, unbelievers.

But this barrier is not insurmountable. Were we to draw a family tree we should sketch this barrier with a dotted line because it is a barrier which may be broken down by God's grace! Those who are on the Lord's side must be instant in prayer to Him that this may be the case. The daily prayer must be that the family may be unified in Christ!

We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."

Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.

Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.