ADORNING ONE ANOTHER
“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”” Luke 1:17 NKJV
Our theme scripture echoes a prophecy first spoken in Malachi 4:6, where the turning of hearts between fathers and children is presented as God’s mercy, guarding families from destruction and curse. In Luke’s Gospel, this same promise is reaffirmed as part of God’s preparation of a people ready for the Lord.
Beyond its prophetic weight, this passage carries a deeply practical lesson for families today. One way hearts are turned and kept tender is through how spouses speak of one another. There is a powerful responsibility placed on both parents to adorn their partner with honor in speech, so that children can consistently see the best in either parent.
We live in a time where attacks on the family institution are relentless, and the fruit of this erosion is visible in the brokenness of many lives. For those who still belong together, it is vital that a father does not tarnish the image of his wife in the eyes of his children, and that a mother does not confide grievances in ways that cause children to disdain or dishonor their father.
God did not design the roles of parents to be interchangeable or disposable, but distinct and complementary. A father leads and provides; a mother nurtures and instructs. When these roles are honored, and spouses protect one another’s dignity, children are formed in wisdom, security, and reverence for God’s order.
In adorning one another, parents participate in God’s redemptive work: turning hearts, healing divisions, and preparing the next generation to walk in righteousness. Praise God!
Prayer: My Father, I thank you for this wisdom. I thank you that by your spirit we are taught to speak life and not harm; unity, and not division. May our families reflect your wisdom and design, and may the hearts of parents and children be turned toward one another in love. Prepare our homes to be places where your presence is welcomed and your purposes are fulfilled, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Deuteronomy 6:6
• Ephesians 6:1–4
• Ephesians 4:29
