September 21, 2025 Devo

Why is it that we often treat the worst, the very people we say we love the most? It’s true, isn’t it? There are some of us who are so well thought of when we go to work or church. We smile, we’re kind, we’re pleasant, and we’re affirming. We tell people how nice they look. We say the words “please” and “thank you” a lot. When someone around us gets loud, or bumps into us, or spills something on us, we tell them to think nothing of it. When someone asks us for a favor, we say, “We’d love to.”
Then we go home. And somewhere between the car and the house, Mr. Nice Guy’s body gets taken over by Mr. Grumpsalot. And the yelling, the griping, and the snide remarks begin. The smile is replaced by a sneer. The pleasant tone is replaced by a sharp reply. Compliments are scarce, and complaining abounds. At work or church, it was all about THEM. At home, it often becomes all about ME. Some of us have even mastered the art of having a foot in both worlds by making ugly faces at our family WHILE we’re on the phone talking nicely to someone else! Jesus had a good word for that kind of behavior. “Hypocrite.”
God has called us to be His Ambassadors to our families FIRST. That’s right, our role as agents of His love, mercy, and grace begins right there in our very own living rooms. Paul says we are to “love our wives as Christ loved the church” and that we are not to “provoke our children to anger.” That doesn’t mean that we aren’t to discipline our kids or have hard conversations with our spouse about things that need to be confronted. But it DOES mean we are to do those things in love. It also means that we are to treat our families like treasures that God has entrusted to us. Because they ARE!
“Children are a reward from God.” “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” Ever heard those verses? It’s God’s way of reminding us that our families are PRECIOUS. And we need to treat them with a lot more care than we often do. Our verse today says, “I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.” Integrity is keeping the promises you make. Integrity is living up to what you said you would be when you took your wedding vows. Integrity is speaking, acting, and treating your family members as though you really are the man or woman of God you say you are. I’ve often said that I’m amazed at how many people haven’t figured out that being “holy” also means being “nice.” And I would add to that, it starts at home! That’s God’s Word for you today.