ANU ABRAHAM DONNY

ANU ABRAHAM DONNY

Message on Sunday16th November 2025 at 

CSI Christ Church Trivandrum

EnglishWorship

Family Sunday

Family : Sanctuary of Harmony and Peace

Family is  where the story of man’s salvation began, the 1st place where faith is nurtured and Godly legacy is passed on from one generation to the next. It is the central theme of God’s plan for the happiness and spiritual growth of all members of the family (children, parents, grandparents,and other blood relatives). 

Family is the safe haven where we must cherish, respect, care, encourage and love each other. Unfortunately, today families have turned into places of despise, distrust, fear and even murder. 

Why? How come?

 Let us turn to the Word of God, for the answers. 

1) Family: Sanctuary for saving lives 

We have failed to reassure and deal kindly with those who need it the most. We resort to twisted methods to hurt and destroy. We fail to see that God alone is in charge. 

In the last chapter of Genesis (chapter-50, vs 15 - 21), we learn that Jacob is dead, and Joseph’s brothers are wondering what stand Joseph will take now? Will he avenge himself, for all the wrongs they did to him? However, Joseph does the unexpected; he reassures them in vs 19, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” He reminds them in vs 20 that though they intended harm, God intended everything to happen for good, to be exact the saving of many lives. 

Can we say the same about ourselves? How many times have we tried to destroy our siblings & fellow beings over petty things, things that we cannot take to the grave. Joseph’s brothers came with cunning (again), sending him a false message. However, Joseph knew himself, who he belonged to and who he served - hence, he reassured them and dealt kindly with his family. 

2) Family: Sanctuary that holds on and does not give up 

We have failed to truly understand and failed to share the LORD’s LOVE. 

What is our stand towards those who have chosen to be reckless and to waste themselves, like the ‘younger son’ in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)? Can we not wait for them, keep looking out for them anticipating their return, and when they do return, can we not celebrate and be glad, because these beloved ones were dead and are now living again; they had been  lost and are found? Let us change the ‘elder son's’ attitude of bitterness, resentment, self-righteousness to the feeling that we are entitled to greater rewards because of our obedience and loyalty; let’s not see God’s grace as “unfair'; let us not be filled with pride and jealousy, believing that we have somehow earned God's favor through our actions. Let us examine ourselves - do I really need to earn anything in this life other than the grace, mercy and faithfulness of the LORD?

3) Family: Sanctuary of God’s chosen people holy and dearly loved 

Is all lost? No - there is yet hope, when according to Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:12-17, we have to put on love which binds us all, irrespective of our errors, faults, shortcomings and failures; let us be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, bearing and forgiving each other; thankful and grateful that Christ’s message lives amongst us abundantly, helping us teach and correct each other through the love and wisdom of the SPIRIT; and allowing Christ’s peace to rule our hearts. 

4) Family: best sanctuary Model 

We can restore society when we restructure our families using Psalm 103, which depicts the model for the spiritual family and earthly parenthood. David teaches us that God is the Perfect Father, who blesses generations and forgives and disciplines us. In vs 1-5 we see the LORD’s greatness and all His benefits to us; Seven times David had used the word 'praise'.  Let us be grateful and teach our children too to be grateful for everything. Vs 6-12 reminds us of the LORD’s forgiveness and HIS extreme love for us. Vs 13-16 shows us the LORD’s compassion and sympathy, and how frail mortals are. Let us hold on to the promises HE has kept for us and our generationss. Let us praise the LORD all our life, not stopping for any circumstance nor situation that may hinder us from praising and worshipping HIM as families. 

5) Family: The Blessed Sanctuary 

When we remodel and  realign our families to the will of the LORD, both our families and society at large become sanctuaries of goodness and delight, as seen in Psalm 133, like the precious anointing oil that flows down Aaron’s beard and like the dew of Hermon fallings on the mountains of Zion, where there is life forever. 

Let the biblical families of Abraham  and Sarah, Joseph and Mary, Aquila and Priscilla, to name just a few - be reminders of how to raise up strong families, based on faith, perseverance, trust, honesty and pure love, all the while overcoming challenges and build God-centered and resilient sanctuaries that are the sanctuaries of Harmony and Peace.