Prophet, Priest, and King: Leading Our Families in God's Design.

Prophet, Priest, and King: The Call to Lead Men in Our Homes

As the world around us continues to spiral into chaos, it is more important than ever for men of God to focus on leading their households. With so much happening outside of our own four walls, it can be easy to forget that our homes are where many ungodly arrows are aimed. The attempts to redefine marriage, gender roles, and the modern family are all aimed at the Christian household. As Christian men, we have a responsibility to ensure that our homes are in line with God's design, and that we are leading our families to serve the Lord.

The Biblical Model of Leadership

When we look to the Bible, we see a clear model of leadership for men. This model is based on the three offices of prophet, priest, and king. In the Old Testament, these three offices were held by different individuals - the prophet spoke on behalf of God, the priest performed sacrifices and interceded for the people, and the king ruled over the nation. However, in the New Testament, we see that Jesus Christ fulfilled all three offices in his person and work.

As men, we are called to follow in the footsteps of Christ and fulfill these three offices in our roles as leaders within our families. Let's take a closer look at each of these offices and what they mean for us as husbands and fathers.

The Prophet: Speaking Truth to Our Families

As prophets, we are called to speak truth to our families. We see in the Old Testament that the prophets were sent by God to speak his word to the people. They were often called to confront sin and call the people back to obedience to God. In the New Testament, we see that Jesus himself was a prophet, speaking the truth of God's kingdom to the people.

As men, we are called to follow in Christ's footsteps and speak truth to our families. This means we must be willing to confront sin when we see it, and call our families back to obedience to God's word. We must be willing to have difficult conversations with our wives and children, and be willing to hold them accountable to the standard of holiness that God has set for us.

But being a prophet also means that we must be men of the word. We cannot speak truth to our families if we are not first studying and meditating on God's word ourselves. We must be diligent in our study of Scripture, and seek to apply its truths to our own lives before we can expect to lead our families in the same way.

The Priest: Interceding for Our Families

As priests, we are called to intercede for our families. In the Old Testament, the priests were responsible for offering sacrifices on behalf of the people, and for interceding for them before God. They were the mediators between God and the people.

As men, we are called to follow in Christ's footsteps and intercede for our families. This means we must be men of prayer, regularly lifting up our wives and children before the throne of grace. We must be willing to bear their burdens and pray for them in their times of need.

But being a priest also means that we must be men of grace. We cannot intercede for our families if we are not first extending grace to them ourselves. We must be willing to forgive our wives and children when they sin against us, just as Christ has forgiven us. We must be willing to extend mercy and compassion to them, just as God has extended it to us.

The King: Ruling Over Our Families

As kings, we are called to rule over our families. In the Old Testament, the kings were responsible for leading the nation and ensuring that the people remained obedient to God's law. They were called to be just and righteous rulers.

As men, we are called to follow in Christ's footsteps and rule over our families. This means we must be willing to take responsibility for our households and lead them in a way that is in line with God's word. We must be willing to make difficult decisions and set boundaries when necessary. We must be just and righteous rulers, seeking to lead our families with love and humility.

But being a king also means that we must be men of action. We cannot rule over our families if we are not first taking action ourselves. We must be willing to lead by example, and show our wives and children what it looks like to live a life of obedience to God. We must be willing to take the first step in serving our families, just as Christ took the first step in serving us.

The Call to Lead in Our Homes

As Christian men, we are called to lead in our homes as prophets, priests, and kings. We must be willing to speak truth to our families, intercede for them in prayer, and rule over them with love and humility. This is not an easy task, but it is one that is vital to the health of our families and our society as a whole.

As we look to the future, it is clear that the world will continue to push against the biblical model of the family. But we must remain steadfast in our commitment to lead our families in a way that is in line with God's design. We must be willing to stand up against the cultural tide and be the men that God has called us to be.

References

• Joshua 24:15


• Jeremiah 6:16


• Hebrews 3:1


• 1 Peter 2:9


• Matthew 5:16


• Matthew 6:9-13


• Matthew 20:28


• Mark 10:42-45


• Romans 12:1-2


• 1 Corinthians 11:3


• Ephesians 5:22-33


• Colossians 3:18-21

As we strive to lead our families in the way that God has called us to, let us remember the words of Paul in Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

May we serve the Lord with all our hearts and lead our families in a way that brings glory to his name.