Through The Bible in a Year - January 30, 2026

I will establish my covenant between me and you…for an everlasting covenant.”* – Genesis 17:7

A secure family, maintaining the influence of God’s Word and Spirit, is the single greatest indicator of whether children will have Christian faith down the road. What happens in the home matters, especially what happens in the parents’ relationship with each other.

Plain talk: Great partners make great parents.

Why? Because when you have great partners, you have people living out the covenant relationship. “I’m going to love you based on a prior promise, not present performance—because sometimes you really tick me off. Sometimes you frustrate me. Sometimes I have to forgive you. Sometimes you have to forgive me.”

This covenant love—loving beyond the boundaries of our humanity—is the gospel being lived out in front of our children. When you love your spouse despite differences, frailties, and weaknesses, you’re saying to your children and others: “This is how Christ loves. Let me show you.”

A covenant is a commitment based on a prior promise, not present performance. That’s what we pledge in marriage—not a contract based on conditions being met, but a covenant: “For better or worse, I promise to love you.”

This gives us uncommon priorities in our culture. We prioritize time with our families – interacting, playing, worshipping, eating and working together. We also prioritize how we treasure our spouses in these family times, knowing that our marriagesare meant to model God’s covenant love. We show our childrenthe gospel by displaying what it means to forgive, to persevere, and to love even when it’s hard.

Respond: If you’re married, how are you modeling covenant love to those watching? What needs to change in how you prioritize your marriage and family? If you’re single, how can you support covenant families around you?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for treating my relationships like contracts instead of covenants. Help me to love based on prior promises, not present performance. Give me Your grace to model Your faithful love to my family, even when it’s hard. Make me a great partner so I can be a great parent. In Jesus’ name, amen.