Lately, I am realizing how important families are to God's redemptive plan. In our age of independence and travel, we live in a generation where the extended family is scattered and family ties are often broken.
Two things I learned early on in my walk with Christ were:
- If I served Christ's church with all my heart but lost my family, would I have gained what God wanted?
- If you can't live your faith at home in front of those who know you best, then everything else is fake.
So I set out to do just that, to ensure that my husband, kids, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc., saw an example of a life transformed by a transforming God. Of course, it was hard at first, families can really push your buttons but what better training ground.
Some of my biblical examples for this are Noah, Abraham and Job. Their stories tell of lives where the most important thing was family salvation. A New Testament example is Cornelius in Acts. Each Story demonstrates lives saved through family ties.
Listen to what God told Abraham as he was preparing to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, where his nephew Lot lived. In the Message Genesis Ch 18: 17-24
"Shall I keep back from Abraham what I'm about to do? ... I've settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God's way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him."
Try inserting your name in that verse. It is powerful. I believe that is where change begins...at home.
I remember after I really began to love God with my whole heart. I wanted to serve him and so something big and worthwhile. I asked God, what do you want me to do for you? I had visions of being a "Beth Moore" or serving God full time on the mission field. I will never forget the impression I got as I was praying and asking God for something to do. It was as if God asked me this question,
What if the only ministry I ever give you is to your family, to your husband and your children? Would you accept that ministry?
Wow. The truth was I wanted a ministry that was glamorous. Not sure anyone who is a wife and mother would think that the ministry God offered above is very glamorous. But after a few minutes longer in prayer, what do you say to God except, YES. I then set out to live my faith out loud as an example without a lot of words in front of my family. That was 13 years ago and now I see God's wisdom in his teaching. No greater ministry than the one we offer to our families. It is God's greatest tool to passing down faith.
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