"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 KJV
Seeking God first never includes neglecting your family. This thought may be difficult to process for some people working in ministry or within service-oriented jobs. It may seem strange to hear because you have been so sold out to "doing" that you forget about "being".
Being a mother or father; a son or daughter; a sister or brother is the very first missionary post that will be given to you. It is easy to be excited by the call to help the starving in Africa, the persecuted in China, or the atheists in Russia. It may seem "wonderful" to feel needed in a local nursing home ministry, Bible work, or prison ministry. Yet there is a call that is more essential than that of "the outside", one more important than your drive to be "successful" in ministry. It is the call to "in-service".
"In-service"? Yes, "in-service", and I don't mean the one where you are "busy" in church. Even though church ministry is a part of our calling as Christians, it is not the first place people are called to the worship altar. It is not the first place where we are called to ministry.
The church flock is not the only flock for which an account has to be given to God. Whenever God asks us, "Where is the little flock I gave you?", He is asking about your family.
Acts chapter 16 gives us an example of one who knew and showed that his family's salvation was as important as his own and others.
Paul and Silas had just finished a powerful worship service that allowed the prison keeper to experience God's powerful salvation and love on behalf of children. The prison guard's response was refreshing.
"..., Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Verses 30-34
The prison ward understood well what we too must as well. In this crucial time in history, God calls us to prioritize differently, by putting our family members first in the salvation ministry. God delights in this priority.
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Luke 12:32
Prayer: Lord help me to know the seasons for ministering to others and when it is time to minister to my family. Sometimes it is hard to balance life's challenges but remind me that my first priority when mission presents itself, is seeking the salvation of my family first. Let me trust that you will be faithful to take care of the larger flock, "the 99", when the "1", the smaller flock is injured or missing.
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