God has been opening my eyes and giving me a greater understanding of what it means to bring Him glory. A few weeks ago I spent a good part of a day having a “personal retreat”, and evaluating the different areas of life:
My relationship with God, marriage, parenting, ministry, serving, relationships, being a part of the body of Christ, finances, taking care of my body.
As I evaluated each area, prayed, and read, God brought to mind ways in which I could grow. Since then I have been spending time each day praying over and reading specifically about about each area of life.
I have been struck over and over by one theme that continues to dominate every area of life:
My first priority and highest calling is to bring glory to God.
I should be pointing others to God and the gospel in all that I do.
That is what I am here for!
How is that done?
I am continuing to learn what that means, but yesterday God enlightened me a little more as I was reading through a book about biblical hospitality. The author was talking about showing hospitality and how to do that. She shared about how to draw people in and love them and how to serve them. Then she said, “Every Christian family is a miracle…”
That wasn’t even necessarily the theme of the chapter, but it is what jumped off the page for me!
EVERY CHRISTIAN FAMILY IS A MIRACLE!
I haven’t been able to get this out of my mind.
A miracle! It is too easy to lose sight of the miracle of The Gospel in our lives. It truly is a miracle of God when anyone responds to God drawing them to Himself and He saves them. The regeneration of just one soul is a miracle. A miracle that none of us deserve!
THEN
When two people who have been saved by grace get married and God enables them, as they seek Him, to be be faithful and to walk out their marriage in a way that exalts God, and is a picture of how Christ loves the church, It is a miracle!
THEN
When children are born and their parents again throw themselves at the feet of God, trust Him with their childrenand in all that they do, and rely on His help and strength to discipline and raise children who are taught the truths of God’s word, and those truths are lived out in the home. It is a miracle!
THEN
When children, who are drawn by the spirit, are saved by grace and choose to honor their parents and obey God, when everything around them is in rebellion. God is seen. God is glorified. It is a miracle!
EVERY CHRISTIAN FAMILY IS A MIRACLE!
Not a church going family.
Not a religious family.
A CHRISTIAN family. A family of Christ followers.
A family who, although not perfect, is authentic.
This is truly a miracle that only God can do. And when it is seen, and people are drawn in, they are able to see Christ at work in a home and it changes lives. God changes lives and draws people to himself through His work in Christian families.
The Gospel can be seen in the miracle of Christian families!
Then I wondered…What are the things that I do that actually hinder others from seeing HIS GLORY?
What do I do to divert others attention away from Him?
How about when I try to draw others attention to myself in some way…and not to God? Or when I respond impatiently with a family member, or don’t use my time wisely, or am disrespectful to my husband, or don’t die to self. How about when I am not obedient in some way, or allow entertainment into my home that is not pleasing to God. Any or all of these things could cast a shadow over my home and hide the face of Jesus..
The Christian home…
A place where Christ should be seen and The Gospel should be lived and God should be glorified.
EVERY CHRISTIAN FAMILY IS A MIRACLE.
I pray that this miracle would be evident in my home. That it will shine brightly and bring God the glory that He deserves!
(Gina has begun writing again after taking a few months off. She has some fresh, new perspective after going through some very dark times. She would love it if you stopped by for a chat and some coffee! You can find her at her personal blog: Chats With An Old Lady.)
No comments:
Post a Comment