“Let us think about each other and help each other to
show love and do good deeds” – Hebrews 10:24 NCV
I am the man that I
am today first of all because of my parents. They instilled in me certain values
to care about other people.
Our home was constantly filled with other
people. If people were in pain, they were at our house. If they were on the
road, they were at our house. If they were going through a conflict, they were
at our house. If they were a well-known Christian leader coming through town,
they were at our house.
home in one year. It was over a thousand meals! I grew up learning an attitude
of “give your life away” and that it’s not about me. It’s about helping other
people.
That’s what awesome families
do. They teach each other to show love and to do good deeds. Good deeds are
called ministry. They are called service.
A good example of this is
Cornelius’ family in the book of Acts: “He and all his family were devout and
God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly”
(Acts 10:2 NIV).
What a great legacy! Wouldn’t you like to have people
writing that about you and your family one day?
Pray this prayer
today:
“Dear Jesus Christ, I want to live an awesome life. And
I want to have an awesome family. I know I won’t have either if I just live for
myself. So today I give myself to you. As for me and my house, we’re going to
serve the Lord. I want my family to be a place of play and fun, not just work
and negativity. I want my family to be a place where we encourage each other to
grow constantly. I want to be a family that is a shelter in the storm, a safe
haven, a refuge.
Help me to protect my family — not just their bodies but
also their minds. I want my family to serve you by serving others. Help us to
find our family mission, our purpose, what you shaped our family to do. Help me
to teach my kids to be generous by modeling generosity to God and to others.
Help me to have a bifocal vision to not just care about my family but to teach
them to care about the whole world. May we model dedication and service and
generosity and prayer. I can’t do this on my own, Lord. So I ask you to come
into my life and take complete control of every area and give me the power to do
the right thing. In your name I pray. Amen.”
[by Rick
Warren]
