The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Twenty-three years ago.

It had the makings of a great missionary conference at the Central Baptist Church of Binghamton, New York. Precious missionaries were coming at our invitation to not only present their ministries but also to share with us how the Lord had reached into their busy lives, changed their directions, and burdened their hearts to serve as missionaries. They would also share what it was like for them in their pre-field ministries where they would share their opportunity with local churches and individuals.

I encouraged the church family to not only pray for the Lord’s blessing, but also to pray specifically about the possibility that the Lord might select a family that He wanted to reach into their busy schedule and change their direction into missions.

In a very real sense, every believer is a missionary. The Lord Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16).

There are some, however, who sense the very clear, strong pull of the Lord to leave the typical world of salary and benefits, raise friends and prayer supporters, humbly appreciate the financial support, report to many churches, and devote their lives to winning people to Christ and establishing strong Biblical local churches. That’s what happened to Saul and Barnabas. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

So for today: Perhaps the Lord would lead you into vocational missions. Surely the Lord will use you as a missionary today in the way you live and the words you speak.

By the way, I loved the thirty-one years of pastoral ministry. But twenty-three years ago, the family that the Lord called into vocational missions was mine! I love serving with the wonderful family of Baptist Church Planters all these years. As you pray, the Lord just might surprise you with His answer.

I read with great interest an article from “Today in History- April 16th” which detailed the historic event of April 16th, 1862. President Abraham Lincoln signed an act abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia. This was an important step in the very long and difficult struggle toward emancipation of those dear ones held as slaves. The article describes the extremely horrific state before 1850 where slave pens, slave jails, and auction blocks were a common site in DC.

I cannot begin to identify with the horror, pain, and terror that the dear slaves must have experienced. I am thankful for President Lincoln and all those who fought and sacrificed to lead the United States out of this awful situation.

But please, do not lose sight for a single moment of the terrible spiritual slavery, my friends. Every person who has not trusted Christ as Savior and been set free from the bonds of sins is a slave to sin. Think of it.

The Lord Jesus speaks to the very religious Pharisees and says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34).

Because of the amazing sacrificial work on the cross and His glorious resurrection, the Lord Jesus graciously offers wonderful new life to all who trust Him. Paul the Apostle wrote, “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18). Before I trusted Christ, I was dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). But praise the Lord! “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened” (made alive) “us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Here’s what I’m thinking today: We believers are not perfect. But praise the Lord, because of our Savior, we have freedom in Him. What a joy to be rescued from the chains of sin and now freed to love, honor, and serve Him.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

The words “humble yourselves” in this verse speak of “making oneself low, of bringing to the ground, reducing to the realm of being plain.” In other words, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter tells believers, “Don’t think too highly of yourself. Don’t be so impressed with yourself that your head is in the clouds.”

My dear grandfather had an uncommon way of expressing things. He once spoke of an arrogant person as being “too big for his own britches!” Picture that!

It reminds me of a young missionary (not a Baptist Church Planters missionary). He came to one of the churches that I was pastoring at the time. Within twenty minutes of arriving at the church, he had somehow managed to offend every single person at that Wednesday night prayer meeting. As Grandfather would say, “He was far too big for his own britches!” I stopped him halfway through the message and took back the service! That young missionary never learned to humble himself. He and his family never made it in ministry. You and I can learn much from this situation. Thinking highly of our Lord, but not so highly of ourselves is a very wise goal for each of us.

Here’s what I want to remember: When we think of the greatness of the Lord, we will view ourselves in a much more accurate way. It’s called “humility”!

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

“Mitch!” Grandpa Louis said as he slapped his hand on the kitchen table. “This is no time to be stubborn. I’ve been a friend of you and your family for as long as you are able to remember. I am not saying I know exactly how you feel. I’ve not experienced exactly what you are experiencing. But I do know that many good folks from the church have reached out to you and tried to help. Mitch, you don’t have to bear this alone. We want to help and so does the Lord.”

Across the table sat a wreck of a man. Mitch had experienced some exceptionally heart-wrenching situations. Grandpa Louis continued, “Do you remember when you came up to my farm to help with chores? You insisted on pulling that bale of hay off and carrying it over to the pen. I knew it was too heavy, but oh, no! You insisted you could carry it. Two or three steps later it would have crushed you except you allowed me to help carry it. Mitch, the Bible says to cast your burden on Him ‘cause He cares for you!”

Suddenly the memory of that bale of hay and Grandpa Louis helping to lift it was a memory that changed Mitch’s life. His burdens were too heavy, and he needed the Lord’s help.

Please seriously think about this: How about you? What are you trying to carry alone? Cast it on the Lord, and He will indeed help you because He absolutely cares about you.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Tim came down the stairs holding his hand over his mouth to keep the laughter in. Looking up at her husband and naturally curious about what in the world had taken place, Loretta asked, “What has happened up there? You were only supposed to tuck Lucas and Larry into bed.”

By now Tim was in the living room where he sat down beside his wife. “Well, that’s what I intended to do. But just as I was saying good night, Lucas decided to tell me about JOY Club and how he was learning about medicine,” Tim said. “‘Medicine?’, I asked him. ‘What are you learning about medicine in JOY Club?’ I probed a little further. Honey, he was so proud to tell me about the verse they were working on. He thought the word ‘meditation’ was ‘medication’ in Psalm 19.” Together they smiled, but then Loretta turned to him and said, “Come to think of it, when we truly have meditation on God’s Word, it is like spiritual medication to our souls, isn’t it?” That gave them both something to think about.

For today: In a very real sense, thinking about God’s Word is a very important part of a healthy spiritual heart. In fact, we might say it is good “medication”!