The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever” (Psalm 125:2).

The next day we would leave the Galilee area of Israel and travel on to Jerusalem. After dinner at the Kibbutz, we gathered in a private room for evening devotions and sharing. I told the group, “Tomorrow will be a full day of sightseeing and traveling. Our guide told me the weather looks cooperative, so it should be good weather-wise. I might not get a chance to remind you tomorrow, so let me tell you now. Be sure to notice that we will be going up to Jerusalem. As we enter the city, notice the surrounding mountains. This will be an illustration that you will remember the rest of your lives. As the mountains are round about this very precious city, so the Lord personally embraces, or surrounds, His people.” As the tour bus approached the city, the mountains seemed to majestically say, “See us? This is how our great Creator God surrounds you.”

For today: If you know Christ as your Savior, you have the Lord’s promise that He surrounds you in His faithfulness.

“And Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (1 Kings 16:33).

Ahab, the seventh king of the Northern Tribes, ruled twenty-two years. He is remembered as the king who provoked the Lord to anger greater than any other king. What a way to be remembered! I may be remembered as the one who left you in a cliffhanger yesterday. I wrote to you of the situation I faced years ago as a young pastor when I was invited to conduct the funeral of a wicked young man. The contact was made through the television ministry of our church. The assembled guests waited to see what this Baptist minister would say. I stood before them, introduced myself and said, “Thank you for the privilege of being invited to conduct the funeral service of John Smith (not his real name). I never had the opportunity of meeting him, but I am delighted to meet you today. I am sorry that it is under these circumstances. It is an honor to stand before you today and a solemn responsibility to remind you that someday you too shall come into this same situation. Someday you will die. I have two questions for you. First, do you know Christ as your Savior, and second, how do you want to be remembered?” From that point on, I had the privilege of sharing the Word of God. Think of the question. How do you want to be remembered?

For today: I need to live for Christ in such a way that, after I am gone, folks will not so much remember me as they remember how Christ worked through me.

“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him” (1 Kings 16:30).

What a way to be remembered! Omri’s son, Ahab, will always be remembered as the wicked seventh king of the Northern Tribes. His twenty-two years of ruling were lived in open defiance of God. Many years ago I was invited to do a funeral for a man, a wicked man, who had never darkened the doors of a church. He lived in an openly sinful way. I was asked to conduct the funeral when someone in his family watched our television program and contacted the church. I stood that day before an assembly of people who came with various motives. Some cared about the family, but with many it was readily apparent that it wasn’t so much that they wanted to honor the deceased as it was that they wanted to hear what the Baptist preacher would say. The church family was praying; the funeral directors were concerned for me, and the friends were waiting. I stood, introduced myself and said…come back tomorrow, and I will tell you! But for now, think about this. When you are gone, you will be remembered. For what do you wish to be remembered?

For today: It is important to be living for Christ right now!

“One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother” (John 1:40).

What a wonderful ministry Andrew had in the life of his brother, Peter. We read of Andrew’s conversion in our verse for today. It was a wonderful day for Andrew. In fact, it was so wonderful that he could not keep it a secret. Immediately he went to tell his brother, Peter. Such good news compels Andrew to bring his brother to the Lord (1:41-42). It makes me smile to still think of it. One day, many years ago, my wife was looking out the window of our kitchen watching our youngest children, Billy and Rachel, playing with the neighborhood kids. To her amazement, she saw all the neighborhood kids sitting as if they were in a church service. Suddenly they all raised their hands. Quickly she left her kitchen to discover that Bill had shared the gospel and had even given the invitation. “How many of you want to go to Heaven?” Of course they all raised their hands. Karen had some quick work to do with the “assembled congregation”! His methods may not have been great, but his motive was. It really is true that when a person comes to know the Lord the news is just too good to keep a secret.

For today: How about you? You are the Andrew. Who is your Peter?

“Call unto Me, and I will answer Thee, and show Thee great and mighty things, which Thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Uncle Herb and Aunt Madeline looked forward to having their family over for a cookout that mild autumn evening. Uncle Herb knew that his great-nephew, Michael, enjoyed sitting on his lap as he steered the John Deere tractor. He had it ready in the barn to enjoy with Michael as he came up to the farmhouse to light the grill. Soon the family arrived, and his nephew, George, whispered, “We are not having a good night. Michael is in one of his moods, and I’m not sure if we are going to get through supper without him getting into trouble again. We almost didn’t come.” Herb smiled at his nephew and quietly said, “I’m sorry, George. I know Mikey can be a little hard to handle sometimes. Let’s not let it spoil our time tonight.” Throughout the evening, Uncle Herb tried to talk with Michael several times. It was to no avail. Michael was in a stubborn mood, and as a result, he missed the opportunity to ride on Uncle Herb’s tractor. Before bed that night, Madeline spoke with her husband and said, “Too bad Mikey missed out on something he loves.” Herb turned to his wife and said, “I need to take a good lesson from my great-nephew. I wonder how many good things I miss because I get stubborn and refuse to follow God’s plan?” What a great lesson for us as well.

For today: I want to call upon Him and see what great and mighty things He will do. How about you?