MINISTERING TO YOUR FAMILY

Thursday - February 11, 2021

Posted
“If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?” – 1 Timothy 3:5  
 
In his book “Sacred Parenting”, Christian author Gary L. Thomas illustrates that parenting is like an airline emergency. “Before takeoff, every plane passenger is instructed that if the oxygen masks come down, parents should put on their own masks first before attending to their kids.
Why? Because in an emergency, kids need their parents to be able to think clearly and act effectively. If we don’t take in oxygen, our thinking will grow fuzzy, and then our kids—dependent on us to get it right—will ultimately suffer.
What’s true in the air physically is equally true on the ground spiritually. If we neglect our own “spiritual oxygen”—our walk with God—our motivations will become polluted. Our ability to discern, empathize, encourage, and confront will waste away. We must see parenting as a process through which God purifies us—the parents—even as he shapes our children.” 
 
Our first ministry is to attend to ourselves, then our family, and finally to others. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that as you draw closer to Christ, you are a witness to your family and others. 
 
"The mind of Christ is to be learned in the family. Strength of character may be acquired at work, but the beauty of character is learned at home. There the affections are trained."  - Henry Drummond
 
God’s Word: “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” – 1 Timothy 5:4