‘… and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Acts 1:8
Many are well familiar with the commissioning declaration in Acts
1:8. However, in verse four of that same chapter, we find the disciples being
commanded to not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise
of the Father – The Holy Spirit.
Jesus told them that they would be His witnesses,
And that it would begin right where they were … at home
Yet all too often, it is the home which suffers the most –
even among those who have dedicated themselves to being the light in their
church, in their workplace and in their communities. Know that you cannot effectively
and credibly export what is not first cultivated and established at home.
Noted humanitarian Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying,
‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The
poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We
must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.'
I Timothy 5:8 tells us [when speaking of families caring for
widows] that anyone who does not provide for his own household is worse than an
infidel.
We must understand – whether physical needs, spiritual
needs or emotional needs – the light which emanates from one’s life should first
be impacting the ones closest to them. My children would have a tremendously
difficult time understanding all the giving that has taken place over the years
if I only concentrated my attentions outward. However, my aim has always been
to convey – by my words, my actions, my life – that they are my number one
priority. So I ask …
- Do our families get the best part of us or what is left over after work and other obligations?
- Do they get quality and quantity time?
- Do they know they are loved?
- Do we speak the truth in love?
- Does our commitment to quality and respectful communication extend to the family – or do we raise our voices and use sarcasm?
- Do we actively strive to block the day’s frustrations from entering our home?
- Is there an overwhelming feeling of peace in the home?
- Is dinner special every night or only when there are guests?
- Are we able to laugh and have fun?
- Do they know they are loved unconditionally?
- Do we pray and demonstrate and unyielding and unwavering commitment to the LORD?
- Do the fruits of the spirit permeate the atmosphere - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
- If our family members were asked to describe us, what words would they use?
Understand, no one will hit the mark every day, in every
instance – not at home or anywhere else. However, our heart desire should be to
want to give our very best to our loved ones, to be our very best – in Christ –
for our loved ones.
I fail often. Yet I will quickly acknowledge my faults,
apologize and work to remedy the situation. It is not a matter of being a perfect, excellent, shining example in every interaction with family. It is, however, a
matter of striving for excellence in every interaction.
Ultimately, as we tend to the light in our hearts and in our
homes, we will realize that the task of shining a light for others is
significantly eased. Rather than searching for opportunities to shine the light
of Christ, we will find people curiously drawn to the light of love which
floods every area of our lives.
2014: The Light … keep it shining … start at home
May God Bless You Abundantly … Have a Great Week!
No comments:
Post a Comment