I can’t fulfill the mission by sacrificing my primary objective–my family.
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Scripture
Nehemiah 4:14
“After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Observation
The Israelites had undertaken a gigantic project, rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. It was a God-sized goal, and God was leading the way–But Nehemiah urged the people to distill it down to a personal level. They weren’t just investing in Jerusalem, they were investing in their families. They weren’t just defending the city, they were protecting their sons and daughters. They were not to become so mission-minded that they forgot or neglected the primary mission that God had given them–their own families.
Application
God has given me responsibilities, dreams, a purpose, and a mission. He has called me to carry His light to a dark world, and share the good news with others. But the first responsibility He’s given me is to be a husband to my wife, and a father to my sons. In the middle of the busyness, projects, tasks, and outreaches I need to remember that my first and primary ministry is to my own family. I can’t fulfill the mission, by sacrificing my primary objective.
Prayer
God, thank you for my family! Help me to steward that responsibility well, to be the husband and father that you want me to be. Help me to grow daily more like you, and effectively share your love each day with my wife and sons.
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