Families Worship Jesus Together
Sometimes the circumstances of life
make it impossible for families to gather together in worshiping
the Lord. When I first met the Lord and truly surrendered
my life to Him, I was the only born-again believer in the home.
And I wasn't really even in the home. I was 17, and had
already had to leave home because of my conflicts with parental
authority and the law.
In just a few days, though, I went
to tell my mother about my new faith in Christ. Right
there in the house she knelt down and gave her heart to the
Lord. Soon she was joining me when I went to church
services. My step-father was another story. I and my
mom both told him what the Lord Jesus had done for us, but he
had lived a hard life, and it was difficult for him to give in
to faith.
My mom and I continued to go to
church services every chance we got. We usually went twice
on Sundays and also attended special meetings held by other area
churches. We did not badger my step-dad, but simply tried
to live for the Lord. Before long, he invited me to move
back into the house. He was very impressed with how my
life had been changed.
Soon, I began to get busy with
church ministries that took me all over the city, and even out
of town. My step-father began to take my mom to church
meetings every Sunday. He would drive her to the service,
but then would usually wait outside, where he could smoke — and
not have to listen to the preaching. After awhile, he
began to go inside more often.
About two years went by, and I was
married and living in another state half way across the country.
Both my mother and I continued to pray that my step-dad would
give his heart to the Lord. One day I was especially moved
by compassion to pray for my step-father's salvation. I
remember weeping as I prayed. Within about a week I
received a letter from my mother. In the letter she told
of how my step-father had gone to a church service on a previous
Sunday morning and had responded to the general invitation given
by the pastor to surrender to Christ. My step-dad had gone
down to the front of the small country church building, kneeling
at a simple wooden alter to pray and publically yield his heart
and life to Jesus Christ.
At the beginning, Christ only
possessed one life in our household. But before long, He
possessed us all. When a family knows and loves the Lord
Jesus, they go to worship together. When only the parents
know the Lord, the whole family goes to worship the Lord
together.
Circumstances may complicate our
lives. But the Lord loves us all with the same great love.
We simply need to share that love with everyone in the household
in whatever ways are open to us. Love compels us to care,
to pray, to help, to forgive and understand, to share in
meaningful ways (not nagging, scolding or threatening), and to
be patient. God will do His own great work of saving the
soul that is lost. In the mean time, we must be faithful
to live as witnesses of God's grace.
©2008 GospelGifs |
