Me and My Family

In the recent coworkers' training held in Gurgaon the Lord's speaking was so intense and direct. Thank the Lord for the faithful ministers of the word who paid all the price to experience the Lord in various places for many years and now shepherding us through their experiences of Christ. No theory, no doctrine, but all life and living experiences. This is indeed the Lord's recovery, full of life and vitality. Many wonderful patterns to learn from. What a blessing to be in the Lord's recovery!

A brother's testimony of following the Lord wherever the Lord led him was very touching. Though his family were not at all one with him at times in following the Lord, he was faithful to the core, even against all odds, including the odd of the family. But he was determined to follow the Lord not by himself but with his whole family; that's what really impressed me. 

He could have left his family and kept moving on sans his family. But he deter not because of his family, nor did he just left his family behind. He bore his whole family in prayer until the Lord finally released all of them, and they served the Lord as a family. That was glorious. In fact, more glorious than without any opposition, especially from family.

This testimony made me consecrate not myself but my whole family as well. As of now, by the Lord's mercy, my family is fully one with me in serving the Lord. But what if one day, they opposes me? Should I just leave my family behind? God forbid. For "me and my family" must serve the Lord as Joshua of the Bible. 

"But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." 

Joshua 24:15b 

Even in daily oblation, if I may use the word, I must do it not by myself but with my whole family. This is what I need. In prayer, in Bible reading, in pursuing the ministry of the word, in loving the Lord or in functioning in the church, I must not be by myself, but with my whole family. As much as the unit of salvation is household, so much the more, the unit of serving God must be household too. This revelation from the brother' fellowship opened my eyes to see a need for deeper consecration, not merely personally but even as a family. 

Saints of the past have taken this way of serving as a family. Noah, Joshua, Israel were biblical examples and many of my contemporaries too presently.  What a blessing to be able to serve the Lord as a family! Not a family ministry, but serving as a family for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Lord, have mercy on me and my family that we may serve You as a family.