The Infamous Family Photo!

 

I’m going to sound a lot like my Mom for the next couple of minutes. Throughout my life I have not been fond of FAMILY PHOTOS and my MOM always wants to take one. This photo above is as close as we get to a COMPLETE FAMILY PHOTO. We are missing Klayton/Keegan/Maverick/Riley/Jordan and Kelley. ALSO, there are a couple of photo bombs in the picture that are friends of the g-kids (but we count them as family anyway) When you have a daughter that lives in Mississippi and a daughter with some of her kids that lives in California, COMPLETE FAMILY PHOTOS are hard to come by. We have a “wall” in our living room that is dedicated to our three daughters, their husbands, and 22 grandkids. But, even that wall is out of date. (I’m a slacker!) I really need to get that updated! LOL!

It’s amazing what catches your attention as you read scripture and I firmly attribute that to the power of the Holy Spirit. I am reading Mark 5 today and the story of the man who is liberated from the LEGION of demons. Those demons are sent into a herd of 2000 pigs and they plung over a cliff to their death. After the miraculous healing, here is the interaction between the man and Jesus:

“As Jesus was getting in the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, ‘No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord h as done for you and how merciful he has been. So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.” (Mark 5:18-20)

I never noticed this before, but Jesus did NOT tell him to go tell his FRIENDS and FAMILY. He didn’t say, Go proclaim all I have done on the street-corner or in some far off mission field. He mentions ONLY going to share with his family. This man decides he can’t hold it in and he shares with his entire community, but the directions both in Mark and Luke say GO SHARE WITH YOUR FAMILY. We don’t know if his kids were young. We don’t know if his kids were adults, we don’t know if he was a grandparent, single, or anything about his family, but Jesus did, and he told him that was HIS mission. 

I believe there is nothing written in the Bible that is VOID of meaning. Everything recorded in Scripture is meant to fulfill God’s purpose. The message here is, YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL IS WITH YOUR FAMILY. 

When I thought about this mission, I look back with some regrets. I should have done more and I should do more, even today. I know, just because you share doesn’t mean they will profess their faith in Jesus, but we can’t ever stop sharing and living a life of example for our kids, our grandkids and our great-grandkids.  When Stephanie and I pray together every morning, nearly every time, our prayers include prayers that ALL of our KIDS and grandkids would live a life devoted to Jesus, professing faith in him, following his will for their lives, and LOVING HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS. I cannot imagine being in heaven for eternity without my kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. We don’t always have control over that decision, but we can never stop praying they will be surrounded by people that love Jesus, people that direct them to Him, and that at some point they make that personal decision to follow him.

Heavenly Father, There is not a single day that goes by that I don’t pray for my family. You know my desire. I would give anything for them ALL to know and love you. Fill their lives with your spirit, send people to show them YOUR love, and give them a heart that desires you. Help me to be an example for them and to forgive me for the times I have failed to share. Thank you Lord for all you will do in their lives. Amen!