True Missionary Effort Begins In The Home

[Thompson, Darryl]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for January 25
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True Missionary Effort Begins In The Home

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Luke 1:6.

In forming a relationship with Christ, the renewed man is but coming
back to his appointed relationship with God. . . . His first duty is to
his children and his nearest relatives. Nothing can excuse him from
neglecting the inner circle for the larger circle outside. In the day of
final reckoning fathers and mothers . . . will be asked what they did
and said to secure the salvation of the souls they took upon themselves
the responsibility of bringing into the world. Did they neglect their
lambs, leaving them to the care of strangers? . . . A great good done
for others will not cancel the debt you owe to God to care for your
children. The spiritual welfare of your family comes first.

In rightly training and molding the minds of her children, mothers are
entrusted with the greatest mission ever given to mortals.

Whenever you take up the duty that lies nearest you, then God will bless
you, and hear your prayers. There are too many doing outside missionary
work, while their own households are left destitute of any such
efforts,-going to ruin through neglect. . . . The first missionary work
is to see that love, light, and joy come into the home circle. Let us
not be looking for some great temperance or missionary work to do until
we have first done the duties at home. Every morning we should think,
What kind act can I do today? What tender word can I speak? Kind words
at home are blessed sunshine. The husband needs them, the wife needs
them, the children need them. . . . It ought to be the desire of every
heart to make as much heaven below as possible.

A soul saved in your own family circle or in your own neighborhood, by
your patient, painstaking labor, will bring as much honor to the name of
Christ, and will shine as brightly in your crown as if you had found
that soul in China or India.

>From Devotional: Our Father Cares, p. 34, 35.