Sobering thoughts

On 30th July 1880 The Salvation Army in England commenced evangelical ministry among children. This coming Sunday 29th July has been designated to focus prayer on the world’s children. This day links specifically with our Mission Priority from the International Vision Statement: “We will reach and involve youth and children.”

We have many children in our Homes, churches and centres. We have our own families. Let us not neglect them.

At our usual prayer meeting this morning held at our Territorial Headquarters we focused out prayer thoughts especially on children. We prayed for parents to take Deuteronomy 6 seriously and teach their children the principles of God’s word from a young age.

For my own private devotion, I used two books – Words of Life (SA publication) and also the 40 Day daily devotions produced by Love Singapore. This morning message was on “Re-focus on the family” based on the story of Joseph.

The writer appeals to parents to ensure they carry out their spiritual duties. “Fathers, your family needs you. Have you been absent in their lives – absent physically, absent emotionally? Have you used your ministry or career as an excuse?....

“Praying mothers. There is no perfect family. Each is dysfunctional in its own way. What is the skeleton in your closet? Be encouraged by the Joseph story. Nothing is impossible with God.”

There was reference to Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision. Sadly, we read this about Bob Pierce who gave his life to feed the world, but neglected his family.

Bob Pierce's daughter, Marilee Pierce Dunker, wrote "My father went to China a young man in search of adventure. He came home a man with a mission."

But his family fell apart, his daughter committed suicide. In 1970, Pierce legally separated from his wife. He met only once again with his family, in September 1978, and died four days later.

Pierce, wrote, "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." Pierce was certainly a man of compassion, and his heart was indeed broken, but the man with a broken heart also broke hearts, including his own, and perhaps God's as well, perhaps because he attempted God's mission in his own strength, not God’s. How important it is to maintain our relationship with God and our loved ones.

World Vision grew out of an incident that happened in Xiamen China. But we should learn the price Pierce paid that when on a mission for God, we should not shirk from that mission, but be careful to use God's methods and God's priorities, not our own. Let us not sacrifice upon altars that we, not God, have erected. Our families are important.

I pray this prayer again.

A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live,
And oh, thy servant, Lord,
Prepare a strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.

Let's not lose our focus and direction.