Family Focus

Galatians 6:7-10

As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
(Gal. 6:10)

BUILDING A SCHOOL IN HAITI. Handing out sandwiches to the homeless in the park. Tutoring disadvantaged kids in an inner-city school. Wonderful experiences, great service opportunities, and excellent ways to be a "sheep" instead of a "goat" (see Matt. 25). No one would dispute the value of these acts. Paul, however, tells us we need to do good especially to fellow believers. Note he doesn't say to do good only to fellow believers. No, we are to do good to everyone. But why, why, why is it so difficult to do good to that one choir member who doesn't seem to realize God hasn't gifted him vocally? Why is it so tough to do good to the mother who lets her child repeatedly disrupt the Sunday service? Or the man who sits in the fourth row and, week after week, conspicuously looks at his watch at 11:55? Doing good when we can swoop in and out of a situation, as in short-term service projects, is often far easier than regularly showing grace to Mr. I-can't-carry-a-tune-in-a- bucket, or offering to take junior for a walk during the sermon (every week), or really getting to know the "watch guy." We must follow both Paul's and Christ's examples of reaching out to those who cross our paths only occasionally, but let's not forget to focus "especially" on the family we see every Sunday.

Mary McNeil

Which family member will you focus on today?