Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.
— Genesis 18:18-19
During my time as a youth pastor, I led many short term mission trips with students. These young people would return home on fire for God and be amazed at the “spiritual high” they experienced on the trip. Why was there so much spiritual energy and focus on the trip, but seemingly so little at home? The answer is simple. On the trip they were doing three things every day: 1) They were spending private time in God’s Word and in prayer, 2) They were worshipping together daily with others on their team, and 3) They were intentional, as a team, about making a difference in the lives around them.
Have you ever thought of your family as a short term mission trip? God has intentionally brought you into the world with your family members. His desire is that throughout the year, your family unit would function just like a short term mission team, with each team member: 1) spending time daily with God in private devotion, 2) the entire family coming together for family worship, and 3) the entire family being intentional, as a team, about making a difference in the lives of your extended family, church, neighbors, and beyond.
God called Abraham to begin a multi-generational mission to reach the world for Christ. It was not an individual mission, but a family mission, which began with intentional spiritual life in the home. God Abraham that if he would begin his spiritual mission at home, that the results would reach all the nations on earth!
Take action! Talk as a family about how during this year ahead, you can increase your time in private devotion, family worship, and intentionally reaching out to others as a “short term mission team.”