Size of families

Does the size of one’s family matter to God? You might be tempted to think so, if you listen carefully to some people.

Efforts have been made over the centuries, to “take over” the world, or the church, or a nation, or whatever—simply based on the premise that overwhelming numbers were the way to get the job done.

But God has always disdained this approach; and He has made sure that it has never worked. This is partly due to the fact that self-righteous sinners would be sure to give themselves the credit for their “success”; and it is partly due to the fact that He (the Lord) would be robbed of His rightful glory.

The Muslims, the Mormons, and the Roman Catholics have subscribed to the “win the world by numbers” game—but they are yet to demonstrate their triumph. Today, the Patriarchal movement has joined the fray, and hopes to see their goals implemented—largely through the sheer force of bodies.

So, to go back to our original question: Does the size of one’s family matter to God? The answer is, “No.” God would rather do a lot with a few; than witness a new construction effort of the Tower of Babel.

National Days of Prayer

Recently, in reading about Thomas Shepard, one of the early Puritan pastors of New England, I was struck by references to how the state called upon the church to set times aside for prayer for the commonwealth.

This is really a beautiful thing, when you think about it. The church instructs the state; and the state learns its lessons so well, that it turns around and commissions the church to special seasons of prayer, (within its discretion and jurisdiction).

I think the next time our president asks us to pray, we ought to take heed, and fulfill the request.