One danger that any of us who are involved in Christian ministry (and
that should be every follower of Jesus Christ!) need to watch out for is the
tendency to get so caught up in God’s work that we lose our focus on God
Himself. So here is a word of encouragement and caution, to myself first of
all. If we do not keep God first (even neglecting ministry if we must, although
that is not God’s desire), at some point we will not have the strength to go
on. Also, we will not have God and His truth and joy within us to pour out to
those we are ministering to. This has been a thought on my mind for the past
few weeks, and was again yesterday morning as we ventured out to the clinic.
We had the privilege of joining two fellow pro-lifers, one nicknamed “The
Gatekeeper”, as well as the mobile ultrasound unit team out on the front lines.
Yesterday morning was the coldest morning I’ve been out yet, and people’s
hearts seemed to be much the same. No one (that we know of) turned away from the
place of death. However, God’s truth was proclaimed, help was offered, and we
did have a few interesting interactions.
One young man driving by on the road stopped a short way up from the
mill entrance and actually backed up on the road so that he could pull in and
talk to us! He wondered what we were doing and we were able to share with him
that little children were being killed there and God’s perspective on that. When
we first began talking he immediately brought in the question about rape cases,
but by the end of our conversation he seemed to agree with us.
I think that the situation that made me the saddest (they’re all very sad but some seem to
touch us in a certain way) was a family that came in a red convertible. The
woman’s mother went inside with her so that the woman’s husband/boyfriend could
stay out in the car with their (maybe three-year-old?) twin daughters. The man
seemed very restless – changing parking spaces, leaving several times, in and
out of his car . . . Their little daughters were so adorable and it was
heartbreaking to think of what that family will go through now.
The third most significant contact was with a couple as they were
driving out. They said that they had been there for birth control removal and
that the reason they went there was because it was thousands of dollars cheaper
than other places. When asked if she would get pregnant now if they would keep
the baby, they identified as Jehovah’s Witness and said that they were against
abortion. We talked with them for a bit and gave them an information packet.
So, my friends, as each one of you go and minister in whatever way God
has called you to, remember to keep God first. His work is never more important
than Him!
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