Traditions of Men
Most families have certain ways of doing things, don’t they? You probably feel that your family celebrates the holidays like no other family. Your family travels to destinations unlike other families. When a new person is added to the family, such as through marriage, it may seem a bit awkward until that person gets used to the way things are done in your family.
When I was in the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently I was talking on a satellite phone to 3, Rivers of the World’s (ROW) executive administrator, when she leaned out her back door to call her kids to come inside to eat lunch. She is more than accustomed to chatting with me when I’m overseas in some remote area.
Then I called my new daughter-in-law to be, Sarah, and wished her a happy birthday all the way from the Congo. Omba Ngandu, ROW Congo program director, emailed Sarah in his native language of Tshiluba and also wished her a happy birthday. Sarah was a bit overwhelmed, to say the least, because she had never gotten a call or email from the Congo before! To my family, and to my ROW family, all this is perfectly normal.
How about you? What are some of the things, or traditions, that make your family unique and special? Reflect upon this today and allow it to encourage you. I’m sure God delights in how families find ways to show their love for one another. Customs and traditions are wonderful ways to unite families and keep them strong. We have unique traditions in our church families too, don’t we. Paul warns us in Colossians 2:8 to be careful to not be led astray by man’s traditions. We read:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Let’s not grow apathetic in our walk with the Lord. The best way to stay spiritually strong is to stay in the Word. The more knowledge we have of God’s word the less likely we will be to fall prey to the deceitfulness of this world.
To Mr. Ben Mathes,
I am grinning ear to ear reading these words of encouragement, as I can relate. Not all of my friends know that my aunt and uncle are missionaries in Africa. Like you, I have been so blessed to be able to spend time there and other places in the world. It is priceless to be sitting at a restaurant with a friend here in Raleigh, North Carolina and get a phone call on my cell from a Pastor Friend in South Africa. “What in the world?!” is often the response. They are right too. What in the world am I doing? It is normal to me. It is then that I am reminded that I am not of this world. God gives us amazing opportunities to work with Him in whatever our “normal” life entails. And that is where the next steps lays… being patient while figuring out what is my calling and how will God use the gifts He’s placed in me, in conjunction with what I get excited about, for His glory.
Thank you for living out the calling of your life. Further for being willing to share it and being so REAL on the radio. It is empowering to hear and I am overwhelmed when you come over Klove and share the latest story as it is my hope. My desire is to also serve him by reaching the forgotten in the remote places of this world.
So don’t be alarmed if someone comes up to you this weekend wanting to listen and laugh and know all that is in store for the next adventure, as I am a close friend of Sarah’s and will be at the wedding. She told me just a few weeks back about the story of you calling her to wish her a happy birthday from the jungle. She had a twinkle in her eye and inquisitive excitement in her voice as she laughed about how amazing it was to get that call. What is even more exciting is her knowing that the man that she is about to marry has a secure foundation in Christ with an excellent example to follow.
with delight,
Julie Anna
Julie Anna,
Thank you so much for your wonderful response to our ROW devotion, “Traditions of Men.” I will be certain to forward your comment on to Ben’s personal email address.
On a personal note, I recently accepted a call on my life to the mission field so I read your response with much delight and encouragement. I’m heading to Vietnam first with ROW on Sept. 8; please keep the team in your prayers.
Stop by often and check out the ROW blog. When time permits, I’ll be adding pictures and images to go along with the devotions.
Many blessings to you,
Karin (ghost writer for ROW)