Romans 16:13 (NLT)

“Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.”

When the Lord picks you to serve, He looks at you and your household. God intends for entire households to come to Him and to serve Him, and you are just the entrance doorway into the entire family. Don’t be satisfied by your being picked by God to serve. God wants more. God wants your spouse, your siblings, your parents and others in your network to key into the service ministry. And we see this happening with Rufus.

Jesus “picked out” Rufus but not only him, “also his dear mother.” The mother was also chosen by the Lord and she served the ministry well by being a mother also to Paul the apostle. The roles may be different but look for ways to get your family members into the Lord’s service. For Rufus’ mum, she may never have preached a powerful message or suffered jail time like the other apostles; yet her being available to “mother” Paul was a huge ministry in itself. This simple woman provided emotional and heart comfort to the laboring apostle. She was not so concerned about his ministry as much as his personal wellbeing. She took him as a son. She provided what Rufus could never ever provide. So let’s not look down on the small ways other members of our family may serve. Bring them in. Give them opportunity. And celebrate what they do.

“Yes Lord. Help me to keep opening opportunities for my family members to join in the labor. Oh! Help me to see that You may have earmarked them for a valuable service. May I also never despise their ways and manners of service. In Jesus name. Amen.”