Saturday 21 October, 2017

31 Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to get him. 32 A crowd was sitting around Jesus. They told him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside. They are looking for you.” 33 “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then Jesus looked at the people sitting in a circle around him. He said, “Here is my mother! Here are my brothers! 35 Anyone who does what God wants is my brother or sister or mother.”

It was hard for the disciples to understand who Jesus was. It must have been even harder for his family – they had seen him growing up as the first-born son in their family. But he is also the first-born son of God’s family. Same for me: I’m a member of my immediate family, but I’m also a member of God’s family.

Clearly his physical family is worried about him, and want him to come back to them. Perhaps they remembered when Jesus had gone missing in Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-52). Jesus said “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (which they didn’t understand then either) but he returned with them and was obedient. Being God’s son enhanced the relationship with his physical family. I should look for blessings to come to my physical family from me being God’s son too.

But Jesus’ place in God’s family is the most important. Obedience to his Heavenly father has to take priority.

It can be hard to step outside the safe and familiar to do what God asks. But by His side is the only really safe place.

It can be hard to let go, to trust our heavenly father to look after His family. It can be hard letting my wife go off to India on her Heavenly father’s business. It can be hard trusting my sons’ Heavenly father to speak to them when they won’t listen to me, to walk with them when they don’t want to walk with me. It can be hard, but He’s a much better head for our family than I could ever be.

Families require trust – all the more in God’s family.

Father, thank you that you are my father. I put my family in your hands. Please take them on adventures with you.

Written by David Cornell