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May 7, 2020

Mark 3:31-35
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
New International Version (NIV)

Remember the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Without blockbuster hype or star-power, the movie took off at the box-office. Part of the appeal was the natural humor in family relationships. A father wants his daughter to get married to a “nice Greek boy.” His daughter falls in love with a “xenos,” a stranger. The daughter fears her father will forbid her to marry because he is the head of the household. Just in time, the mother intervenes, reminding her daughter that she is the “neck” who can turn the head wherever she wants it to go.

Families can be so close that they become fused. Members of the family may control others so that the others can’t differentiate themselves. This can happen in any family – even Jesus’ family. At one point his mother and brothers believed he had lost his mind and came to the rescue (Mark 3:21). Jesus loved his family but he would not let them take charge of him. From his youth he was so confident in his relationship with the Father that he reserved the right to be himself, even as he loved and submitted to his parents (Luke 2:51-52).

His family persisted, sending someone inside the house to call him. The crowd even told him, “Your family is here.” In the end, Jesus defined his own family as those who did the will of God. He surrounded himself with a new family of people who were interested in God’s interests above their own. If Jesus’ family relationships were complicated, we must not be surprised if ours are as well. Although the church never replaces our family, it affords the opportunity to build strong relationships with other Christ-followers.

One of my older brothers is best friends with the pastor of a large Baptist church in Dallas. They have spent a lot of time together training for triathlons. They refer to each other as “brother.” In the churches I have served, God has also given me relationships with Christian friends who have helped me to grow closer to Christ. One day when I was pretty sad, a friend named Rob came to me and said, “You look like you need a friend. I will be your friend.” He was right on time. Christian friends so very often walk in right when the world walks out.

Pray with me:

Father, thank you for fellow Christians who do God’s will. As we love our families of origin well, we pray that you will continue to bring brothers and sisters into our lives to encourage and empower us to do your will. With Jim Elliott we ask today for your will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:

Matthew 5:38-39

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG

We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.

Joyfully,
Duane

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Houston, TX | 77024 US

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