"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." - Mark 3:31-35
Does that seem odd to you, that Jesus would essentially ignore his family - His earthly mother and brothers in favor of the people sitting at His feet - listening to His teaching? There is an undeniable tension for those who are born again and in ministry in particular. The tension is between devotion to biological family and the natural world and the family of God. For all of us adopted as sons and daughters of the Creator God by faith in Jesus who is God - the Father's first born among many. Intentionally living with an awareness that, as Christians, we all have been adopted out of the world into the kingdom of God.
"having predestined us to adoption as sons [and daughters] by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." - Ephesians 1:5-6
Jesus was teaching a spiritual truth. when He didn't say, "Oh sorry folks, my mom is here - see you tomorrow!" His point being - we must look beyond the physical to the kingdom of God. Since, as Christians, our primary citizenship is in heaven.
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." - Philippians 3:20
Our loyalty is first to God and then to the world. Did Jesus have affection for his mother and brothers? Of course He did. But there was a greater point to be learned. I see pastors and Christian leaders struggle with this issue - often. Not with loving God first, but with managing the ministry God has called them to with the demands of their personal family. Both require time and attention. Is there a point of balance - yes. Finding it can be a challenge. We often tend to think of the tension in terms of all or none. One or the other. Too often we end up choosing the world over God, convincing ourselves that we really haven't. The Bible says you cannot love both the world and God. You will love one and hate the other. (Matthew 6:24) Choosing God first is not the same as forgoing a ministry meeting so you can spend time with your wife, son or daughter. Neglecting your responsibilities as a husband or father - wife or mother - to your spouse and children is actually sin.
"I [Jesus] have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." - John 17:14-16
There is a saying that goes, "Christians are in the world but not of the world." That is not actually a verse but a paraphrase of verses in John 17. Having spiritual awareness of your standing in the world and your need to keep that in its proper place is critical to a successful walk of faith. Keep in mind ...
"We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" - 1 John 4:19-20
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
No comments:
Post a Comment