Devotional - March 28, 2004

What a harsh statement! Was Jesus angry with his family or with his disciples who interrupted his ministry to tell him his mom, brothers and sisters wanted to spend time with him? That my friend is a trick question, for it was neither of those things that prompted Jesus to respond like that.

Three short verses is all that's committed to this brief encounter and nothing else is said of what happened that day. Did he get up and go see them, or keep preaching? Did his family come in and hear hear him, perhaps looking for a moment to see if there was a problem? We just don't know. What we do know however, is we are given a glimpse of how God views ministry versus personal time.

I can't write fast enough to let you know that spending time with one's family is not a bad thing. Nor do I want to leave you with the impression that any Christian work is worth surrendering your relationship with your family. It's not! But are you devoted to God's work to the point you have become closer to those to whom you minister than to your physical family?

When Jesus considered someone as close as a brother, a certain thing made that distinction. Notice he said, "Those who hear God's word and put it into practice." That narrows it down a little, doesn't it?

Are you a brother or sister of the Lord Jesus? Do you hear, read, study, memorize and meditate on God's word and then put it's principles into practice? If so, you know the relationship of which Jesus spoke. You have a bond with the Lord that is thicker than that of your physical family.

I pray God has taught you the truth of His word today. I hope you determine to be the kind of member within God's family who makes His Word preeminent in everything you do. If not, you better take your pulse and see if you're alive by the power of the Holy Spirit or just faking it.