Thursday, June 05, 2014

In our last study we looked at Mark 3:31-35, spread out information found in these verses, sorted it into groups and structured it into an outline. We gave the title as: The Family of God. Point 1 was, the unattached. These are those who do not believe and cannot understand anything beyond the natural. Point 2 was, the attached. These believe, but they allow the natural factors to distort their understanding and behavior. Point 3 was, the fully committed. These believe, understand and obey God’s will. In considering the context beyond these few verses, we could say, Jesus’ brothers at this point were unattached. His mother was attached, but struggling to understand what she knew of His calling, given His present circumstance. Those He was teaching in the home were likely a mix of all three conditions. The brothers eventually became attached and fully committed after Christ’s resurrection. Mary, Christ’s mother, became fully committed also. We don’t have a specific record on those who were in the home. Some might have retreated to being merely onlookers. Others, no doubt, became attached and even fully committed. To summarize what we’ve discovered, let’s ask some personal questions. What category would you put yourself in at this time? If you are unattached, do you want to become a member of the family of God? If you do, tell Jesus in prayer that you trust in Him and in what He did for you by dying for your sins. Affirm your faith in His resurrection. Invite Him to become your personal Savior. Ask Him to teach you His will and fully commit to obeying Him. If you are attached but not fully committed, ask Jesus to take full control of your life. If committed, persevere in your faith.