Family
There is nothing like family. They are the ones God placed you with. You grow in knowledge of each other, for better or worse. There is a kind of security within the walls of family, a sense of loyalty. And then the gospel of Jesus separates us.
“To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'” (Luke 9:59-62 NASB)
To follow Christ is to belong to a new family. A family created by the Spirit of God. One united in purpose, for His glory and praise. Our loyalty belongs to the One who said, “Follow Me,” and proclaim “the kingdom of God.” Those in your old family, that haven’t been saved, are going to think your out of your mind. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, Jesus’ family thought He lost His mind.
“And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, ‘He has lost His senses.'” (Mark 3:20-21 NASB)
There are beautiful occasions when the whole family is saved through faith. Jesus’ family was, eventually. That should give us hope. Ours is to speak the word of the Lord. (Acts 16:32-34 NASB) Praise God for miracles, but whole families is not how the gospel is usually received. Faith in God’s gospel resets our values and priorities. They then become contrary to those still held captive through their unbelief.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39 NASB)
There is nothing like our sadness for family members that are still deceived. Pray.
His Family Table 