October 5 - Luke 8:1-3, Mark 3:20-30, Matthew 12:22-45, Mark 3:31-35, Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 8:19-21, Mark 4:1-9, Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 8:4-8, Mark 4:10-20

Good morning everyone,

Today we began our reading with Jesus heading out to tour nearby towns and villages to teach the Good News. We’re told that the twelve disciples traveled with Him along with some women who had been cured of one thing or another. In the Jewish culture of antiquity women had very little value, they certainly were not suppose to learn from rabbis. Jesus, however, was in the habit of lifting women up from lowliness and shame to a life of joy in fellowship and service. The message this sends to us today is that, in God’s economy all people are equal. We are all welcome as Jesus invites us, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” So very cool!

By this point in time the Pharisees are starting to unravel a bit. They have been use to controlling the towns, walking the streets in their long elegant robes with an heir of supremacy about them. Jesus challenged all of this and, with that, their attitude toward Jesus went from annoyance to one total dislike. Upon witnessing Jesus healing a demon-possessed man the Pharisees taunted Jesus citing that, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus basically told them, “What? How can a demon drive out a demon? That’s just dumb!” (totally paraphrased) 

In Matthew 12 we read; While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” 

I love my family very much and I am incredibly blessed to have several members of my family love Jesus like I do. Your church family, is God’s family and though not blood relatives is no less brother or sister to you than those who are. When you gave your life to Jesus, God adopted you as one of His own children, making all other Christians your siblings. It begs the question; How well do you know your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you slip in and out of the back pew of church on Sunday mornings without saying a word to anyone or do you allow yourself the opportunity to get to know some of the people there? People God has purposed to have ready for you to glean from or be an encourager for, to become friends with. It says in Hebrews 10, “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.”

Good Christian friends love sacrificially, accept unconditionally and give mutual guidance. If you don't have lots of close friends, don't be too hard on yourself, it is much harder for some of us that others to be social but true Christian friendships are rare treasures, not only worth the time, effort and vulnerability but Biblical. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..