Luke and the Lost

I will never forget the day I had to tell my parents that Randy and I felt the Lord was leading us to Ohio, about a thousand miles away from Oklahoma where we grew up. It was not pleasant. They knew it might happen for they raised me to be obedient to God, but somehow mom thought God should have gone through her first. Years later, our call from God to minister in a new culture became more acceptable to them. They became involved more in a new local ministry. But there were discouraging messages of “we never see you” that occured often. We all go through a separation of sorts when we lay down everything before the Lord in order to obey Him fully. Missionaries do it. Pastors do it. We must obey or we will not have peace with God.

Jesus went through a similar experience with his earthly family and the results are powerful, resulting in encouragement to us who follow Jesus, in just a few words, tucked between the miracles and the majesty of his message. We have heard it said often in the world the “blood is thicker than water”, meaning that we defend family above all else. But Jesus says, “OBEDIENCE is thicker than blood” meaning that those who give up ALL to obey HIM is now related to HIM! We are brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ! That trumps our earthly family! We still have great respect for those who raised us up in God’s Word, but we belong to Christ ultimately who “hear and do God’s Word” no matter what. We are ALL, family included, brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ who hear and do what He asks.

Luke 8, The Message
19-20 His mother and brothers showed up but couldn’t get through to him because of the crowd. He was given the message, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God’s Word. Obedience is thicker than blood.”

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Whew, tough stuff but Truth. Jesus understands! I once read a missionary’s statement that gave me peace many years ago in my separation from our families to obey God’s call in another place. The missionary was having great difficulty with missing loved ones back home. He fell to his knees and then heard God say…”Continue to take care of those things that are precious to me and I will take care of those things that are precious to you.” I have never forgotten those words that were transforming for my own call, my heart, mind and soul while being obedient to Jesus. God took care of mom and dad until I could bring them to where we are and care for them. Mom has passed away but not before she told me she was proud of us for following God. Dad now lives with us. Full circle.

I pray these words will be encouraging to someone today. We do not know who actually reads this each morning, but know that you are in our prayers, on our hearts and in our thoughts often. These writings each morning are simple obedience. It is a call to rise up early before my “day job” and express the love I have for Jesus to You and hope that His Word is as helpful to you as they are to me. Either way, it’s actually just simple obedience.

Be blessed brothers and sisters!

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word is timely, refreshing for the soul as well as challenging and powerful. Be with us this day as we obediently carry out the work You have before us with all that is within us. Be our strength, wisdom, insight and understanding. Continue to be with us…
In Jesus Name, Amen