November 7, 2024 Devo

November 7th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Questions Jesus Asked
“Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?… Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” – Matthew 12:48, 50 (NLT)
“Because That’s What Family Does”

I was talking with a group of pastors recently about how much we really need each other. Life gets hard, and ministry seems to be more and more challenging. As pastors, we sometimes feel alone, isolated, and unsure of whom we can share with and feel safe and affirmed. We need the kind of friend that Proverbs talks about—one who “sticks closer than a brother.”
As I was reflecting on our passage today, it hit me that sometimes our aloneness and isolation have to do with our view of God. If we think God is distant and untouchable, then certainly we’ll feel detached. If we view God as a Judge who is scrutinizing our behavior and ready to reprimand us at the first opportunity, then we will obviously pull away in times when we struggle.
But what if we had an intimacy with God that kept Him close? What if we had a confidence in His love that allowed us to bare our hearts fully—the good, the bad, and the ugly? What if we truly believed God’s mercy was new every morning, His grace was greater than our sin, and that He was FOR us and not against us? Maybe we wouldn’t feel as isolated and alone as we do.
Look at the question Jesus posed today. “Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Now look at how He answers it. “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” For those of us who have committed our hearts to Him, Jesus doesn’t regard us as simply “followers.” In one place He calls us “friends.” In today’s passage, He calls us “FAMILY.” And when you’re in God’s family, He is there for you. No. Matter. What.
You are not alone today. You are not forgotten or abandoned. No matter what you’re facing, what you’re going through, or what you have done, Jesus is here for you today. You don’t have to hide from Him. You don’t have to pull away from Him. He stands before you today with open arms to share whatever it is you’re going through. He’ll stand with you. Walk with you. Stay with you. Open your heart to Him. Open your arms to Him. Draw near to Him, and you’ll discover that He is right there for you. Jesus is with you no matter what. Because that’s what Family does. That’s God’s Word for you today.