Father may our time be productive. As I looked over the passage earlier today, may the extra time that it has percolated in my heart and mind bring to mind what You would have me say. Amen.
Acts 1:12-14(<<click here to read the passage)
Being a part of a family can certainly be a handful. Some families may look like they have it all together but, truth be told, that is very rarely the case. And honestly, the free will that God has bestowed upon us impacts our relationship with Him, but it also impacts our relationship with others…families included.
In my life I’ve witnessed the workings of many families, some have been thoroughly immersed in the church and others have had almost nothing to do with it. And you may be surprised, that many times a stringently held religiosity doesn’t necessarily guarantee that every relationship that comes out of that initial family unit will be free of strife. I would say there is just about as much division and divorce as there is in any other family background situation.
I’ve also seen, families birthed out of very disjointed and dysfunctional families, that are whole and sound, full of love and stability.
Would you be surprised to hear that Jesus’ family wasn’t perfect? The One who was wholly God and wholly man unquestionably had family issues. Scripture seems to lean in the direction that Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, the carpenter, died early on. So, that would mean that Jesus would take up the leadership role in his family.
Today’s passage tells us that after Jesus returned to Heaven that the disciples “met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.” v14
So, what do we know about Jesus’ family? Several New Testament passages refer to them but one that is pretty all-inclusive is Mark 6:3. It reads in part,

“[Jesus is] just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” NLT

There are at least six siblings that we know of. Scripture isn’t totally clear on their relationship with their older brother but all in all, it seems to point to them really not believing in who He was until after His resurrection.
His brother James (not the disciple by the same name) became a leader in the Jerusalem church. He also wrote a book that bears his name. Judas – also known as Jude – authored one of the New Testament epistles, as well.
So let me say this. Never give up on your family. Continually pray for them all – for those who don’t believe as well as for those who do. You know that life is hard, and it is no easier for any of them. Pray that those who believe will stand firm in that belief. And pray for those who have yet to believe. And just as important is to walk the talk before them. You may just be the only Bible they ever see!

Dec 13th, 2021, Mon, 6:32 pm