As I thanked God this week for my less than perfect family, my heart ached and prayed for all those who lament their family not being perfect. In honesty, I’m so blessed that all my family are believers; but I deeply care for my friends who mourn that their family is not this blessed. Amidst asking God to bring all the wayward into His fold, He brought me to a realization I have totally overlooked. Within His enlightenment might just be the greatest perspective and comforting hope to which human families, with unbelieving members, could ever cling.
Have any of you ever pondered the earthly family God chose for Jesus? Till now, I haven’t. Matthew 13:55-56 states Christ had four brothers and unnamed sisters. Mark 3:21 describes Jesus’ family as originally feeling Christ was out of his mind. However, explicitly, Galatians 2:9 declares that in the end James, the brother of Jesus, is named as a pillar of the early church. As for the rest of Jesus’ siblings, Acts 1:14’s Scripture seems to imply Jesus’ siblings were in the Upper Room praying with Mary and the apostles after Jesus’ Ascension.
Bottom line is, therefore, the deduction that originally Jesus’ family neither valued Him nor believed in Him as sent by God. However, they transitioned into His followers. So why is this significant? I suggest that, very possibly, it is a great symbolic encouragement from God to all of us.
What better source of hope for present day wayward family member’s salvation than looking to God’s personally chosen earthly family for Jesus. God didn’t place Jesus into a family of believers. He could have; but He chose not to. Why? God never makes a mistake or, even, a random choice. Thus, there must be specific purpose in the family chosen for Jesus. Could God be revealing that earthly families are imperfect and, at times, even negative and critical regarding the existence and salvation offered through Jesus? However, conversion eventually is meant to occur. We are not to write off, stop praying or lose hope for non-believing family. Rather, we are called to steadfastly keep praying and entrusting God to open their eyes, change their minds and kindle their hearts in faith.
To all Christian families, struggling with one or many wayward members, remember, salvation is not always about where we, or loved ones, are at this moment but about where God, ultimately, can and will lead. With renewed confidence and anticipation, may we, all, pray for unbelievers, let go of lowly despair and take hold of “Upper Room” optimistic expectation. Let us “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (ESV).
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 