Take Charge Of

Then Jesus went home. Again such a large crowd gathered that Jesus and his disciples had no time to eat. When his family heard about it, they set out to take charge of him, because people were saying, “He’s gone mad!” Mark 3:20-21

There are times in our life when those closest to us will not understand why we are doing what we are doing. They care about us. They want what is best for us, but they may not understand God best for us. They can only see the natural unless they are praying for discernment in how to help us.

Jesus said He only did what He saw the Father do and what the Father told Him to do.

So Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth: the Son can do nothing on his own; he does only what he sees his Father doing. What the Father does, the Son also does. John 5:19

Yet those around Him, those closest to Him thoughts that He had gone mad. Our family may seek for us to go through evaluations with doctors and therapists depending on our actions. He and the disciples were so busy they weren’t eating. They didn’t understand that He was following God’s instruction.

Another thing is that as we press into our relationship with God others may not like the change in our priorities. It is natural for them to push back against the change as it impacts them (even if just conviction of their own habits). As we continue to stand as Jesus did, we can find a level of unity that our new behaviors and ideas are not meant to force someone else to live by our standards. The unity is found in that neither will we lower the standard in our behavior.

Verse 35 in the same chapter Jesus defines who His family are.

Whoever does what God wants is my brother, my sister, my mother. Mark 3:35

Our lives belong to God and when we are clear about what He is asking us, then we obey. We don’t demand something of others, be we don’t compromise on their demands either. Jesus didn’t change His behaviors, He just obeyed God. In our lives, there may be some give and take in areas where we are not being asked to go against the Bible or a direct command of God. I have seen many marriages divided because of hard stances where there should have been some give. I have also seen people give in to sin when there should have been a hard stance. The only One we should let take charge of us as adults is God.

Prayer – Lord, forgive me for the times that I have let human opinion keep me from what You told me to do. When it comes to human opinions, let all godly counsel back up what You have already been speaking to me. Or give me enough counsel that I know I am headed down the wrong path. I give You permission to take charge of me. Let every action and word honor You. In Jesus name. Amen.