By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song called 'Power of Your Love' which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

SCRIPTURE:
^“When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." (Mark 3:21, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what can I learn about Jesus' family?
1. Jesus’ family heard that He did not even have time to eat.
2. Jesus’ family went to take charge of Him.
3. Jesus’ family said, “He is out of his mind.”

Interpretation:
I asked myself why is it so significant what His family was doing?
Jesus’ family cared for Jesus so when they heard He did not have time to eat they intervened and came to take charge of Him. They felt they knew what was best for Jesus. They even went as far as to state that ‘He is out of his mind.’ but Jesus has everything under control as I have seen earlier in this chapter.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. I am going to use my family as a hypothetical! There are times I am called to do things that my family may not understand so they want to take charge of the situation.

Why?

Because they love me and believe they always know what is best for me. When I continue to go ahead doing what I am doing, they can even perceive me to be out of my mind. This will make them want to take more charge of the situation.

When I do not do what my family wants me to do but do what God wants me to do, I can be seen as being out of my mind because my family may see situations another way. However, as important as family is, what God wants us to do is more important. Jesus was seen as being out of His mind but Jesus had everything in control. Just because He did not have time to eat does not mean He lost control of the situation.

It is important to remember that my family may not always agree to where God has called me to. If I continue in that path, they would want to interfere and take charge of the situation. They do that because they love me. I need to still honor my family but also remember there is danger in giving into the situation. It is not just family but friends too.

I need to continue to do what I feel the Lord has called me to in faith. I use my family as an example to make a point. I thank the Lord for my family and how much Jesus has used my mommy to show me His love for me and for all my mommy's encouragement in ministry. I thank the Lord Jesus that my daddy is with Jesus in heaven.

I ask you now dear friends, how are your actions seen by your family?
Dear friend, if your actions are seen by your family as being ‘out of your mind’, you need to ask yourself, ‘if what you are doing is in line with the will of God and will bring the Lord honor and glory’. If the answer is ‘YES’ and you know what the Lord wants you to do, you need to be obedient and go on that path for He is the Light of the world and will give you visibility and direction in the path you should go.

Your family may not understand it. They can even think you are out of your mind because you gave up this and that to go follow Jesus. But, you should not give up to the pressure. They will come and want to take charge of the situation. In love, you need to let them see why you have to do what you are doing. This may not always be the case when we serve Jesus Christ!

If it is being a Christian and your family objects, let them see by your actions and love, why you became a Christian and the difference Jesus makes in your life.

If it is giving up a prestigious career for the ministry, let them see and help them understand why you have even given up your career for the ministry, etc.

Jesus was doing things counter-culturally so His own family had issues with Him. Your family could have issues with you but you should not give up. This can be the hardest thing, to go up against family wishes but it is worse not to follow the Way of the Master.

We all have to make choices and sometimes the choices involve not agreeing with family decisions. This should only be the case as long as those decisions are not in line with the will of God. Now to go up against family for our selfish reasons is totally being disobedient to God and family. But, to take the side of the Lord over family when family does things against the will of God is the right thing to do even if it is painful.

It is not just family you may have trouble with but your peers and those around you. Most persecutions for someone’s faith start in the family before they start outside. Yet, you should know you are in the palm of the Lord and let Him guide you and lead you! He wants to make you part of His family. That is so awesome to know that even when father and mother forsake someone, the Lord will never forsake them when they become part of His family. Faithfully Almighty Messiah is loving you so you are loved by the best!

To all who received Him, He gave them right to become children of God! All they needed to do was believe on His name. (John 1:12)

May you come to know the love of the family of God, especially the love of God in your life as you seek to follow Jesus Christ in all you say and do! Amen!

“Faithfully Almighty Messiah Is Loving You!” (F.A.M.I.L.Y)/”"How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y in life?”

Prayer:Dear Lord Jesus, just because you did not have time to eat, your family came to take charge of you and even said that you were out of your mind. This is because you did things your Heavenly Father's way. We know Lord that you have everything under control but we human beings lean onto our own understanding. Please forgive us Lord and help us please. Oh Lord I pray for all those who are having trouble with their families especially when following you causes persecution to them in their own families. Families try to intervene and take charge of the situation. Help us Oh Lord not to give in when giving in causes us to be disobedient to you. Whatever we do for your honor and glory help us to honor our family as you have called us to do and also love them even when they persecute us. Lord we know not all families are like that and we also know families that serve you as a family. Thank you for that! Help us please to live for you and be obedient to you by our actions. Thank you Jesus that you hear us and answer us! Jesus, thank you for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us! Please come into my heart and make my heart your home! Please live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus you have done that, heard my prayers, and answered me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:

We are like an ambulance taking sick people to the hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.

Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.  This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is called GOLGOTHA.

The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat patients with  physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to be healed.

He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay down on the bed  made of wood.

The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on His back.  Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS is used which draws more BLOOD.

As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is out. All the BLOOD is out!

Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE being guarded by security.

Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS. 

Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.

All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul.  This BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, JESUS CHRIST.

The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led too.

72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE and will save all that come to Him.

It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING BLOOD.

I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace.

Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was buried, Jesus came back to life to save.

To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do for them.

Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those that accept Him.

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.

Dear Jesus, thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him free to go home. I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails so I could be free. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your Blood to redeem humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation.  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)