The Family of God Resemblance Includes Obedience, Love, and Persistent Belief

Jesus withdrew from Capernaum to the Sea of Galilee (Mark 3:7). The crowds easily found Him. They came from as far as one hundred miles away to be healed.

They did not understand His identity and mission. They cared more about their physical well-being than repentance, faith, and self-denial.

Most professing Christians prefer a skin-deep relationship with Jesus that does not much affect what they say and do. Other things are more important. Jesus’ fans make no kingdom impact—His followers do.

Not everyone who agrees that Jesus is the Son of God pleases Him. Jesus hushed the demons because their confession was head knowledge without commitment (Mark 3:12).

Such a confession is worthless. It is like possessing iron pyrite, also known as fool’s gold, and thinking you are rich.

Disciples develop their potential by following Jesus. Jesus began His worldwide outreach program by appointing twelve inexperienced, uneducated zeroes to be with Him (Mark 3:14).

He lifted them from zeroes to heroes in 3.5 years. You become an effective disciple by spending time with Jesus in prayer and His word and with Christians living their faith.

Mark 3:19 suggests Jesus returned with His disciples to Capernaum. There, Jewish legal specialists tried to discredit His obvious miracle-working. They accused Him of being possessed by an unclean spirit and cooperating with Satan to cast out demons.

Jesus said that if Satan opposed himself, he would destroy himself (Mark 3:26). He pointed out the seriousness of attributing the work of God’s Spirit to Satan.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin. By calling light darkness, the scribes consciously, repeatedly, and deliberately rejected Jesus’ saving power.

Their granite hearts and settled resistance did not let Jesus’ message penetrate. They were not concerned about the unpardonable sin. If you are, you have not committed it!

Jesus’ mother and brothers went to Capernaum from Nazareth. They thought Jesus was insane. They came to take Him home before He hurt Himself and brought shame to the family.

They stood outside the house in Capernaum and sent someone inside to summon Jesus. When told they were looking for Him, He said His family consists of those who do God’s will (Mark 3:35).

Disciples demonstrate they belong to God’s family by obeying Him. Works of obedience do not save.

Their absence, however, suggests serious spiritual illness. Obedience, love, and persistent belief are part of the family of God resemblance.

Longfellow could take a single sheet of paper, write a poem, and make it worth thousands of dollars. God takes worthless, sinful lives and makes them a blessing to humanity. What is your takeaway?

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 14,841 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.   https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness

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