March 5 Devotional

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Matthew 13:55 NIV

          Seeking God in family is another way to become closer to God and one way to do that is to talk to your family about their faith. When my father-in-law, Ray, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, I felt called to talk to him about his faith. I had known Ray for over thirty years, and yet I did not know much about his faith. Because I lived in another town, I wrote him a letter asking him about his faith. The letter I received in return opened the door for many conversations in his last year. His faith was not at all like mine, nevertheless, it was a strong faith. When I realized how much he believed and how he lived out his belief, I was able to trace that faith throughout his life. He gave me the gift of a new perspective on life and faith.

          Jesus had family as well. We all know about his parents, Mary and Joseph, but we don’t know that much about his brothers and sisters. We do know that Jesus’s brother, James, was martyred for his faith in about 62 AD. Even though we don’t know that much about his family, I can imagine Jesus having conversations with family throughout his life.

          As we continue seeking God in this Lenten Season, let us seek God through our family members. Talk to them about their faith, about their experiences with God, about the ways that they serve God in their daily lives. It is a wonderful way to enrich your own concept about God and Scripture. It is also a way to share your faith with your family. You never know what will happen when you start talking about Jesus.

Caring Father, help me to learn more about you and faithfulness through my family. Amen.