How to Help Our Unbelieving Relatives - LOOK BEYOND NEGATIVE WORDS AND ACTIONS

     Jesus' half-brothers likely heard about the miracles Jesus had performed in Galilee. (Luke 4:14, 22-24) At first, though, they did not put faith in him. (John 7:5) Why? The Bible does not say. But it reveals at least two things that held back some Jews from becoming Jesus' disciples. Some were afraid of being rejected by the community. (John 9:18-22) Others had known Jesus from his youth and could not imagine him as God's representative. (Mark 6:1-4) Jesus' half-brothers may also have been affected by this kind of thinking. Could similar factors affect our loved ones? 

Consider the motives behind their words and actions. Jesus' brothers may have among the relatives who once said that had "gone out of his mind." (Mark 3:21) Why might they have come to that conclusion? The context shows that Jesus was so much in demand that he did not even have time to eat a meal. (Mark 3;20) Did his relatives think that he was being fanatical? It is possible. Our relatives may think that we take our religion too seriously. If they feel that way, we do well to s how our actions how reasonable we truly are. 

Next time: How to Help Our Unbelieving Relatives - LOOK BEYOND NEGATIVE WORDS AND ACTIONS - Conclusion

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