Jesus transforms our family relationships.
Mark 1:19-20 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
No doubt that Zebedee, like a good father, had a plan for his sons' livelihood - apparently he'd been building a fishing business for them to take over and run. He owned his own boat, had a staff, and his boys were being taught the details of the business (presently, they were mending nets). So I wonder if he was astonished that day - put out even - when his sons left him afloat in his boat with just his employees? Who is gonna finish mending the nets?!?!
Or maybe Zebedee was a man with a heart for God who saw the bigger picture. Maybe he was thrilled that his sons recognized the huge opportunity and immense responsibility to follow Jesus. We don't know. But what we do know is that Jesus transforms traditional family relationships. He isn't bound by the father's plans for his sons.
Those of us who are parents... do we recognize that Jesus has a call on our children's lives that is far more important than our plans for them? Do we hold them back to meet our needs or do we encourage them to leave us in the boat and follow Jesus?
As children, do we recognize that following Jesus is more important than following our parent's plans for us? Doesn't mean the two things can't align. But one thing is clear: it isn't enough to follow in the paths of our parents, Jesus wants us to commit to following him personally. And sometimes that means disappointing our parents.
Difficult family values!
Do we ignore that Jesus has a claim on our children's lives that is far more important than our own plans for them? How do we support their desire to follow Jesus?
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