Know Love Like This: 21 Days of Discovering God's Heart for YouSampel

The “Crazy” One

by Phillip Hunter

And Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. –John 7:3–4 (NLT)

Has God ever called you to do something that your family simply doesn’t understand? Have you ever felt like you’re “the crazy one” to those around you? Well, Jesus can relate!

About 10 years ago, my wife and I felt the Lord leading us to leave St. Louis. It had been my home for more than 25 years. At the time, we had four children, and we were in the middle of adopting a fifth child. We were leaving most of my family, as well as our place of ministry, to come live in Texas. I didn’t even have a job lined up. I was just believing and obeying the Lord calling us to Gateway Church.

When family or friends would ask us where we were going, we learned to say, “We feel the Lord is leading us to go serve at a church in Texas.” We knew anything we’d be doing for the near future would be volunteering and not paid. And when we told people we were leaving a place with a secure job and moving to a place with no job, it was usually met with disbelief. The people we loved didn’t understand how we could leave them or do such a thing to our kids.

But in that season, the Lord taught us an important lesson. God gives faith to those He calls for the specific season they are in. The particular level of faith we had for our move wasn’t the same level given to our loved ones because it simply wasn’t what they needed at the time.

Jesus’ brothers and sisters had to know He was amazing. He was the perfect big brother. He never picked on them. If they asked to play in His room, He would always say, “Come on in.” He was the big brother who wasn’t sarcastic or mean but was always speaking life over them. Show me an awesome big brother, and I will show you little siblings who think he’s their hero. I think Jesus’ siblings loved their big brother but didn’t have the faith yet to believe all the same things that God the Father had revealed to Jesus. In fact, Jesus’ siblings even gave Him bad advice about His calling by recommending He go to Judea where people wanted to kill him! I don’t believe they wanted Him to die; I just think they were unaware of the true journey God had for their big brother Jesus.

One of the hardest parts of our faith journey is learning to love and honor our family while also doing something that might disagree with their “uninvited counsel” or personal opinions. Has God spoken to you about a life decision and a family member is questioning your choice? Are you staying faithful to a marriage that your family thinks you should quit? Is God asking you to go somewhere that no one in your family has gone? Is there an area God has called you to that seems to disagree with family members’ opinions?

Yes, it’s important to seek godly counsel, and it’s vital to always be submitted to the authorities God has placed in your life, but I want to encourage you not to get frustrated with your family if they don’t have the same faith for something you feel called to. Loving your family and honoring them is always important, and God calls us to do exactly that. But don’t let family be your excuse for not obeying God’s voice. If God is giving you faith for something, and His peace is there, I believe God is in front of it and behind it, so go for it!

(By the way, my entire family now lives in Texas!)

Prayer

Lord, give me faith to do what You’re telling me to do. Thank You for my family and for filling me with understanding and grace to love them more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For Further Reflection

• Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and knowledge of His will for your life. Write down what He says. God doesn’t lead by fear; He always leads by peace.
• Bring any counsel or opinions from your family to the Lord. Are these family members actively praying for you and seeking God’s counsel for your life?

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?