This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of Stormproof – Downpours of Doubt (CLICK HERE)
Sometimes the biggest skeptics can be the people closest to you. A person’s inside circle is often a source of great support, but also when people see all sides of you, they can sometimes have an insight or perception that will be hidden from other people.
We know that there were individuals who followed Jesus for his time in public ministry that doubted even after the resurrection just before Jesus went into heaven. But even closer than his followers were his family.
And they doubted.
Mary, Jesus’ mother seems to be steady on her understanding that the child she was privleged to bear was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world.
However, Jesus’ brothers and sisters…not so much.
Mark 3:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
And just a bit later…his family arrived:
Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Was Jude part of this group? Was he one that was a bit embarrassed by what his half-brother Jesus was doing? Did he perceive him as a lunatic that was out of his mind? Perhaps.
Maybe he was part of that group.
Maybe he observed Jesus patiently interact with his family, knowing they were doubters, but loving them enough to help them too from a heart of doubt to a confession of certainty.
Maybe Jude experienced first hand what he says in verse 22 of his letter:
Jude 22 Be merciful to those who doubt;…
Doubt is not a hard heart.
Doubt is not staunch unbelief.
Doubt is not a rejection of faith.
Doubt is being caught between believing two opinions or sets of inputs. Jude and his family were faithful Jews. They too were influenced by the religious establishment of the day which also discounted and rejected Jesus’ claim.
So Jude and his family found themselves in the middle of this tension.
And Jesus had mercy on his family and has mercy on all who doubt.
Why?
Because he wanted his family to be in heaven with him. Because he wants you to be in heaven with him. So he has mercy and does all he can to, in love, move hearts from doubt to certainty.
Just as he did with Jude.
Just as he does with you.
Apply: Do you know someone with doubts? How can you show mercy and be used by God to step into their doubt and help to move them to certainty?
Prayer: Lord, as always, thank you for your mercy which is patient with my doubts and always desiring doubts to be replaced with certainty of your love, grace and forgiveness in Jesus. AMEN.