Homesick: For Family

As they were going on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9: 57-62 (NASB)

Pointing to His disciples, He said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’

Matthew 12:49-50 (NKJV)

Rejected! Dereliction of duty! I pray none of us ever hear these words. What could be a worse fate for a soldier? But salvation's Captain demands God's due: FIRST PLACE! His Orders demand precedence. In obedience, homesickness is healed.

Because when we're following Christ’s Footsteps, the light of His Presence cures homesickness. AND… family love should NOT bring illness. If it does, we're not loving correctly. Instead, we're squeezing in far too tightly. So let’s relax these familiar “choke holds.”

The Words of Jesus in Luke 9 seem harsh.* Shouldn't we show love for our families? Yes! But our lives can’t revolve around them. Just Him. He’s the Son Who shines like the sun.

‘To you who fear My Name, The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.’ (Malachi 4:2).

Consider His earliest disciples. They traveled a lot and some were married.** Perhaps their wives came with them on the road. Perhaps others with children stayed at home.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Here's what every Christian must remember: If God calls you out, He'll care for your kin, because He IS the Ultimate Father. To be lovesick or homesick isn’t right.

At best, family is a place to grow: a place of love, comfort and renewal. It most often serves as a launching pad. But, it's NOT a pedestal or a shrine.

Because the high places belong to God.

And if our families on Earth are bound by bloodlines, households, culture, and marriage

You've got a new Bloodline, culture, and home– along with betrothal to the King of kings!

Homesick: For Family (Part 2)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

* Short article: Let the dead bury the dead: http://www.gotquestions.org/let-dead-bury-dead.html

** Short article: Were any of the disciples married?: http://www.gotquestions.org/disciples-married.html

Carey Arban