If you have ever been to an AA meeting, you know that while the cause is always spoken of in disease terms, the cure is decidedly moral. There are no medications dispensed or surgeries to be had. You arrest the course of the disease by saying no. You both give up your will to a higher power and determine, with the help of others, to live and abstinent life. According to the AA tradition and the disease model, you are not responsible for the cause but you are responsible for the cure.
Edward Welch

11 PART OF THE FAMILY

11 PART OF THE FAMILY F O O T ================================

  • H O L D

READING

11 PART OF THE FAMILY

PRAY Loving Father, help me to listen to your word today.

READ Mark 3:20-35

THINK What does this passage teach about belonging to God’s family? Review your life at the moment: will people know that you are a member of God’s family? —————————————————————— FOCUS JESUS AND HIS FAMILY (20,21,31-35). We very easily forget just how Jesus must have appeared to his family and friends. Had we been there we might well have joined the group who tried to ‘save him from himself’ ‘He’s gone mad’ (21), they said, and that is something that has been said many times since, about men and women who have given themselves totally to the service of God. But Jesus uses this incident to explain something important about his family. Verse 33 doesn’t mean that he was disrespectful towards other members of his family. What Jesus is saying is that the important thing to do is to do what God wants. He came to bring a great new family into being, consisting of all those who come to God through him. JESUS AND HIS ENEMY. Jesus was not under Satan’s control – but men and women everywhere were. Jesus came to free them. But before he could do that the devil (the strong man) had to be defeated. As Jesus freed people rom the power of the devil he was showing that he had defeated him. Men and women are still under the control of Satan, although not always in such obvious ways. Jesus still offers them freedom, and membership of his family. NOTE: Verse 30 explains verse 29: a person who says that Jesus is controlled by Satan cannot be forgiven because they don’t want to be forgiven. Their eyes are so tightly closed to the light that for them light has become darkness and good has become evil. —————————————————————— PRAY Thank you, Father, for making me a member of your family. Please help me to live as a member of your family should. ==========