Lenten Devotion: Day 8
February 26, 2026 by admin
Lenten Devotion – Day 8
Feb 26, 2026
“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” — Mark 3:35
(Please read the scripture passage before moving on to the devotional: Mark 3:20-35)
We have read together the scene where Jesus’ family first appears in the Gospel of Mark. His family is mentioned twice in today’s text: first, when they set out to restrain Him because people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind” (v. 21); and second, when they try to call Him out from among the crowd (v. 31).
It appears that even Jesus’ own family did not fully understand His ministry. Since we haven’t been far removed from the Christmas season, this situation might be difficult to understand, especially considering how clearly God’s purpose for Jesus was revealed in the nativity narratives. However, through this scene, the text shows us a paradox: even those with the closest blood ties to Jesus can fail to recognize what He is doing.
From Jesus’ declaration—that anyone who does the work of God is His family—we discover the common identity of the Christian community. Certainly, there are both biological families and neighbors within the church. However, we find the true link between “you and I” only through the internal voice—the shared desire to live according to God’s will. When we call each other “church family,” it is not merely because we worship together under one roof, but because we possess a sincere heart to live for God. We will always find a “growing edge” in this pursuit, and that is the right direction to head. This morning, may we all humbly seek a life lived according to the Lord’s will.
Prayer & Intercession
Please pray for our long-time friend, Sarah Wright. Although she has been a “shut-in” for a long time and hasn’t been able to maintain a regular congregational relationship, God remembers how she offered herself as a holy living sacrifice in this church. Let us pray together for her health and that God would graciously accept the entirety of her life.
Additionally, please pray for the ecumenical worship community that gathers every Wednesday during this Lenten season. May we cross various boundaries—region, gender, race, and denomination—to gather with one heart and hold fast to the will that the Lord provides.