Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Mike Whitmer, and I titled today's reading, More Than Family.

John was installed as full professor in a prestigious college.

His older brother, David, was pleased,

but as brothers do,

he couldn't resist teasing John how he'd wrestled him to the ground when they were boys.

John had gone far in life,

but he'd always be David's little brother.

It's hard to impress family.

Even if you're the Messiah.

Jesus had grown up among the people of Nazareth, so they struggled to believe he was special.

If they were amazed by him, they asked, What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?

Isn't this the carpenter?

Isn't this Mary's son? Jesus noted, a prophet is not without honor,

except in his own town, among his relatives, and in his own home. These people knew Jesus well,

but they couldn't believe he was the son of God. Perhaps you were raised in a godly home.

Your earliest memories include going to church and singing hymns.

Jesus has always felt like family.

If you believe and follow him, Jesus is family.

He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. Jesus is our older brother in the family of God.

This is a great privilege, but our closeness might make him seem common.

Just because someone is family doesn't mean they're not special.

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