It's been said that you can choose your friends but not your family. That's not exactly true; we're family by choice, not birth.
"While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:46-50)
No insult was intended toward Jesus' biological family. Rather, this situation offered Him the opportunity to make a powerful statement concerning the real basis for family in the family of God. God's family isn't based upon genealogy; it's based upon obedience.
Jewish leaders in Jesus' day smugly claimed ancestry as their special spiritual privilege. Again, Jesus clarified the true spiritual priority:
"If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham." (John 8:39)
No one will "ride anyone's ancestral coattails" into the kingdom of God. Entrance requires personal faith and obedience - daily. This is our great family privilege and responsibility.
If God's family was based upon biology rather than faith, there would not the slightest chance for us to be included. The greatest act of grace of all time is that we can be family members, as Jesus indicates, through doing the will of our Father. His will includes believing in His Son and gratefully practicing that which pleases our Father.
Celebrate today as a family member, and celebrate with your family members. Enjoy your privileged position and gratefully live a life of faith and obedience.
Steve
"While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:46-50)
No insult was intended toward Jesus' biological family. Rather, this situation offered Him the opportunity to make a powerful statement concerning the real basis for family in the family of God. God's family isn't based upon genealogy; it's based upon obedience.
Jewish leaders in Jesus' day smugly claimed ancestry as their special spiritual privilege. Again, Jesus clarified the true spiritual priority:
"If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham." (John 8:39)
No one will "ride anyone's ancestral coattails" into the kingdom of God. Entrance requires personal faith and obedience - daily. This is our great family privilege and responsibility.
If God's family was based upon biology rather than faith, there would not the slightest chance for us to be included. The greatest act of grace of all time is that we can be family members, as Jesus indicates, through doing the will of our Father. His will includes believing in His Son and gratefully practicing that which pleases our Father.
Celebrate today as a family member, and celebrate with your family members. Enjoy your privileged position and gratefully live a life of faith and obedience.
Steve
posted by steve @ 9:58 AM
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