30 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“Jesus asked, Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Matt. 12: 48-50
In many conversations, I hear how there are broken or dysfunctional families. Some family members don’t speak to one another and others that bicker and fight. The family system has its negatives when it has broken people in it. There is no perfect family even though there are many healthy families who don’t experience the same trials as others do. God’s plan for the family from the beginning has structure and strength when it is connected fully to him.
Jesus had a good upbringing with a mother and father in the home as well as brothers and sisters. His parents were dedicated to God and submitted to his plan for their lives. Their love and training helped in the development of the children into adults. Jesus intended to create a family for God, one that would be a royal priesthood of saints. You would know his kids by their love for one another and their devotion to God and his will.
While Jesus was teaching, his family members came looking for him to meet with him. The crowd knew who they were and called out to Jesus to let him know they had arrived. Jesus used this as an object lesson on who belongs to his family. The statement that was made did not insult Mary and his brothers, it was an expansion of who the family is. “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Are you doing his will?
You become a family member of God when you submit to his Lordship and surrender your life not because you were born on this earth. That is a beautiful thing and we will ultimately become a strong family system that has no sin which leads to brokenness, no pain or suffering, and be in perfect love and unity. We can learn to strive for that even now, but it takes courage, mutual submission, commitment to truth, to really love each other, and devotion to Jesus.
Are you a part of the family of God?
Reading Plan: Psalm 41, 52; Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 1:4-20; Matt. 12:43-50
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