Our Real Family

‭‭‭‭‭‭Mark 3:21, 32-35 [21] But when His own people heard about  this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

[32] And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” [33] But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”  [34] And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  [35] For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

John 1:12-13 tell us, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." It is an awesome thing to be forgiven of our sins. However, what truly is the greatest thing about receiving Christ as Savior is not that we are forgiven, but that we have been adopted into God's family; making God our Father and Jesus our Brother. There is no greater privilege than to be called a son or daughter of God, and a brother or sister of Christ Jesus. Yet, how little we think of such an undeserved honor. That lack of appreciation is often demonstrated in the way we choose to live out our Christianity. Far too often we fail to demonstrate that we now belong to a new family. Sadly, we profess to belong to God, in Christ, but we continue to behave in our actions, words, and deeds, as if we are still in Satan's family. Mary, Jesus' brothers, and His sisters, all tried to keep Him from carrying out His mission here on earth, because they thought He was "out of His mind". When they finally found Him and inquired of Him, He responded that His family was not necessarily those who were His blood relatives, but those who were His spiritual relatives who were obedient to the will of His Father. What is the Father's will? The Apostle John put it clearly, in John 1:12-13, that those who believe and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord are true members of God's family; and Jesus Himself told us that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments. So today, if we are truly thankful to be brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ (and other born again believers), let us reflect it in our desire to spend time with God, and truly reflect which family we belong to by the way we treat each other in word, attitude, and actions. We represent Jesus, our Brother, so let us prove it by being salt and shining His light in this dark world we are called to be ambassadors in until we are finally home, gathered with our real family.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).