GETTING STARTED
I love how at wedding receptions friends get together and sing, “We are family, I got all my sisters with me.” It is usually sung by a few ladies who are dear friends of the bride, joyful for her new adventure into married life. You can feel the love they have for one another. Sometimes God expands the notion of our biological family to include others. He brings people into our lives that we truly consider as family.
- In what ways have you been blessed with friends that you call family?
READ THE WORD: LUKE 8:19-21 (ESV)
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- Picture the scene in your head. What was happening?
- Why didn’t Jesus stop what he was doing to go see his mother and his brothers?
- How did Jesus change the way we should look at family?
- What can you do today to hear the word of God and do it?
RESPOND TO GOD
Jesus expanded the notion of who could be a part of God’s family. He was spending his time with those who needed to hear his words, and those who would do them. Jesus was on task, even if it wasn’t where others thought he should be spending his time. His words showed that the gospel wasn’t limited to the Jews, but it was for all who truly believed. By hearing his word and doing it, we are related like family to God. It is when we are actively putting Jesus’ will into practice that, as believers, we can joyously sing together as one big happy family.
- Thank Jesus that you are a part of his family.
- Ask God to help you do what you have learned from his Word.