SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:19-21
We know from other passages that Jesus loved His mother and brothers.
But here He is making a point: ANYONE who loves and obeys God can experience God’s family bond.
On the one hand, everyone belongs to God’s family… but sometimes a family member can act in a way that alienates themselves from the others.
A family member who steals, lies, hurts, gossips, etc.
Though everyone may love them as family, and wish they behaved otherwise, their actions put them outside of the fellowship, the experience of family.
Jesus is not kicking anyone out of God’s family here, or including only those He likes.
He is stating the obvious: those who hear God and refuse to obey Him put themselves out of harmony and fellowship with God and the rest of the family.
But those who listen, who strive to live in a God (i.e. good) way, will experience God’s smile and embrace.
God wants everyone to experience this, but some people do not want it.
Do you? Do I?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, every person I see belong to Your family. But not everyone lives like it. Help me to love them enough to help them want to be a part of the family again!