A crowd was sitting
around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking
for you.” “Who are my mother and my
brothers?” he asked. Then he looked
at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and
my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and
mother.” Mark 3:32-35
Jesus had a crowd sitting around Him, and His family came
looking for Him. They thought He had
lost His mind and had come to take Him away with them (v. 21). Jesus then asked the crowd who His family
was, and looking around at them, He told them they were. Then He said whoever does God’s will is His
family.
The people were sitting around Jesus listening to His teaching. From this simple scene we can see that God’s
will involves:
- Listening to Jesus and learning from Him,
- Being around Him and giving time to Him, and
- Keeping Him at the center of attention.
Since Christ had to
suffer physically for you, you must fortify yourselves with the same inner
attitude that he must have had. You must realize that to be dead to sin
inevitably means pain, and you should not therefore spend the rest of your time
here on earth indulging your physical nature, but in doing the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2 (Ph)
Doing God’s will means dying to our selfish ways, wants, and
pursuits. Dying to “self” is
painful. No doubt about it. To give up comfort, convenience, and preferences
for the cause of Christ can be upsetting, even heartrending. But it’s the way to gain and reward. It’s the way to life. And it’s the way of God’s family.
When we keep Christ at the center of our way of thinking,
feeling, actions, words, and relationships – we find ourselves doing the will
of God. And we’re family. Doing God’s will is a family matter in God’s
family.
Give your mind to Him.
Give your time to Him. Give your
attention to Him.
Posts
As I look back on the last two years I see a person who had become very comfortable with her immediate family and friends. Then I discovered Clay Community Church. It was a little uncomfortable at first meeting new people but before long my family grew as it included my church family. I also discovered that I was settling in to that comfortable feeling with my expanded family. Becoming comfortable in any circumstance can stunt your growth...A very important lesson I'm learning. If I want Jesus to be the center of my life then I need to learn how to introduce him to others so that they may have the opportunity to invite him into their lives and families. This requires me to be willing to step away from what is comfortable and familiar. Father God, I ask that you forgive me for the times that I close off my family circle. I pray that I will always remember if I place you at the door it will always be open to me and to others. Lord help me to eliminate any thought, action or words that reflect selfishness. Thank you for your mercy, forgiveness and grace. I accept your will for me whether it be pain or gain and know that the only family that matters is your family. All these things I ask in your son's name Jesus and according to your will...Amen
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