God's Family

By John Madge

“While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”—Matthew 12:46–50 (NIV)

What comes to mind when you hear the word family? For some, it may be happy thoughts and memories of times spent together with those they love most dearly. For others, it may be angry or distressing thoughts of those who have betrayed or hurt them deeply. And maybe it’s somewhat of a mixture, depending on the family dynamics. In today’s passage of Scripture, Jesus describes how He views family and what comes to His mind when thinking of that word.

Families are complex, and we have different ways of defining family. One of the most common ways it’s defined is through bloodlines. If you’ve ever read through certain passages of Scripture, you’ll remember “so and so begat . . .” or “so and so fathered . . .” These are descriptions of a family’s bloodline and where the family stems from.

Another way family is defined is by our level of relationship with certain individuals. We view specific friendships as family, even if they’re not directly related by blood. We may even feel closer to this type of family than we do to our blood-related family. To that effect, Jesus addresses the crowd who are trying to get His attention about His blood relatives who are looking for Him.

Jesus defines family as those who do “the will of my Father in heaven.” He doesn’t define family by blood or even by feelings of closeness or intimacy. And if you’re familiar with Jesus’ lineage, it’s incredible that He says this. Jesus’ family lineage wasn’t exactly a perfect pedigree of nobility. Yes, there were kings (like David and Solomon); however, there was Rahab (once a prostitute), Ruth (look up the origins of the Moabites), and less economically fortunate individuals. Despite their faults, these people are mentioned because of their obedience and faithful devotion to God.

Be encouraged to know that regardless of your family dynamic or blood relations and family history, Jesus extends you a personal invitation to His family. We’re invited into the family of God through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His blood that was shed, which covers those who receive and confess Him as Lord. And He defines those who are closest to Him as anyone who obeys and does the will of God.

Pause: Family is a powerful force in each of our lives. It plays a pivotal role in our development as individuals. Consider all the ways your family’s dynamic has shaped you.

Practice: Ask God to reveal more ways in which you can identify yourself as a member of the family of God.

Pray: Jesus, I thank You for inviting me into Your family. Please help me to live a life of obedience to the will of God the Father. I want to point others to You through my life and for them to know of the incredible invitation You have extended to them as well. Amen.