Willing to Give Strangers the Priority
This week, we are exploring what it means to follow Jesus with total surrender and obedience. What comes to mind when you think of God’s family?
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings in my life. Remind me to praise You in everything I do. Help me to stay on track and in step with You. When I stray, pull me back to You and keep me under Your protection. Help me gain strong understanding in Your word and help me to know my true family. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Matthew 12:46-50 (NLT)
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
Jesus redefined the importance of family and who our family members truly are. Have you considered your brothers and sisters in Christ as your true family?
Believers all over the world are family because of one common belief. It’s not about nationality, political affiliation, ethnicity, etc. We are set apart as disciples, followers of Jesus Christ. This didn’t start with us. Jesus spoke to a crowd and gave the true definition of God’s family. Of course, He wasn’t slighting his biological family. Jesus taught us we are not confined simply to our blood relatives. Jesus opened the family to anyone who does the will of the Father. We can approach each day knowing we have millions of family members to support us, fight for us, pray for us, and walk with us. We never have to carry life’s troubles alone. This is the greatest family ever, and it includes us! What comes to mind when you think of a true disciple of Jesus?
Holy relatives don’t get us into Heaven. Only Jesus can do that, so we need a one-on-one relationship with Him. We follow the Father because we have become part of His intimate family. When we trust Jesus, love Him, listen to Him, and follow Him, we walk in a way that honors God. We trust in Jesus to bring us to the Father.
In Jesus’ culture, family was extremely important. They respected opinions and followed their families because they had charge over each other. Jesus transcended His biological family and established the truth of true family and discipleship. He doesn’t need us to be perfect. He intimately invites us into his family. All we have to do is trust Him. Family units are the backbone of this life. Let’s embrace this truth!
As we close today, I challenge you to pray specifically over your personal relationship with God.
Father, remind me of Your blessings, even the ones I didn’t realize were from You…
I think I am placing my identity in ______________ (person or thing) instead of You, God. Help me to surrender everything to You…
Submit, repent, obey, and see His faithful fruits take root! This is the secret to the best life…and as it turns out, it is not a secret!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings in my life. Remind me to praise You in everything I do. Help me to stay on track and in step with You. When I stray, pull me back to You and keep me under Your protection. Help me gain strong understanding in Your word and help me to know my true family. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Matthew 12:46-50 (NLT)
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
Jesus redefined the importance of family and who our family members truly are. Have you considered your brothers and sisters in Christ as your true family?
Believers all over the world are family because of one common belief. It’s not about nationality, political affiliation, ethnicity, etc. We are set apart as disciples, followers of Jesus Christ. This didn’t start with us. Jesus spoke to a crowd and gave the true definition of God’s family. Of course, He wasn’t slighting his biological family. Jesus taught us we are not confined simply to our blood relatives. Jesus opened the family to anyone who does the will of the Father. We can approach each day knowing we have millions of family members to support us, fight for us, pray for us, and walk with us. We never have to carry life’s troubles alone. This is the greatest family ever, and it includes us! What comes to mind when you think of a true disciple of Jesus?
Holy relatives don’t get us into Heaven. Only Jesus can do that, so we need a one-on-one relationship with Him. We follow the Father because we have become part of His intimate family. When we trust Jesus, love Him, listen to Him, and follow Him, we walk in a way that honors God. We trust in Jesus to bring us to the Father.
In Jesus’ culture, family was extremely important. They respected opinions and followed their families because they had charge over each other. Jesus transcended His biological family and established the truth of true family and discipleship. He doesn’t need us to be perfect. He intimately invites us into his family. All we have to do is trust Him. Family units are the backbone of this life. Let’s embrace this truth!
As we close today, I challenge you to pray specifically over your personal relationship with God.
Father, remind me of Your blessings, even the ones I didn’t realize were from You…
I think I am placing my identity in ______________ (person or thing) instead of You, God. Help me to surrender everything to You…
Submit, repent, obey, and see His faithful fruits take root! This is the secret to the best life…and as it turns out, it is not a secret!
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1 Comment
As a person who comes from a broken family, this message is a great reminder that as long as I continue to put my trust in Jesus, continue to love and follow Him, I will never be alone.