Sunday, March 20, 2011

Lent Day 10: Family Redefined

Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, "Your mother and brothers are outside asking for you." Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?" Then he looked around him and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:31-35

The entirety of Mark 3 was my reading for Day 10, yet as Holy Spirit is making a habit of doing, there is one lesson he is highlighting for me. I like the fact that Holy Spirit knows me so well that he keeps it simple. :)

The Message puts verse 35 like this: "Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God's will is my mother and brother."

Family is an interesting word and my definition of it seems to be challenged lately, along with everything else I believe. Family is not free from the pruning work of Jesus. It's not that I disregard blood, but my spirit is beginning to understand a bigger truth:

Blood does not define family, not according to Jesus; truth and obedience do. And truth will connect hearts much more than blood. Blood is used to define lineage, but truth is used to define lineage, too ... in a much greater way.

1 comment:

  1. This blog is hard for me to comment on because it's SO something I am soaking in right now. The definition of family. Maybe I need to start writing out my insides so I can fully hear what God has been saying for months!

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