God Speaking

“He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.””

(Luke 8 : 21)

Several years ago, I lost my husband, and the grief of his death overwhelmed me and encompassed all my thoughts and actions. Of course, my immediate family were also grieving, and I tried not to burden them with mine.  A lady I knew from our church had lost her husband many years before. She asked if she may come and have a visit with me. This precious member of God’s family was a God-send for me. Her empathy for me was evident straight away her love, prayers and advice helped me to move forward. What a blessing that we both belonged to the family of God   

When Jesus was teaching the crowds of people who were milling around him, someone told him his brothers and mother were not able to get through to him and it was then he said these beautiful words for us that if we heard God’s word and put it into practice, we all became part pf his family. 

John in his first letter makes this very clear to us and emphasizes that we are God’s children. 

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.” (1 John 3: 1)

Our family is not limited to those who meet in the same building every Sunday, but for anybody who knows Jesus, hears God’s word, and does what it says. Family does not depend on color, race, culture, or denomination. Children of God are spread across our country, across the world. When Jesus was teaching us all how to pray, he begins with these words… Our Father.  (Matthew 6 : 9)

He didn’t say my Father. All through the Lord’s prayer the plural tense is used. It is a family prayer, and we are praying together and for all the family. There is a beautiful organization called “Bread for the World” that takes that sentence “Give us our daily bread” to mean we can pray for the hungry across the world, and heed God’s word and help them. When we look at the news and look in horror, we can pray again not only for us but for the family, “Deliver us from evil”.

At the same time, we need to have a special relationship with those who God has placed us near, our family members in our congregation. We need to get to know them to be aware of the hurting, the lonely, or those struggling with depression grief. Paul says this repeatedly in his letters and says this to the Colossians. 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.”  (Colossians 3: 12 – 13)