How can we apply Jesus' teaching on family in our daily lives? \Setting the Scene\ “Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to meet with Him because of the crowd” (Luke 8:19). When He was told they were outside, Jesus replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out” (v. 21). He literally lifts obedience to God above the closest earthly bonds—without dismissing those bonds. \Who Is Family to Jesus?\ • Luke 8:21; Matthew 12:50; Mark 3:35—obedient listeners become “mother and brothers.” • Ephesians 2:19—believers are “members of God’s household.” • Romans 8:15–17—adopted as God’s children, joint-heirs with Christ. Jesus defines family around shared submission to the Father’s word. \Living Out Kingdom Family Priorities Today\ • Obey Scripture first—even when family or culture pushes another direction (Acts 5:29). • Invest in church life as genuine family: worship, small groups, shared meals (Acts 2:42-47). • Show practical love to believers: – Hospitality (Romans 12:13) – Financial help (1 John 3:17-18) – Encouragement and accountability (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Speak of fellow Christians as “brother,” “sister,” not as a quaint label but a lived reality (Philemon 1:2). \Practical Ways to Honor Both Families\ • Keep the fifth commandment—“Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12)—while remembering Luke 14:26: love Christ supremely. • Pray daily for biological relatives and spiritual siblings. • Involve your household in serving the church: setting up chairs, visiting shut-ins, teaching children. • Open your dinner table to believers who are far from their own kin (Psalm 68:6). • Budget time and money so that neither church family nor home family is starved (1 Timothy 5:8; Galatians 6:10). \Guardrails to Keep Balance\ • Beware idolizing relatives—if obedience to Christ is silenced to keep peace, real love is absent (Matthew 10:37-38). • Beware neglecting relatives—kingdom “family first” never excuses laziness, harshness, or absentee parenting (Ephesians 6:4). • Remember the crowd in Luke 8: the press of good activities can still block access to Jesus; keep personal devotion central. \Promises for Those Who Put God First\ • “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother…for My name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). • Mark 10:30 adds “in the present age—homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children.” God supplies deeper, wider family as we follow Him. Living this out means seeing every believer as kin, honoring our biological loved ones faithfully, and letting Scripture direct both spheres. In doing so, we mirror the very heart of Christ, who calls us His own. |
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