Years ago it was very common for a family to consist of upwards of 6 to 8 people, oftentimes even more. As those families grew up and had families of their own, those family trees would get quite large indeed, with brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and so on. All a part of one big, giant family.
Usually when people think of the word family they think of what I just said, in their immediate blood relatives, but many times people will consider their very closest friends to be a part of their family as well. Sometimes a friend can even become closer to you than your actual physical family, as the Proverbs says,
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
We can see this especially in the life of our Lord Jesus. Jesus did have other brothers and sisters, as we learn from the scriptures, but who was it that He considered to be truly His family?
Matthew 12:46-50 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Those who do the will of God are Jesus’ family. The apostles that Jesus called to follow Him were not His physical, earthly family, yet because they were obedient to the will of God they became a part of the family of the Lord. We can too, if we do the same.
Through obedience to the will of the heavenly Father we can become a part of the Lord’s family. Not only that, but when we do this we become a family in the Spirit with all of our brothers and sisters in the faith. One big, giant family. We may look different or talk differently, but we can all be a part of the same family of God.
Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Obedience is key in any family, and more so in the family of God. We must hear the instruction from the Lord and obey His commands so that we can be pleasing to Him. Like good children we must do our Father’s will, and be kind and loving toward each other, led by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
What an amazing thing to know that we can be in Heaven with the Father and the Son! One big happy family!
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 