This short passage is worth a pause-

Jesus is told His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to Him. But Jesus said, “whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” and points to His disciples (Matt 12:46-50)

First, WHO do Jesus say are His brother, sister, mother (his family)? It is those who DO the will of the Father.

If you don’t feel close to Christ, if you aren’t experiencing His nearness, His peace, hope and joy—this is likely the reason!

But if you are seeking to truly know and follow Jesus you are closer than a physical brother or sister to Christ. Christ followers (Christians) have the Holy Spirit inside of us — that is a greater bond than a physical, genetic bond could ever be.

This is why others who are truly seeking to do the will of God, can sometimes feel even closer to you than your family (especially if they are not Christians).

Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭6‬ ‭says‬‬, “God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”
‭‭
Throughout the Bible, God contrasts those who seek to do His will with those who rebel against it and the outcomes they can expect.

The “rebellious dwell in a dry land” while those who come to Christ, those like the woman at the well, who was offered living water, are forever satisfied (John 4).

And like I wrote about yesterday, this peace, this satisfaction, this soul rest and living water that satisfies, comes from seeking to love and follow Jesus in real daily relationship!

As you seek Him, you’ll find Him and the desire to trust Him enough to follow Him will just grow!

But if you are seeking your own way, if you are constantly trying to satisfy yourself and rule your own life, you’ll find yourself miserable and unsatisfied moving from one empty thing to the next.

Jesus IS the GIFT of God! And walking with Him and hanging out with others who love Him is the best thing ever.

readMatthew

Kimjaggers.com