Luke 8:4-21
"Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.' He replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice'." (8:19-21 NIV)
In a contemporary film, this is where one of the Apostles would say, "Burn!". I was always appalled at this small story. How could Jesus dismiss His brothers, and especially His mother, in such a detached fashion?
I didn't realize that Jesus wasn't cutting off His family at all. Instead, he was expanding His family, and inviting us all to become members.
The song, "Family of God", by Bill and Gloria Gaither, contains these lines:
You will notice we say 'brother and sister' 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these folks are so near.
Maybe you're part of a church where they literally call each other Brother and Sister? Growing up, this was never part of my church vernacular. But as I started visiting other churches and ministries, I discovered I have a huge 'family' of brothers and sisters all across the country, ready to love me, pray for me, share in my joy, and carry me through hard times. Who does that better than family?
Many people are not blessed with a loving home life. For them, the concept of 'family' is tainted with pain or anger or shame. But Jesus invites us to join His own family, not by familial blood, but by a shared invitation to accept and live in the light of God's word.
The chorus of the song says it so well:
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family, The Family of God.
We are never forced to join this family. We may leave anytime we wish, but we will never be asked to leave. We have free-will in making the decision, but the invitation is always open.
It's simply up to us to accept it.
Question: Have your accepted the invitation into the Family of God? If so, how are you caring for your Brothers and Sisters?
Tomorrow's reading: Luke 8:22-39
(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)
posted by Allison Lynn @ 9:36 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
HELLO A.L.: I haven't 'even read', these lines your made reference to. For last night, I felt it was more necessary for me, to go back to the beginning of St. Luke's Gospel, to get an better 'overview' of the apostle's 'flow of thought's, presentation'. I got to complete to chapter '5', familiar with at this lenten's beginning. Mind you, that was on awakening at 1:30AM, and couldn't get back to sleep.
You know, it's an great 'feeling of comfort', not an word I like to use-spiritually, for often the reverse is true, but it seem's acceptable in this context. First of all, it 'beat's an sleeping pill eh!', for you wake fresher at 5-6:00, depending on the goodness or your pet's--[my canine-Max, early riser or not].
What I'm saying is this, 'awake, awake', if your older maybe you don't need so much sleep, so use the ne awake time to good advantage, that comfortability factor---pertain's only, to the certainty, realization, that their in the stillness of the night, that; God is STILL Protecting YOU. All night long, your resting breathing, even some food might be digesting, your body 'restoring itself for another soon morn, another day just around the corner-of time. It's an great feeling of 'PEACE', appreciation that can come over you, if you just allow the body, and mind to realx, and do it's special, 'thing'.
So, an bit now, and more reading to-night after the 'hockey game', and I'll catch-up thru chapter '8', once again my favourite, number.
By the way, 'family you say', earlier I reported here, you well know how the glorious God, we share, the awesome God, and Jesus available to everyone, and all in 'reach' of this lenten series as well. This, that even some 'electronic store-sales friends, an few at church, other's away friend's in town's....[but no immediate family]. Maybe even you, 'did offer', to pray for an sick, pet, canine dog, of 10 1/2 yrs. discover with 'cancer, just pre-Christmas. An fast acting type of penile, SCC squamous cancer, threatened to seriously disturb, and even break up our good family home environment. many, helped me, Max, & good spouse as well, an sort of prayer vigil, offered.
But for I, it seemed to consume me, in 'contact, quite 'an lot', with Jesus. In going thru an number of stages, of realistic, spiritual development in that process, I noticed that each time, and mostly unsolicited, that an basic reference to an, 'ill-pet'. These near stranger's, offered to pray for max, my prayer's changed thru the development of it all, isolating at the 3rd. week of Advent, [collect', Trust in GOD, an friend returned an note in an Christmas card. It, ]all] was most appreciated.
So, there in the quiet of the early morning hour's, it quite out of my presence, turned my mind again, [heart as well] to your recommended Luke scripture's.
Aside, but in respect to the former challenge, and burden, this. Max, has been home now near 2 week's plus, by the hand of an good, altho expensive surgeon...I'll be an exponent of health insurance now. Max will not die, of cancer, at least genito-urinary tract cancer, for there appear's all eradication of it there, and he has an 'clean bill of health'. Good blood work, in fine spirit's, we can shortly go for walk's.
Everything seem's as it was 'before', in spite of personal Faith...it was an emotional struggle. In reality, pain, pain, an new perspective for me, on pain. I was willing to put the dog, thru an bit of pain, and duress, even lonliness, instead of allowing it the, 'cig C', to kill him.
An hard decision to make, and one I absolutely couldn't without any ease, or peace, without visiting first this; I went to the STJYM's church Eucharist table, near the first time, without the former encumbent, not being there. BUT, I looked for the Holy Spirit, and found him there that Christmas morn....to help me, help my dog. In some way, manner, or form, he best saw fit, and that I would accept the outcome, his healing, or his judgement, to be made known.
Fairly promptly, I took our best...family gold jewellery, and sold it for near the $5,000., the proposed vet bill, seemingly the now right thing to do. I went back to the same familiar church, again, with the same burden thru the process, the 'minister's', and worship seemed so right.
It all seemed, so helpful, so re-assuring, so-comfortable to come to Jesus, and ask his Mercy...for this an family in distress. I've heard so many times before, and proven to me, again,again...that God keep's his promises.
Especially, here I notice you 'mention family', even the wonder Gaither family of song and praise, that appear to be so dedicated in spreading the word of God, to even an larger family, anyone whom want's to listen, enjoy, and be moved to greater personal spiritual thing's. I've 'alway's felt', that in combination 'music and praise', of such fill's church's to great joy. Even, broken heart's to an point, that they can share better...or be more open, truthful....with the one, Jesus...whom really loves all alike.
Comfortable, but only for an moment....less I lose any Peace, given me thru this Gospel Thought's, which I'm solely 'participating in', though the electronic cyberland, as my 'footnote's', to an PASSPORT TO EASTER, for ALL.
For 12 year's, I have been studying many 'church web sites', from many aspect's. And remain disappointed to some degree, although much improvement has been made, many church web site are 'extraordinaire', and that is an good thing. Other's, whether it's an matter of philosophy, or they simply don't, 'care', or realize the importance of sound...evangelization thru this new technology, I'm not certain of the answer.
I could make many comment's, but basic if the church, or organization doesn't try to maximize these opportunities, it send's the 'wrong message', to the interested public, friend's, other's, and retard's the progress of spreading the Good New's. Even, to the point, saying really---were interested, mostly of the 'People that come through this,Sunday's Front Door's'.
In everything I'm reading here in the book of LUKE, I see JESUS, constantly....'going out amongst the people, everywhere', and so later his 12 Apostle's, and so later us. The music,joy, and praise, is only an extension of all that in, mission. We have made an good start, I was overjoyed in the communication of the continuity of that in the Baxter newsletter, and here now, in the opportunity...of Lenten Gospel Thought's.
Signed + k
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