In today's verse, we find Jesus sharing life and ministry with the people in his closest circle, the ones who believed in him and gave up everything to follow him. Together they were doing the will of God the Father. They became His spiritual family.
The point of Jesus naming his followers as family, was not to dismiss the importance of his biological relatives, but to show that the connection with fellow believers was vitally important to the Kingdom. God wills for his people to be in community, to strengthen one another in faith, to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Our witness to the world as Christ-followers can be that we "love one another.'
Today some of us can testify that our biological families may disappoint, discourage, or dismiss us. But God calls us to a higher and wider family network to be enlisted into the family of God. When we love and support one another, seeking to do God's will and work together, we follow Christ's example of cherishing our spiritual brothers and sisters.
He looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!" (Mark 3:34).
Let's Pray
Yahweh, thank you for my family whom I love so much. Father, give me your eyes to see and your heart to love all who are walking in faith along with me - my spiritual family. God, may my love for you unite us as your family. In Christ's name, Amen.