I Am a Family Member
Scripture Reading — Matthew 12:46-50
“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Maybe you have had the opportunity to attend a family reunion or an extended family gathering recently. Family members can connect with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and others that they may not have seen in a while. Gatherings like these can be meaningful, uniting everyone under a common heritage, a family tree.
As a believer in Christ, I am a child of God—and so is every other believer. This means all of us are spiritual brothers and sisters—no matter where we are throughout the world! And although we may be different from one another in some ways, we have a common heritage—we are rooted together in Christ. We have the same heavenly Father and the same ultimate goal: to do the Father’s will. As part of God’s forever family, we share in the same eternal inheritance that Jesus has secured for us through his death and resurrection.
Sometimes people say that biological family bonds are stronger than other relationships. But in today’s passage Jesus declares that all who follow the Lord are part of his family, and this relationship lasts forever.
In a world of many divisions, it’s good to be reminded of our family connection in Jesus. It’s also good to learn that we are called to serve God together, for we will be living in eternity with these family members from all nations and places!
Father, give us the eyes to see all who follow you as precious family members, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
About the author — Dan Jongsma
Daniel Jongsma is a retired CRC pastor who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. As a minister of the Word, he shepherded congregations in Elmhurst and Fulton, Illinois; Dearborn and Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Nashville. Dan has also served as a church planter in the Chicago area. He and his wife, Gloria, have three adult daughters and four grandchildren.
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