The Family that is Spawned by God's Word

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:19-21).

There is much foolish talk today of redefining marriage and family. This is not a new phenomenon as history reveals that in the past several cultures have tampered with the natural order of the basic unit of society and every one of them has paid dearly for their misguided mischief. But did you know that Jesus Christ offered a fresh definition of family? He did not suggest a replacement of the natural family in this temporal world, but He offered a definition of the family from a higher perspective. Jesus defined the family that will last into eternity as based not on procreation, but on a new relationship born of trust and obedience to God’s Word. The Spirit moved the Apostle Peter to echo this truth… “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). Today we hear the Master teach that those who earnestly seek, search, and submit to Biblical truth will become true members of the family that is spawned by God’s Word.

Those who are born again into God’s family strenuously seek God’s Word. In today’s text we see that those naturally born into His family could not get close to Jesus because those spiritually born into His family were so numerous. One of the first evidences that we are truly born again is an overwhelming hunger for the spiritual nourishment of God’s Word… “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). Continuing assurance that we are born again and maturing disciples is an increasing hunger for more of the spiritual truth that nourishes our growing faith… “Everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14). Those born of God’s Word strive to stay close to Jesus by being immersed in His Word… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Does your relationship with God’s Word reflect that you are related to God’s Son?

Those who are born again into God’s family studiously search God’s Word. We are curious creatures. We love to study our world and each other. Our Creator has placed a longing in our hearts to know Him and the eternal world He calls home… “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This longing compels the born again disciple to search the scriptures that reveal more about Jesus Christ… “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). With a new priority to know Him better, the diligent disciple spends much time searching the Bible for ever-increasing revelations of Jesus… “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Does the priority God’s Word in your life reflect that you know God’s Son as Savior and Lord?

Those who are born again into God’s family sincerely submit to God’s Word. Jesus taught that true disciples are not those who merely hear God’s Word, but they believe and obey it. He taught that faithful obedience to God’s Word changes our eternal destiny from death to life… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). Believing and obeying God’s Word continues the process of maturing our faith, equipping us to serve, and making us more like Jesus… “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Does your trust and obedience to God’s Word reflect that you are become more like God’s Son?

As we grow up into Christ diligent disciples are transformed and empowered by Biblical truth…

The Family that is Spawned by God’s Word.