Matthew 12:46-50
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers showed up. They were outside trying to get a message to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are out here, wanting to speak with you.”
Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. “Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We all knew it would be this way… or we should have known. Oh, we hoped things would be different, but I think we all pretty well understood that after the election on November 6th, the bickering and fighting wouldn’t end. I continue to be amazed and disheartened by the number of people who claim the name of Jesus and treat their “brothers and sisters in Christ” so hatefully. When I was teaching junior/high Sunday school students, I had to continually remind them that anyone who truly repents and believes in Jesus is just as much a child of the Most High God as any of us… and entitled to His grace, mercy, forgiveness, love and blessings.
“But Ms. Debbie,” some would protest… “surely you are not including Saddam Hussein or Adolph Hitler in that group?” “If they were to repent and ask Jesus to forgive their sins… then, YES, I am!” I would reply. Now, I am not saying that either of these men became born-again Christians before their deaths. I have no idea what was in their hearts. But my point to the students – and to you if you have asked Jesus to be LORD of your life – is that anyone who is a born-again disciple of Christ… obedient to His will… is your equal in God’s eyes.
So when we consider others in this light, we have to stop and ask ourselves about how we treat others. As I watched my niece admonish Timothy not to hit his sister, Zola, I was reminded that we are often like the three-year-old who doesn’t want to share with his younger sibling. In both cases, we know that this is wrong behavior… but if we think we can get by with it, we forge ahead. So we are critical and cruel. We lie, cheat and steal… and hope that God doesn’t notice. Instead of standing up for our brothers and sisters in Christ… and lifting them with love, optimism and encouragement… we berate them, make life difficult for them, and treat them like they are less important – or downright outcasts!
The time has come for us to grow up! We aren’t three any longer… and even a toddler of this age knows that mistreating your siblings is unacceptable. You don’t have to like all of your brothers and sisters in Christ. You don’t have to agree with them on every issue… and you won’t! You don’t even have to go out of your way to spend time with them. But you do have to love them and treat them with respect and dignity. You do have to show them the love of Christ and get along with them as a part of your heavenly family.
Look closely… recognize that those in your midst may very well be your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus… equal and entitled to the same blessings and mercy as you. The last thing you want God to say to you is “Don’t hit your sister!” How well are you getting along with your family these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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