Family Of God

He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

One morning as I was reading my daily devotionals, I came across this Scripture in Matthew where Jesus talks about who his true family is. He said anyone who does his Father’s will is his family member. And it struck me how easy it is to be included. Love God. Love others. That’s the will of the Father—inclusion at its best.

This must have sounded so strange to the disciples and people listening to Jesus at a time when everyone was separated by class, religion, race, and gender. The fact that Jesus was constantly inviting outsiders in would have been a new way to live—and not just inviting them to be friends, but calling them family would have been nothing short of scandalous.

As I reread his words, my heart swelled with gratitude that we serve a God who so easily welcomes all of us to be a part of his family. And I thought about how my own family has been shaped by adoption and foster care, both biological and family members of the heart. I believe we are a mishmash of people who all found one another because God saw fit to bring us together.

No matter who we are or where we’re from, our history, mistakes, or blunders, we’re all invited into the family of God. No one gets left out. What a relief and joy for those who’ve experienced being part of an earthly family, but especially for those who haven’t been part of such a loving relationship, who’ve felt left out or overlooked. God sees you. And he calls you brother, sister, mother. We are all welcome in the family of God.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Thank God for the invitation into his family and encourage someone who may feel lonely and need the reminder that they are welcome as well.