Matthew 12:48-50
48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” (NLT)
Daily we are faced with choices in our everyday lives. Like the picture you see with the cross road of two ways to go, so it is in life. Those two ways are called the right and wrong way. What choice will you make today? The Word of God says, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death"(Proverbs 14:12). From the beginning, God created and gave to mankind the gift of freewill (gift of choice) which is seen in the book of Genesis. Genesis 2:15-17 states, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “you may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden- except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (NLT). We are created to worship God; for the purpose of relationship and love, both which are possible in this world if we choose the right way.
The Spirit of God moved, from the beginning, creating all things with purpose determined by the manufacturer and not the product. Isaiah 43:21 declares, “I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world”. We have been bought with a price through Christ Jesus, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
What is reconciliation? According to Evangelical theologian Philip Ryken, he describes reconciliation in this way; “It is part of the message of salvation that brings us back together with God. God is the author, Christ (the Son of God- Man) is the agent and we are the ambassadors of reconciliation. Restoring our right relationship to God from the beginning the way God intended it to be. This week, let us ask ourselves, who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Jesus made a choice to be about His father’s business, and wanted to reveal the importance as His disciples to do the same. To value the special relationship given to us as heirs of the Father, Jesus Christ and to fulfill the Great Commission.
The true family of Jesus:
Makes the choice to obey the Word of God.
Makes the choice to serve Him no matter the cost.
Makes the choice to turn away from sin, and submit to the Spirit of God.
Makes the choice to say yes, even when it hurts.
Makes the choice to go to Bible study over hanging out with friends.
Makes the choice to have a made-up mind, that Jesus comes first even over our loved ones.
Makes the choice to say, For Christ I live, and Christ I die.
Makes the choice to say above all else, I am about my father’s business. (Luke 2:49)
The Choice we make will determine our destination; Let’s make heaven our destination!
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 states, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.
Please set time aside to read the scriptures referenced throughout.
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