JESUS SAID...

"There came then his brethren and his mother and standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him and they said unto him Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother and my sister and mother." MARK 3:31-35 AMEN

What Jesus was saying to his family and followers was that it was not flesh and blood that made up his family, but those who did the will of God. Those who would love him more than their own families would become a part of his. Those who placed his needs (and therefore the needs of others) ahead of their own were truly “his brother, his sister and his mother.”

The Kingdom of God is not filled with blood born relatives but blood bought relatives. The Kingdom is the realm of the Spirit. It is a realm filled with people born of and by the Spirit. Those who believe in Jesus place him above everything else in their heart. Out of their love for him do they do the Father’s will, as naturally as any mother serving her son or father serving his daughter.

There is no religious structure, social custom or national tradition that has the authority to keep us from following Christ. In fact, Jesus asks us to shake off all obstacles that impede our faith in him. Traditions and customs have their place for the sake of honoring loved ones. We can love and respect others through observing them and seeking to keep peace with our friends and neighbors. But traditions can never compete with our love for Christ. Traditions can never come between us and Christ. If they do, we will be lost when we appear before him.

JESUS SAVES