Matthew 12:46-50
46 While He [Jesus] was still speaking to the multitudes, behold,
His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to
Him.
47 And someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers
are standing outside seeking to speak to You."
48 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My
mother and who are My brothers?"
49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said,
"Behold, My mother and My brothers!
50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is
My brother and sister and mother."
~ New American Standard Bible
Yesterday I wrote about the cowardly submissive and about those who
know better but continue to “go with the crowd.” As an example I
mentioned family traditions such as hunting.
In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus tells us that our real “family” is
composed of those who seek to do God’s will. That doesn’t mean that
those who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God are to stop
loving or be unpleasant in any way to members of their human or
biological family if they are heading in the wrong direction. Besides,
those who truly follow Jesus cannot stop loving others – even when they
can no longer participate in their ungodly activities.
Most people have been conditioned since childhood to accept as
“normal” or “fun” many things that involve unnecessary pain and
suffering – from what is eaten: flesh, dairy, eggs, seafood – to what is
worn: leather, wool, and fur – to animal “entertainment”: circuses, dog
racing, etc. Add to the list: hunting, fishing, capital punishment,
abortion, wars….
There are those who respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and begin
to educate themselves and to face the truth about the hidden and
not-so-hidden cruelty surrounding them. They determine to live by a
higher standard; eliminating from their lives, as much as possible,
those things that contribute to the emotional and physical torment and
the bloodshed so rampant in this world.
We don’t have to follow along with the cruel traditions of our human
families. We can follow the gentle and peacemaking teachings of Jesus,
and truly become members of His family.
