◄ What Does Luke 8:21 Mean? ►

When we are physically born into the human race we become part of the family of man. We are born 'in sin' with a sin nature, dead in trespasses and sin, which makes us sinners and which means that we are estranged from God. We are born into the kingdom of darkness at birth and there is a permanently, impassable barrier that separates us from the God who created us. It is only when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation that we are transferred from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God's dear Son.

It is only when we are born again - born from above, that the insurmountable blockade that bars us from our Father in heaven is eternally removed and we become a child of God, purchased from above, an heir of salvation, born of His Spirit and washed in Christ's redeeming blood. At the point of salvation, immeasurable blessings are poured out on all God's children, eternal life becomes a present possession, we are justified in the sight of God, we have passed from death to life, we have been quickened - made alive by God. Our sins, past, present, and future are forgiven and will never be remembered again. We are redeemed from the curse of the Law and fully reconciled to God. We have been delivered from the wrath to come, are no longer under condemnation, have been given every spiritual blessing, and are a partaker of His promise in Christ by faith in the gospel.

When we are born again by trusting in Jesus as the sin sacrifice for our sin, there are hundreds more blessings that become ours in Christ Jesus, and they are all YES and AMEN in Him. And during His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus made it increasingly clear that there is no more important relationship in the life of a believer that our relationship with HIM. It is greater than any earthly relationship we may have. It is more vital than those precious links we enjoy with family, friends, spouses, children, parents, and colleagues. Although these relationships are indeed important and very precious to all of us, they must always be secondary to the union we have in Christ.

This truth is clearly demonstrated in Luke Chapter 8, where we read: "And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, 'Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.' But Jesus answered and said to them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.'" Although Jesus clearly cared for His mother, even ensuring that she would be looked after as He hung on the cross, Christ's relationship with His Heavenly Father trumped every earthly connection. Jesus came, first and foremost, to do the will of His Father Who loved us so much that He gave Jesus to pay the price for the sin of the world: "So that whosoever believes on HIM would not perish but have everlasting life."

The Lord Jesus was not dishonouring the people in His earthly family, but was demonstrating that the only way to get close to God is to make Him the most important Person in our life. We do this as we carry out His Word. In the same way that Christ's delight was to do the will of His Father, so we should be enamoured with the Lord Jesus, that no one is more important in our life than Him, and nothing is of greater significance than gaining a deeper knowledge of Him, obeying His Word, doing His will, and remaining faithful in the task He has given us to do.

There is a strong emphasis in this passage, on the importance of reading, learning, knowing, applying, meditating, and inwardly digesting the truths contained in the Word of God. And it is only as we hear His Word and carry out His will, that we are enabled to draw closer to Him and increasingly enjoy sweet communion with Him and with our Heavenly Father. As believers, we are all members of His heavenly family but this passage makes it clear that those closest to Jesus are the ones that hear His Word and do it: "My mother and My brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it."

Heavenly Father, thank You that I have been born into the family of man and that through faith in Christ, I have been born again into Your family and become Your child. Thank You that by faith in Christ, I have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Your dear Son. Thank You that in Him I have been purchased from above, made an heir of salvation, am now part of Your heavenly family, and that eternal life has become my present possession. Just as You said that Your mother and My brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it, I pray that I would hear Your Word and read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it so that by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, I may obey You in thought word and deed, for Your greater glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.