Are We Related to Jesus?

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?  Mark 3:33 (KJV)

When Jesus speaks these words, is He talking only to those who stood there before Him that one day telling Him that His family was waiting for Him outside?  Do we truly believe that the words of Jesus are the Living Word?  Don´t we think that whenever we find a clear sharp question coming from the One whose tongue is like a two-edged sword, we should stop in our tracks and consider before responding?

We become so familiar with stories.  We have walked each one with the Lord a long or a short while.  But it is so easy to breeze past the words of God and not stop to make it pertain to us.  When we read of Jesus we can see the constant way that Jesus tries to bring everything home again to a relation between us and our Heavenly Father.  Without rest, Jesus strongly urges us back to the Lord in every way.  He was not satisfied ever with a loose and comfortable mental affirmation of the authority of God.  He desperately tried to show us that it was more vital to each of us, to be found completely enveloped with our God in every way and in a degree which left our concern for self and the world a faint and distant past.

And having looked about upon those sitting around him in a circle, he said: “See, my mother and my brothers!”  Mark 3:34 (Reference Bible)

Jesus sees with eyes that look past even the deceiving of our own hearts.  He knows who is truly seeking Him and the obedience to His words and the will of the Father.  We may tell ourselves that we want to follow Him, but secretly our hearts may continue to drive us on after all those earthly desires.  Our nature is quiet happy to let us have a little token piece of religion to keep us unsuspecting and thinking we are going to heaven.  But what is really going on here?  What does Jesus see when He examines the spiritual condition of our hearts?

One of the most terrifying thoughts and one which may bring panic to our hearts is that we already have as much of the Holy Spirit as we really want.  If we truly wanted more of Him, then we would be doing whatever it took to attain it.  If it meant searching out the scriptures or spending more time on our knees, then we would be the first ones there and the last to leave.  But how honestly are we seeking Jesus´ opinion of our current spiritual position?  Do we really stop to ask Him?  Or if we do ask, do we wait to hear His voice and allow Him to expose all those secret things which keep our hearts from total commitment to Him?

Dear Jesus, if you examine us and find our hearts to be in line with Yours, please do not remove the sensation of doubt from our minds.  We have a tendency to slide back into our inherited nature and secretly seek the things that gratify us and our will.  Rather leave us always hungering for more of You.  Please send us the Holy Spirit to walk us through each and every painful step to assure that our hearts are completely committed to seeking and following You.  We would not be satisfied in any way with a comfortable religion, but ask to carry a large and heavy burden for You.  Let our burden that weighs on our hearts be one of yearning for more of You, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Closeness is what we pray for, forever and ever closer to You.

Amen