Matthew 12:49-50 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

This famous passage is not only a comfort and encouragement to every believer familiar with it, it also blows a hole in the veneration of Mary as “the Mother of God.” The Biblical record is that at least two of Jesus’ physical half-brothers and His mother did indeed join His spiritual family, and there’s no reason to believe the others didn’t as well, but the point is that there are ties that are more important than genetics. Probably most Christians have experienced going to an unfamiliar place and encountering brothers and sisters in Christ, and the remarkable kinship that can exist there. However, it’s also worth noting that Jesus didn’t say, “those who have parroted a formula,” He said, “those who do the will of My Father in heaven.” There can be a very big difference there. Unity in the family of God is based on our acting like His children, not on labels. If we want to experience Jesus as our Big Brother, then we have to be obedient to our Father. (Writing that, I realize that George Orwell did us a disservice in using that term for the all-controlling State, but then appropriating innocent terms for evil purposes is typical of the devil, as is easily seen in many areas.)

I have experienced the fellowship of the family of God more times than I could possibly count, but I have also encountered those who claimed to be Christians with whom I could have no real fellowship. It is not my business to be judging who is or isn’t a true Christian, but I need to be very careful that those who enter God’s family in name under my ministry, enter it in truth. It is indeed a matter of heart commitment, of a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and not just a matter of words. Our words are indeed important, but without the heart commitment that makes us follow through, they are empty. Discipleship is very much part of the package, and that is why Jesus told us to make disciples.

Father, we have two who are on the verge of baptism and several more who should be. Keep me from going for numbers, but rather for true commitment. At the same time, keep me from placing false barriers in the way of anyone. I pray that Your Spirit would work in each one of us, before and after baptism, to draw us into ever deepening discipleship, obedience and fellowship. May we, individually and as a body, be all that You desire and intend us to be, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!