Spiritual Family

Spiritual Family

John 19: ²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

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“Come in and have something to eat” a friend’s mother said to me. “Wow!” I thought. “You mean I’m having fun AND I get a meal?” Great! Another friend’s mother did the same and another. Soon I had a few mother’s throughout the neighborhood who blessed me with a simple meal.

• My family are those who GOD has brought into my life.
• My family are those who GOD has brought into HIS family.
• My family are those who GOD has declared HIS family.

JESUS, dying an agonizing death, sees HIS mother Mary and two other Mary’s who were close to HIM. HE gave one of HIS disciples HIS mother and asked the disciple to be her son. He accepted and took care of Mary from then on. This was a spiritual family.

• JESUS wants me to treat others as HIS family.
• JESUS wants me to see others as family when they believe in HIM.
• JESUS wants me to treat those who seek HIM as family because HIS blessings are on those who truly believe in HIM.

GOD’s currency is people. HE wants me to seek people as I would a lost coin. I can only find people who desire to be found. HE blesses me when HE brings people to me or me to people. We are then made a spiritual family that will last for eternity. JESUS is my bond to a wonderful family!

• Do you need a family?
• Would you like to have love that supersedes blood relatives?
• Will you come into a family with the bond of love, namely JESUS?

Mother’s Day

John 2: On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’

⁴ ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’

⁵ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’

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“Wash the walls” was the statement said to me by my mother. “Aw man!” I said to myself. I really did not feel like washing a wall. I mean I wasn’t the only one who put their grimy hands on the wall to take off shoes. And besides, wouldn’t it just get dirty again anyway?

JESUS’ mother saw a need at a wedding she had been invited to. She was still raising JESUS, knowing what happened during the miraculous birth. While others may have doubted the virgin birth, she knew what GOD did. She also knew she was raising someone special, who had talents that needed to be shared. She asked JESUS to use HIS power to help.

• True mothers recognize talents of GOD.
• True mothers pour GOD into their children.
• True mothers believe in the power of GOD in any situation.

JESUS’ mother believed in HIS talent, but did not know how things would play out. She did not know if HE would ask HIS disciples to walk somewhere and get some wine or do something even more special. Her request was based on faith in what GOD had already done. True mothers praise GOD. I am grateful to have a true mother.

• Are you a true mother to someone?
• If you are not a mother, will you believe in the talent GOD gave “that” person so you can encourage them to do something special?
• Will you praise GOD for true mothers today?

Your Momma Plus

Luke 11: ²⁷ And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”

²⁸ But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

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My parents are great, all of them. Doing the best they could with what they had was not easy, but somehow the community of parents I was born into, married into and adopted into was there to support me as best they could.  

• My community of parents have given me more than I can give them.
• My community of parents have shown me a path that is right.
• My community of parents have shed a light on what is important.

A woman shouts from the crowd a cry of homage to JESUS’s mother. This statement is similar to saying “YOUR mother did great raising YOU.” JESUS shouts back the true focus. HE includes “everyone” who follows HIS word and keeps it with their hearts.

• GOD wants me to learn HIS word and follow it.
• GOD wants me to keep HIS word by learning the heart behind it.
• GOD wants me to share HIS word to anyone HE sends me to, or sends to me.

Momma’s are special to GOD. Somehow GOD counts a physical birth through a sinful human named Mary as “sinless” because the birth was not consummated by a man. This special, chosen birth “process” could never eclipse the being that came from the birth, namely JESUS.

HE did not rebuke the woman for her pride in HIS mother rather focuses her on what is truly important, the word of GOD. My birth mother is special to me along with my father and in-laws and adopted parents. But they can never be more special to me than GOD.

• Who is special to you?
• Are you more focused on them than on GOD?
• Can you place GOD higher in your life than any human so HE will bless all of those around you?

She must be a special lady!

Luke 1: ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

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Mary and the Immaculate Conception is the biggest mystery to me. I mean she wasn’t very old and as far as I know she hadn’t done anything “special” to be chosen.

• I wonder if Mary wanted to feel special and GOD blessed her.
• I wonder if Mary desired to serve more people and GOD blessed her.
• I wonder if Mary saw more than the words in the Bible and wanted a “special” relationship and GOD blessed her.

It says Mary and her much older cousin Elizabeth followed GOD’s commands and decrees blamelessly which meant they were truly excited about GOD and HIS ways.  She wanted to do more, not because of her circumstance, just because HE was GOD.

• Mary didn’t care that she was poor, she praised the LORD.
• Mary didn’t worry about becoming some great title for GOD had spoken to her.
• Mary didn’t mind becoming the mother of our Savior rather she was excited to be chosen by GOD.

She worked hard following GOD’s commands to the letter but she did it with excitement. She probably saw the greedy seem to get away with their thievery and felt disappointed because when she got the news from GOD she sang this song:

⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty

Mary was excited about GOD and that was enough for her so it is enough for me!

• Are you working hard to be “special?”
• Do you realize you “are” already special to GOD?
• Can you believe it’s not how hard you try, rather it’s the focus of your heart?
• Will you take a moment to praise GOD for choosing you?