The Word
32And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:32-35
Voice from the Church
“Do as many kind gestures as you wish, do as many dazzling works as you please—but you will only be rewarded for doing the will of the sovereign Master.” (François Fénelon, 1651-1715)*
Reflection
If you dare think you have a special relationship with God because you have been baptized, confirmed by the church, or a member of a certain denomination—read again the words of the Lord Jesus: “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
You say that it is impossible to do the will of God? Are you sure you are not taking refuge in such a lie because you are clinging to some idol, some sin?
The natural, sinful heart can provide a thousand reasons for not doing the will of God: “No person is perfect”; “God doesn’t expect me to obey everything Jesus taught—after all, I’m only human.” If these are your excuses, then don’t be so presumptuous as to call Jesus Lord.
Who are those who have a vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Those who are doing the will of God. If we have a problem with that, then let’s talk to God about it.
Verse
I said, “The standard is too high.”
Then I saw my will was too strong.
I relinquished control to Him;
His will then became my glad song.
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This meditation is taken from WellSpring: 365 Devotional Readings by Ralph I. Tilley (Sellersburg, IN, LITS Books, 2018), April 20.
