Family

Do you have a large family? Lots of brothers, sisters, cousins? Is it just you? No matter how big or small your family is, it's about to get a whole lot bigger.

Welcome to Soldier for Christ.

I grew up in a very small town. I went to the local Church of Christ there and it was a common thing to hear people being called Brother or Sister. I would go on to learn that we are all Brothers or Sisters in Christ. But what did this mean? Where did this come from?

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” -Matthew 12:46-47

If my phone rings and it's my wife or one of my children, I am probably going to stop whatever it is I am doing and answer that call. And I bet that was the thinking here as well, that Jesus would place a priority on His earthly family and stop what he was doing. But Jesus used this as a learning moment...

He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 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.” -Matthew 12:48-50

What I believe Jesus is saying here is that when you follow him, everyone is your family. His primary commandment that he gave us was to love. To Love one another just as he loved us and when we love like Christ did, everyone becomes, or should become as important to us as family. So no matter who is calling, we should answer. We should be willing to lend a hand, to listen, to care for and to love, as we have been loved.

There is a reason he is called our Father in heaven.

Press on. Fight the good fight. As a Soldier for Christ.