No Reserved Seats

~~~ Ezra 6:7-8, 12B, 14-20 ~~~ Psalm 122 ~~~ Luke 8:19-21 ~~~

 “My mother and my brothers 

are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

The crowd was so great around Jesus that his 

own family members could not enter the structure.

Mary was not given VIP tickets...

she did not have reserved seats in the front.

She was virtually denied entrance.

She had no access to her own son, Jesus.

I wonder if Mary was surprised?

She certainly had traveled with great enthusiasm 

in her heart to see and hear Jesus.

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Wherever Jesus is present is the house of the Lord.

Jesus does not go out of his way to see Mary,

instead he sends a somewhat confusing message.

 “My mother and my brothers 

are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

At that very moment Jesus expanded the definition of his family.

He broke down the traditional family boundaries.

He opened family to include his whole church.

If you follow Jesus...hear his words...act accordingly,

then you are part of the family...His family...the family of God.

The book of Ezra provides details of the building of the church...

the physical structure...the place dedicated to worship.

Jesus takes the whole concept of church and extends it to the people.

So what is 'church'...is it the bricks and mortar...

or is it the flesh and blood.

Jesus makes us his living church.

We are the ones who can hear his word.

We are the ones who can live the message.

The structure is a common meeting place 

where we gather as one to receive his words.

We are in the family.

We are sent out to carry on the family business...

A business of forgiveness, compassion, and mercy.

Are you up to the task?

Do you consider yourself 'part of the family'?

Do your actions and attitudes align with those of Jesus?

Blessed to be included in the family of God.

Strive to be the best family member you can be.

~~~Peace~~~